Graduate Certificate in Catchment and Waterway Management (GC-CWMGT) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

Intended learning outcomes

The objective of this course is to increase the depth and diversity of the skills and knowledge of professionals practising in the Victorian waterway management industry and thus to improve the capacity of organisations to deliver their roles and responsibilities for catchment management.

Graduates of this course should:

Understand the technical content of the disciplines involved in river health and catchment management and its relationship to the broader objective of river health and total catchment management. Amongst other things, this involves an understanding of;

• river health policy and practice,
• the roles and responsibilities of catchment management agencies;
• appreciate how to create and acquire knowledge within their discipline, particularly by using and critically reviewing professional advice;
• be familiar with methods of applying their knowledge in practical settings; this includes -
• thinking and planning strategically,
• identifying both strategic directions and specific initiatives,
• making judgments about and challenging total catchment management policy and practice;
• realise how the creation, dissemination and application of knowledge about catchment management are intimately related;
• be able to articulate their knowledge in an appropriate form; in particular, to be able to:
• interact with a range of stakeholders to achieve community outcomes,
• manage human resources, and assist with development of leadership and succession planning;
• be capable of independent critical thought, that will enable them to:
• adapt and respond to evolving policy and operational circumstances,
• adapt and respond to unexpected outcomes of management actions,
• challenge current practices and facilitate positive changes; and exhibit analytic and problem-solving skills, in particular applying specific techniques for managing waterways and catchments.

Graduate attributes

The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become:

• Academically excellent:
  • have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
  • have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
  • reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
  • be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning
  • be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies
• Knowledgeable across disciplines:
  • examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
  • expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
  • have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
  • have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment
• Leaders in communities:
  • initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
  • have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
  • mentor future generations of learners
  • engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs
• Attuned to cultural diversity:
  • value different cultures
  • be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
  • have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
  • respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values
• Active global citizens:
  • accept social and civic responsibilities
  • be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
  • have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics