Humanitarian and disaster management

These inherent requirements apply to the following courses: Master of Emergency & Disaster Management, Graduate Diploma of Emergency and Disaster Management, Graduate Certificate of Emergency and Disaster Management, Graduate Certificate of Leadership (Police, Fire and Emergency Services), and the Bachelor of Humanitarian Aid & Development.

Prospective and current students who are concerned about their capacities in relation to inherent requirements are strongly encouraged to contact the CDU Access and Inclusion team to discuss possible adjustments or alternative courses. 

E: inclusion@cdu.edu.au

These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with course information for the Master of Emergency & Disaster Management, Graduate Diploma of Emergency and Disaster Management,  Graduate Certificate of Emergency and Disaster Management, Graduate Certificate of Leadership (Police, Fire and Emergency Services) and for the Bachelor of Humanitarian AID & Development Bachelor of Humanitarian Aid and Development, and related material from the Australian Community Workers Association Course accreditation.

There are 10 domains of inherent requirements for Master of Emergency & Disaster Management, Graduate Diploma of Emergency and Disaster Management, Graduate Certificate of Emergency and Disaster Management, Graduate Certificate of Leadership (Police, Fire and Emergency Services) and the Bachelor of Humanitarian AID & Development.

Each domain has five levels: 

1. Introduction
2. Description
3. Justification
4. Adjustments
5. Exemplars 
    

Acting in ways consistent with the recognised values of society and avoiding activities that do harm.
In the context of inherent requirements, students undertaking a course of study may be governed by practice standards and codes of ethics.

1. Introduction
   Students need to understand and act in ways consistent with the Australian Community Workers Association code of ethics.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in, ethical behaviour in practice. Student demonstrates understanding of ethical principles and their application to education, research and professional practices.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Compliance with the recognised values of society facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all. Compliance with privacy legislation and related policies and procedures, ensures that the privacy rights of individuals and groups are not at risk.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support the recognised values of society. Adjustments must ensure legislation, policies and procedures are not comprised or result in unethical behaviour.
5. Exemplars:
   • Student demonstrates ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and to take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour
   • Complying with information security procedures when handling potentially identifiable information
   • Demonstrate principles underlying the code of ethics as outlined by the Australian Community Workers Association.

The maintenance of conduct that is acceptable and appropriate, according to the recognised norms of society over a given period.

1. Introduction
   Behavioural stability is required to function and interact effectively and sensitively in this area of study.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates behavioural stability to be responsible and accountable for personal outputs in all aspects of their academic and professional work.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. When undertaking course requirements, students will need to work constructively with peers, academic staff and professional staff. Behavioural stability is required to manage these relationships.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and professional settings.
5. Exemplars:
   • Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback
   • Effectively managing own emotions and behaviour when interacting with individuals or teams in academic and professional settings
   • Demonstrate the ethical and practical standards outlined by the Australian Community Workers Association and relevant Humanitarian Ethics and Principles.

Related to the law. In the context of inherent requirements, this refers to the legal requirements of professional bodies relevant to specific courses of study.

1. Introduction
   Courses within Emergency and Disaster Management and Humanitarian Aid and Development are mandated by specific legislation, rules, and codes of conduct to enable the delivery of safe and professional practice.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with relevant laws, professional regulations, codes of conduct and scope of practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Knowledge, understanding, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary prerequisites in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others. At all times, compliance with professional regulations and relevant laws ensures that students are professional, responsible and accountable for their practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must be consistent with legislation, rules, codes of practice and regulatory requirements.
5. Exemplars:
   • Comply with relevant legislation and statutory provisions, for example, mandatory reporting, which affects professional practice
   • Comply with discrimination, harassment, and bullying legislation
   • Understand relevant legislation governing organisational behaviour, for example, workplace health and safety 
   • Adhere to requirements of informed consent, privacy and confidentiality.

Verbal communication: Conveying messages, ideas, or feelings through speech.

1. Introduction
   Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of support.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences
   • The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
   • The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
   • The ability to give and receive timely clear verbal reports and feedback.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others develops trusting relationships. Effective communication is necessary for providing safe support, building successful teams and professional relationships.
4. Adjustments 
   Adjustments must address effectiveness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate response.
5. Exemplars:
   • Participating in oral presentations or discussions during learning activities
   • Responding appropriately to feedback during presentations
   • Responding appropriately to an information request.

Non-verbal communication: Communication other than speech that conveys meaning including gestures and facial expressions, body posture, stance, touch, eye movements, eye contact and distance from the person/s with whom you are communicating. Non-verbal cues can provide significant additional information to the person with whom you are communicating.

1. Introduction
   Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to disaster management practices and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, and non-judgemental.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
   • Displays consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
   • Displays sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships. Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships. Being sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships in academic and professional settings. The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is necessary for the successful execution of activities in both academic and professional contexts.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of, or appropriate response to, effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.
5. Exemplars:
   • Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in academic learning activities
   • Recognising and responding appropriately to cues when participating in relevant work integrated learning activities.

Written communication: Communication by written symbols including electronic means, print or handwriting.

1. Introduction
   Effective written communication, in English, is required to effectively access course content and complete a range of assessment tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances
   • The capacity to use a range of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to complete academic assessment requirements. 
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Responding to written assessment tasks demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the course subject matter. Accurate written communication is vital to provide relevant professional services.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, accessibility, and portability to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and professional settings.
5. Exemplars:
   • Completing a variety of written assessment tasks using ICT that demonstrate the ability to critique existing knowledge and challenges in disaster management and humanitarian aid, and related research and policy fields
   • Interpreting and recording statistical data accurately.

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through one's thoughts, experience, and senses.

Knowledge and cognitive skills: Acquired skills that reflect an individual's ability to think. Cognitive skills include verbal and spatial abilities, concentration, memory, perception, reasoning, planning and organisation, flexible thinking, and problem solving.

1. Introduction
   Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide professional and competent community welfare support and emergency and disaster management practice.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
   • The ability to process information relevant to academic requirements or practice
   • The ability to integrate, reflect on and implement theoretical knowledge, within the learning environment and professional settings.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Capacity to complete course requirements is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied, relevant to the area. Demonstration of specified knowledge is a requirement for course accreditation and fieldwork placements.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.
5. Exemplars:
   • Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge and theoretical concepts in response to academic assessment tasks and in fieldwork placement settings.

Literacy (language): This relates to the ability to acquire, understand, and apply information in a scholarly manner.

1. Introduction
   Competent literacy skills, in English, are essential to safe and effective humanitarian aid and emergency and disaster management studies. 
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages
   • The ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information
   • The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions
   • Construct written text in an appropriate and scholarly manner for the intended audience.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey ideas is fundamental to ensure the development of appropriate responses to academic assessment tasks and professional practices. The ability to read, decode, interpret, and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental to safe and effective provision of humanitarian assistance and disaster management. 
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable demonstration of a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply, and communicate accurate information. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Applying knowledge of both theory and practice in the development of an appropriate responses to academic assessment tasks
   • Paraphrasing, summarising, and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions in written assignments
   • Producing accurate and accessible notes that meet legal and professional fieldwork placement requirements.

Numeracy: This relates to the ability to understand and work with numbers.

1. Introduction
   Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for sound and effective academic and professional practice.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student interprets and correctly applies/analyses data, measurements, and numerical criteria.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Competent numeracy skills are required to analyse and synthesise complex information, problems and concepts that contribute to professional practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable demonstration of a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner.
5. Exemplars:
   • Performing accurate mathematical calculations to complete a range of activities
   • Demonstrating accurate interpretation of mathematical calculations in response to academic tasks and assessment items.

Actively listening to someone express their thoughts, feelings or experiences and showing understanding by consciously responding through skills such as paraphrasing, summarising or mirroring.

1. Introduction
   Disaster management and humanitarian aid practice requires self-awareness and a capacity for reflection and reflectivity to consider the effect of one's own perspectives, actions, values and behaviours on all interpersonal interactions.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to accurately reflect on their academic and professional practice performance
   • The ability to accept and respond constructively to feedback about their academic and professional practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Studying in learning environments involving teamwork requires a well-developed understanding of oneself to appropriately engage with others. Working in work integrated learning settings requires a well-developed understanding of oneself and the ability to effectively manage one's reactions to a variety of situations that may arise.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of capacity in this area.
5. Exemplars:
   • Identifying how one's own relational style and behaviour may impede or enhance work during academic and professional practice
   • Participate in a respectful and culturally competent manner in-class and/or online
   • Collaborate, modify, and reflect on disaster management practices during field experience, and responding to client and supervisor feedback
   • Ensure mutual respect, equity and dignity towards others.

Personal skills required to interact appropriately with others with the aim of building and maintaining healthy, productive relationships. Skills include empathy, trustworthiness, patience, active listening, approachability, and reliability.

1. Introduction
   Disaster management and humanitarian aid requires the ability to use highly developed relational skills to make and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of individuals, groups and communities.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to establish and maintain rapport with peers, academic staff, and work integrated learning supervisors
   • Ability to engage and relate appropriately to others in individual and group tasks
   • The ability to work effectively, sensitively and confidentially with a diverse variety of people and in a range of contexts.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Highly developed relational skills contribute to effective relationships in academic environments and professional practice. Highly developed relational skills are necessary to engage effectively in individual and group tasks.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure the capacity to undertake assessments within safe time frames.
5. Exemplars:
   • Relating effectively, openly and sensitively to academic staff, supervisors and peers
   • Demonstrate an understanding and sensitivity to diversity in all forms.

The way a person recognizes external stimuli - through sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

Visual

1. Introduction
   Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective care in disaster management and humanitarian aid practices.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of tasks.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care of self and others. Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective disaster management and humanitarian aid practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in disaster management and humanitarian aid practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise safety.
5. Exemplars:
   • Accurately undertaking observational measurements in disaster management practice. 

Auditory

1. Introduction
   Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective practice in disaster management and humanitarian aid practice.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage disaster management and humanitarian aid practice. Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safety.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in disaster management practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing loss must be effective, consistent and not compromise safety.
5. Exemplars:
   • Accurately and effectively undertake disaster management practice. 

Gross motor skills: The use of large muscle groups that coordinate body movements for activities such as walking, lifting, pushing, pulling, and maintaining balance.

1. Introduction
   Utilisation of appropriate gross motor skills is required in disaster management and humanitarian aid practice to complete various tasks.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates the ability to complete gross motor tasks to function within scope of practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to complete various disaster management and humanitarian aid tasks. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others. 
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide safe disaster management and humanitarian aid services.
5. Exemplars:
   • Safely carrying and transporting field equipment during data collection phase of projects
   • Safely retrieving, moving and using large pieces of equipment.

Fine motor skills: The ability to undertake precise coordinated movements of the hands for activities such as writing and manipulating small objects.

1. Introduction
   Disaster management and humanitarian aid are professions that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of disaster management skills and assessments.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform required tasks. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to complete appropriate tasks.
5. Exemplars:
   • Manipulating resources during learning and professional activities
   • Using ICT equipment in disaster management practices.

The ability to undertake a task/s over a pre-determined length of time. This could include physical performance such as standing for a length of time, or cognitive (mental) performance such as concentrating for a particular length of time.

1. Introduction
   Disaster management and humanitarian aid practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time
   • The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the disaster management period.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient physical and mental resilience is an essential requirement needed to perform tasks in an assigned period to provide effective, safe and professional support in academic learning and professional practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
5. Exemplars:
   • Participating in a variety of learning and professional practice activities
   • Providing consistent disaster management practice over a negotiated time frame.