Unit Information

Approaches to teaching & learning

This postgraduate unit will be available full externally, with no compulsory attendance requirements. All students will be required to interact using online communication tools.

Principles for the unit's development are:

• The integration of research findings from across disciplines.
• Drawing upon best practice in disciplines with a well developed practice of community engagement.
• Unit materials that are resource-based and student-centred, using case studies and problem-based approaches as appropriate.
• Assessment items and learning activiites integrated into professional experience, with students drawing upon examples and applications in their current practice and workplace.
• Materials that require students to engage deeply, given that the topic of community engagement is likely to be outside students' area of primary interest or expertise.
  

Learning materials

The learning materials for this unit comprise Learnline, and a unit website (which opens in a new window):
A. Learnline is the framework on which we hang the learning materials, including

• Text documents available to download and save - such as the Assessment Guide, Reading Guide and Study Planner
• Discussion Boards
• Online classroom - accessed via the Tools button on Learnline
• Information about student support services
• A link to this external website of learning materials

B. The Community Engagement website, is linked from Learnline, and includes

• Brief introductory text on topics
• Activities, structured around a weekly schedule
• Citiations and links to readings and resources available on external websites

When you click on the link to the website, it opens in a new window, so that you can return to Learnline, any time.

 

Study commitments

It is expected that students spend 10 hours per week on this unit by:

• Using the unit website resources
• Undertaking the recommended learning activiites (e.g. joining online discussions; reading web pages; other required or recommended reading)
• Independent research (e.g. investigating your organisation's policies and practices for community engagement and public interaction; locating additional references on recommended reading topics and your assessment items)
• Completing assessment items

 

Learning objectives

This unit will demonstrate to the student the role of community stakeholders in the management of plant biosecurity and natural resources, where “the community” may include international, national, regional and local scales of engagement and government, industry, community and public sectors.

It will also include those who may cause, be impacted by or assist in managing a biosecurity event.

Students will build their understanding of social aspects of biosecurity including communication and educational needs, as well as cultural considerations.

Applying tools such as social mapping, students will analyse the role of social processes in augmenting (or impeding) action and understanding of biosecurity.

Students will investigate community perceptions of risk, and the importance of consultation among community members for the development of effective policy.

By the end of this unit students will have developed an ethical practice for biosecurity professionals. Although developed specifically as part of a national curriculum for biosecurity, the unit will also benefit students in other disciplines where social partnerships and community engagement are integral to effective professional practice. Successful students will be able to:

• Undertake community stakeholder analysis
• Evaluate the capacity for community engagement for biosecurity and NRM
• Define the various levels of stakeholder engagement in biosecurity management
• Understand and explain the perspectives of various stakeholders on biosecurity management
• Design and plan appropriate  community engagement, by choosing and applying tools and models of engagement appropriate for the community involved
• Write a code of ethics for the practice of community.