Specialist Certificate in Disaster and Terror Medicine (SC-DTM)

You’re currently viewing the 2022 version of this course

Overview

Award title	Specialist Certificate in Disaster and Terror Medicine
Year & campus	2022 — Parkville
Fees information	Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & type	Graduate Coursework
AQF level	Non-AQF
Credit points	25 credit points
Duration	6 months part-time

The knowledge and experience of disaster and terror medicine and health management specialists is critical when it comes to managing disaster and terror events in community and healthcare settings.

The Specialist Certificate in Disaster and Terror Medicine will provide an evidence-based introduction to key elements of the specialty designed to equip clinicians, first responders, health service managers, relevant agency staff and policy makers with essential skills to effectively manage such events.

Studying Disaster and Terror Medicine at the University of Melbourne will develop your problem-solving skills and expertise in this specialist area, including logistics, prevention, planning, responses, recovery and policy development through a clinical and health care management framework. Disaster and Terror Medicine and is a system orientated specialty that is inclusive of unique aspects of clinical care and health management and, relevant to a diverse group of responding agencies. Health practitioners and service managers are dealing with natural and man-made disaster and terror events with increasing frequency and our communities expect our leaders to be prepared to respond quickly and decisively.

What you will learn

How to recognise and critically assess the complex nature of disaster and terror events from a clinical and healthcare management perspective
How to analyse existing models of preparedness at different levels of response (community, hospital, national and international) to prevent or minimise harm
How to evaluate principles of resource utilisation, resilience and recovery management, applied to extreme conditions in a range of settings
How to compare and contrast treatment and management regimes for a comprehensive range of natural and man-made disaster and terror events.

Who is the course for?

Our program is targeted towards clinicians, hospital administrators, staff from emergency services, government and the military. The course will equip participants with an understanding of domestic and international factors involved in the management of these events.

Who will you learn from?

The Department of Critical Care is the hub for world-leading critical care research, learning and teaching, and engagement across more than 20 University-affiliated hospitals and beyond, with close associations with the specialty Colleges, clinical trials networks and other key organisations such as Safer Care Victoria and Ambulance Victoria.

Pathways

Credit obtained in these subjects can be used towards completion of the Master of Advanced Nursing, Master of Advanced Nursing Practice and the Graduate Certificate in Disaster and Terror Medicine .

Further Information

The majority of the teaching is provided online, with students required to attend a two-day face-to-face intensive workshop for each subject (4 days in total).

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

a medical degree or,
an undergraduate degree in any discipline and at least three years of documented relevant work experience in a health management, paramedicine, nursing or equivalent role; and
demonstrated evidence of written and analytical skills appropriate for postgraduate study as evidenced by a 500 word expression of interest detailing the applicant's motivations for undertaking the course.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

prior academic performance; and
area of speciality practice and clinical experience

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the University's English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 7 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete this course that must be met by all students. For information on the inherent requirements specific to this course contact the course/program coordinator. In some circumstances reasonable adjustments may be available to enable students to meet these requirements while still preserving the academic integrity of the university's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. For more information on how to seek these adjustments refer to the Student Equity and Disability Support website: https://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Intended learning outcomes

Following successful completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

Recognise and apply disaster and terror medicine principles, considering the various health systems and challenges in managing disaster incidents and countering terrorism
Analyse the factors that underpin level of organisational response and the principles that are applied to prevent, manage, contain and diffuse the impact of disasters in clinical settings
Devise methods to address the complex physical and psychological factors involved in after care and recovery post event
Develop creative and flexible problem‐solving and communication skills for unique crisis situations, in a range of environmental, geographic and often dangerous settings
Evaluate the clinical and health service design and implementation processes for prevention, planning, responding and managing disaster and terror events
Critically assess the clinical and health service risk and impact of disaster and terror events.

Generic skills

The capacity for information seeking, retrieval and evaluation
Critical thinking and analytical skills
An openness to new ideas
The ability to communicate scientific knowledge through oral, written and web-based media
The ability to apply knowledge and implement health programs for different types of disasters during all the phases of the disaster management cycle.

Graduate attributes

Academically Excellent

Have in-depth knowledge of their specialist disciplines
Have skills in examining issues with multiple disciplinary perspectives
Apply knowledge, information and research skills to complex problems in a range of contexts and are effective oral and written communicators.

Active Citizenship

Have engaged with contemporary local, national and global issues and developed an appreciation of the Asian region
Aware of the social and cultural diversity in communities and can work collaboratively with people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds
Have an understanding of and deep respect for Indigenous knowledge, culture and values.

Leaders in Communities

Support a commitment to civic service in graduates' lives and careers, equipping them to be active, well-informed citizens who make substantial contributions to society
Have the potential to be leaders in their professions and communities, with the capacity to work effectively across disciplines and cultures
Through advocacy and innovation, they are able to lead change for a sustainable future.

Integrity and Self-Awareness

Be motivated, self-directed and well-organised, with the ability to set goals and manage time and priorities
Self-aware and reflective, with skills in self-assessment, and place great importance on their personal and professional integrity.

Course structure

The Specialist Certificate in Disaster and Terror Medicine and Health Management is comprised of two subjects (25 credit points).

Students must complete both of:

Compulsory subjects

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
MEDI90107	Disaster Medicine Principles & Responses	January (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MEDI90108	Terror Medicine Principles & Responses	May (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Last updated: 10 November 2023

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