Advanced Diploma of Public Safety (Emergency Management)

Qualification description

The Advanced Diploma of Public Safety (Emergency Management) qualification provides the skills and knowledge required to perform a leadership role in emergency or disaster management.

It is suitable for paid professionals or volunteers working across the emergency or disaster management spectrum; Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery (PPRR). This qualification addresses both the planning for, and management of major risks in emergencies and recovery operations. The program’s specific focus is on working with the community and other key stakeholders prior to, during and after an emergency incident.

Future pathways

This qualification may provide a pathway to higher education including post graduate studies or other qualifications relevant to their role in emergency management.

Qualification duration

This program is designed to be completed over a18-month period, with the aim for students to complete a unit of competency each month, to a total of 15 units. Enrolment is open for 24 months, which allows for time off and operational needs. The time to complete the qualification will vary depending on the individual or group learning plan.

Qualification delivery methods

This qualification can be completed by individual students through the development of an individual learning plan. The course of study will be self-paced supported by online resources and a virtual 1-1 tutorial for each unit of study.

A group option for completion of this qualification is also available to organisations. The qualification can be run using a combination of face-to-face or virtual workshops and self-paced study before and after the workshops.

Assessment methods

We combine a range of assessment methods including:

• Workplace based tasks
• Work products and projects
• Demonstrations through virtual or face to face scenarios and video submission of skills or tasks such as role plays
• Completion of written questions, case studies and reports

The types of questions and tasks will reflect the level of skills expected from AQF level 5 and 6 courses, meaning students will be expected to demonstrate a broad theoretical and technical knowledge of emergency management, and will show the ability to analyse and interpret information, manage unpredictable and sometimes complex situations, and transmit information to others.

Time required to complete training and assessment tasks

The time required to review training resources and complete assessment tasks will vary between units and will also be influenced by your previous experience levels.

As an example, a smaller unit may be completed by one student in 8 hours of work, while another student may take 16 hours to complete the same unit.

A larger unit may be completed by one student in 20 hours, while another student requires 35 hours to complete the same unit.

Qualification pre-requisites and entry requirements

There are no set pre-requisites for this qualifications, however prior to commencing this qualification individuals must be able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge to:

• contribute to and assist with the management of an incident, emergency or disaster
• coordinate resources, personnel, entities and activities with other organisations
• take personal responsibility and demonstrate autonomy in performing technical operations
• make judgements required to organise self and plan, coordinate and evaluate the work of teams

These skills and knowledge may have been acquired through completion of the core units in the Diploma of Public Safety (Emergency Management) or relevant industry experience of no less than five years in the emergency management environment.

ACIM entry requirements

Current relevant paid/volunteer role: ACIMS encourages students to share their background and current involvement in paid or volunteer roles as relevant to this qualification. While not essential for completion of this qualification, having access to a suitable organisation’s policies and procedures will assist students in completion of tasks and projects and contextualising their learning to different areas within emergency management. 

Core skills expected: It is expected students have a level of digital literacy to access information, communicate and complete training and assessment activities using a computer/tablet and our online learning platform.

Students will be required to complete a number of tasks independently, and to have the skills to manage their own time and study.

At the advanced diploma level students are expected to be able to research and analyse information, and to apply knowledge to real world situations. Students will be required to independently read and understand a range of different documents including legislation, plans and policies, guidebooks and articles. Students are also required to develop written documentation, including risk assessments, action plans, and reports.

A key skill for this program is the ability to effectively communicate with others in English, including in time critical and stressful situations.

All students are asked to complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment as part of their enrolment process with ACIMS.

Technology requirements: Students will require access to a computer/tablet device with word processing software, internet browser and email account. An internet connection is also required. A webcam/microphone and speakers (or headset) will be needed for any virtual meetings. ACIM Solutions may be able to assist you with access to a computer device if you do not have options for meeting this requirement.

Qualification requirements

This qualification incorporates 10 core units and 5 elective units. Note: Pre-requisite units attached to any of the elective units must be undertaken and are additional to the number of elective units required for this qualification. (Students from fire-focused organisations should be aware that some units have additional fire-specific pre-requisites that are needed before units can be used in the fire context.)

Units of competency

As per training.gov.au

Core: There are 10 units you must complete.

Electives: You must complete 5 elective units. 3 must come from this list below. 2 suitable units may be imported from another qualification with approval of ACIMS. Please note not every unit listed below may be available for all students.

RPL and Credit Transfer

Recognition of prior learning is available for all or parts of this qualification. If you have employment experience in this area, you may apply for recognition or prior learning. The ACIM team will work with you to determine which units are suitable for RPL and provide you with an RPL assessment tool to summarise your available evidence. You will be required to provide supporting evidence for review by the assessor. The assessor can also ask for completion of third party reports, referee checks and to hold competency conversations with you via phone or videoconference.  

Credit transfer of current or equivalent units within this qualification is available. ACIM is required to verify your certificate/transcript for these units.

Students who hold non-equivalent units to a current unit, such as from a preceding training package release, can apply for RPL of these units, with the requirement of any gaps in unit requirements and currency requirements being met.

Certification

Upon meeting all requirements for this qualification, you will be issued with a PUA60120 Advanced Diploma of Public Safety (Emergency Management) qualification testamur from ACIMS RTO #41002, as well as a record of results, listing the units you completed. The qualification will be added to your USI transcript. This is issued electronically, with a hard-copy available on request.

Students who exit this qualification early will be provided with a statement of attainments for units that have been successfully completed.

Please note that under qualification rules, a statement of attainment is generally only issued upon early exit from the program. We do not issue individual unit certificates as interim progress statement when you are continuing the same qualification. If you require evidence of a unit, please speak to the ACIM team.

Costs and payment

Costs will be finalised with individual students or organisations once the details of the learning plan have been determined. Special pricing is available for programs completed fully by RPL.

For individual students, payment is to be made on a unit-by-unit method by direct bank transfer (no additional fees) or credit card, noting this attracts an additional bank fee of 1.8%.  For organisations, purchase order and invoicing for full programs is available.

ACIMS does not offer fee assistance and is not currently a part of VET student loans or commonwealth supported VET courses.