Master of Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development

at University of Newcastle

This the first and only degree to contain UN co-certification in the use of tools and frameworks central to resilience building and achieving sustainable development.

It contains core elements related to disaster resilience and sustainable development that are underpinned by a practical grounding and application of the UN-SDGs and Sendai Framework and the development of disaster risk reduction and management skills.

Core courses include:
 

• Theory and Practice of Disaster Management
• Policy and Social Considerations in Disaster Management
• Disaster Resilient Economics
• Government Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction
• Private Sector Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction
• Sustainable Development and the 2030 Development Agenda
• Professional Practice in Disaster Risk Management
• Professional Practice Research Project

Depending on your entry level, you will also complete between one and eight courses from a list of directed courses. These include courses in community development, sustainable development, and related areas of:
 

• project management
• law
• business management
• environmental management
• social sciences

Admission Requirements

There are four pathways into the Master of Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development (MDRSD) program:

Direct entry into the MDRSD program (120 units) is available for applicants who have:
 

• a three year bachelor degree and a minimum of one year of work experience in a role that is deemed to be disaster-relevant

Direct entry into the MDRSD program (80 units) is available for applicants who have:
 

• a three year bachelor degree and five years' work experience in a role that is deemed to be disaster-relevant; or
• a four year honours bachelor degree, or a three year bachelor degree plus a relevant graduate certificate or graduate diploma

Direct entry into the MDRSD program (80 units) is available for applicants who have:
 

• a three year bachelor degree and five years' work experience in a role that is deemed to be disaster-relevant plus the UON Graduate Certificate in Disaster Risk Reduction
• a four year honours bachelor degree, or a three year bachelor degree plus the UON Graduate Certificate in Disaster Risk Reduction

Direct entry into the MDRSD program (160 units) is available for applicants who have:
 

• an advanced diploma or associate degree and five years' work experience in a role that is deemed to be disaster-relevant; or
• a three year bachelor degree which is not accompanied by employment in a disaster-relevant role or work experience

Indirect entry into the MDRSD program via the Graduate Certificate in Disaster Risk Reduction (GCDRR). Upon completion of the GCDRR, students would be eligible for admission into the MDRSD program (160 units) with 40 units of credit. This entry path is available for applicants who have:
 

• an advanced diploma or associate degree which is not accompanied by employment in a disaster-relevant role or work experience.

Relevant work experience will be assessed using the following information:
 

• An applicant statement detailing current role and work experience that is disaster-related
• A statement of service relating to disaster-related employment
• A comprehensive curriculum vitae

Fees

AUD 37,730 (indicative annual fee)
Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units). 

The Master of Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development is designed to appeal to those in management positions in private and public sector organisations, as well as those in NGOs and civil society, whose work involves resilience-building through the mitigation of impacts arising out of extreme events, which can be as varied as natural disasters, data breaches, political instability, terror attacks or health epidemics.

The term 'Resilience Officer' is being increasingly used by organisations to describe this role, though many have yet to embrace the terminology. Nevertheless, elements of this job role will be familiar to those who work in local government, planning and implementing strategies for town planning, urban and rural development, community safety and service continuity in times of emergency.

In the private sector this is mirrored by business continuity, environmental protection, risk management, disaster recovery planning, emergency and crisis management and workplace health and safety functions. Given the financial implications posed by risk, this program is also highly relevant to those managing and minimising risk and insurance cover.

There is also clear alignment between those employed in the emergency services and the planning and implementation of risk mitigation programs, and this is mirrored in the NGO and voluntary sectors including community-based organisations.

Following the recent disasters in Australia and globally, the need for expanded professional roles to support resilience building has become important and this program prepares graduates for such roles.