Content outline

  • Weeks 1 - 4
  • Weeks 5 - 10
  • Weeks 11- 12

Please also refer to the study plan available on the ENV401 Learnline site.

Weeks 1 - 4: Communities

During this phase of the unit you will have the opportunity to

  • Reflect on your current community engagement – through reflection and class discussion
  • Build understanding of community complexity – by referring to literature on models of community structure and tools of analysis
  • Critique case studies for evidence of community engagement practice by applying these models and tools

Activity: Reflective journal or blog, online discussion, use of online resources which report on case studies, reading literature on models of community structure and tools of analysis
Resources: Royce (2008), Kenny (2003), Harding (2002)

These activities and resources will assist you as you prepare for Assignment 1: Community description and audit report.

 

Weeks 5 - 10: Planning for community engagement

Weeks 5-10 will be spent building skills that will assist you in preparing Assignment 2 and 3: Developing a community engagement plan. Assignment 2 comprises preparation for Assignment 3.

This will be achieved by:

  • Describing the requirements for community engagement - by considering issues such as literacy and numeracy skills, how do community members prefer to learn, population transience and mobility, and with whom you will need to form partnerships for successful community engagement?
  • Reviewing any statutory obligations associated with the problem at hand – by referring to legislation, regulations and policy around incursions management or export requirements (as appropriate)
  • Assessing and documenting the interaction between a pest organism and the community – by understanding the biology, ecology and dispersal pathways of the organism and its interactions with the community
  • Evaluating tools for community engagement – by researching examples of best practice in community engagement in biosecurity and other discourses
  • Integrating understandings of the requirements for  successful community engagement – by preparing a community engagement plan

 

Weeks 11 - 12: Ethical practice for community engagement

In the last two weeks, the focus will be on Assignment 4: Guidelines for ethical practice in community engagement.  This document is intended for you to use to inform your future practice as biosecurity and natural resource managers. 

This will be achieved by integrating your:

  • Understanding of community structure and processes
  • Knowledge of tools and models for community engagement
  • Reflection on ethical professional practice for biosecurity and natural resources management
  • Awareness of “best” and “worst” practice in community engagement for biosecurity and natural resources management