James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2021

EV5614 - Leadership in Disaster Management

Subject Description

Leaders in disasters are people with the ability to lead and facilitate collaborating organisations and communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from events and their impacts. Such individuals should have extensive knowledge and understanding of the principles of disaster management, the disaster management arrangements in place locally, jurisdictionally, nationally and internationally and the practice of disaster management. They should also possess high level skills necessary to assume leadership roles in emergency management organisations before, during and after such events.

Learning Outcomes

• have a critical understanding of the key issues confronting disaster management and the strategies required to manage those issues
• exhibit depth and breadth of knowledge in emergency management by integrating research findings with the current body of disciplinary knowledge/paradigms apparent in emergency management
• apply knowledge gained to designing and implementing disaster management arrangements within communities, organisations and systems
• demonstrate insight into the abilities needed to lead and manage a multidisciplinary team through preparation for and response to disasters
• appreciate the need and options for communicating with all stakeholders (professional and community-based) about the complexity of managing preparation, response and recovery arrangements following disasters
• demonstrate high level relationship and team building skills
• demonstrate an understanding of crisis communication and the challenges of managing public perception and organisational reputation in politicised contexts

Subject Assessment

• Oral > Presentation 1 - (30%) - Individual
• Written Assignment - (30%) - Individual
• Written > Examination (College administered) - (40%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Assumed Knowledge:  It is assumed that students enrolling in this subject will have an undergraduate degree or equivalent experience in Emergency Management

Availabilities