Graduate Diploma of Disaster and Emergency Response

Employment opportunities include roles in disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery within a wide range of both national and international disaster and emergency response organisations, emergency response agencies, governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Possible future job titles: emergency manager, disaster responder, disaster coordinator, emergency responder, disaster planner, recovery officer, disaster recovery manager, disaster program manager, disaster preparedness specialist, disaster program specialist

Higher education

The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

All applicants are required to have a Bachelor's degree in emergency response/management or a relevant health related degree such as medical science, paramedicine, nursing, health sciences, health services management, public health, emergency management, or a Graduate Certificate of Disaster and Emergency Response, with equivalents considered. 

Academic admission requirements (Band 8) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

•   Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline; or

Work and Life

Alternatively applicants can be considered based on a minimum of 5 years relevant work experience.

English Proficiency Requirements

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
• Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page;
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
• Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

If you're applying for a course and have previous study or professional experience, you may be eligible for what we call 'advanced standing'.

For more information and to apply please go to https://www.ecu.edu.au/future-students/course-entry/advanced-standing

This unique course has been designed for multi-disciplinary professionals who are involved in the overall management of, and response to disasters.

This includes people currently working in areas like emergency services, healthcare services, military, NGO’s, volunteer groups, disaster response agencies or emergency telecommunications.

The course is the shortest of its kind in Australia and is available entirely online. It thoroughly explores disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response. You’ll also study the psychological effects of disaster and be introduced to the concepts of disaster health and humanitarian aid while considering the challenges associated with international disaster deployments.

Each week you’ll benefit from the expertise of renowned national and international guest speakers through interview-style podcasts.

Speakers have included professionals from organisations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, the Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience and the International Committee of the Red Cross. As well as speakers who survived terrorist attacks like the London and Bali bombings and 9/11.

Award Requirements

Students are required to complete six units

• DER6101 Introduction to Emergency Management
• DER6102 Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation
• DER6103 Major Incident Management
• DER6104 Disaster Health Practice and Humanitarian Relief 
• DER6105 Psychological Effects of Disaster
• DER6106 Advanced Emergency Management Response