Leadership in Disaster Management

Course overview

Effective management of the health aspects of major incidents and disasters requires individuals who have the ability to lead and direct health organisations to prepare, respond and recover from such incidents.

Such individuals should have extensive knowledge and understanding of the principles of disaster management arrangements in place internationally, nationally and locally and the practice of disaster management. They should also possess high level skills necessary to lead health organisations before, during and after such events.

Evolve with QUTeX

Module 1: Strategic issues

Examines system wide disaster management policy and planning frameworks, the health response management framework, international planning and assistance frameworks, refugee and humanitarian issues, the legal and ethical aspects of disaster management and business continuity and infrastructure protection.

Module 2: Crisis leadership skills

Involves study of disaster human resource management, staff fatigue, safety and support, managing media and communications, cultural and special needs, family and volunteers.

Module 3: Education, evaluation and reporting

Allows you to develop an in-depth understanding of the reporting requirements of major events, promotion of disaster health education and developing a research program in disaster management.

Module 4: Future developments

Helps you plan elements of and strategies for new developments in health disaster response.

On completion of this course, you will have:

• an understanding of the key strategic issues confronting disaster health management and the strategies required to manage those issues
• the ability to design and implement disaster health management arrangements within health care organisations and systems
• the ability to lead and manage a multidisciplinary team through preparation for and response to disasters
• the ability to evaluate preparations, and response and recovery arrangements for disasters.

Who should participate?

This course is ideal for people who are likely to be responsible for designing response arrangements, instructing others in those arrangements and for managing a health service strategically throughout the response and recovery phases.