Sebedoh’s ‘internally displaced’ people flood CDU

Political unrest, tribal clashes and thousands of internally displaced people will test the wits, nerves and skills of students in a simulated disaster at Charles Darwin University.

The CDU and RedR Australia collaboration is the climax of an intense two-week practical unit for the second year Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies students.

CDU lecturer and course coordinator Adriana Stibral said students would gain hands-on experience in providing humanitarian aid to 15,000 displaced people in the fictitious country of “Sebedoh”.

“Students will face issues such as gaining permission to enter the country, negotiating access to people in need of lifesaving relief, coordinating with other stakeholders, and arranging logistics in moving aid supplies into disaster-affected areas,” Ms Stibral said.

“This simulation exercise provides students with a safe environment to experience challenges they will face in a real disaster situation. It also prepares students for international placements as part of their degree.”

Ms Stibral said the partnership with RedR Australia ensured students gained internationally recognised training under the guidance of highly experienced humanitarian aid professionals.

RedR Australia’s Director of Capability Emma Kettle said it was critical to provide real-world insights to the next generation of aid and development workers.

“This experience will prove invaluable to the development of the international responders of the future and their abilities to have practical input in humanitarian response work,” Ms Kettle said.

RedR Australia is a humanitarian agency that selects, trains and deploys technical specialists. The agency provides skilled people and training to help communities plan, prepare, rebuild and recover before, during and after crises and conflict.

For more information about the Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies visit W: cdu.edu.au/health/community-course