MDM4070 - Responding to International Disasters and Humanitarian Crises

Leader(s): Professor Frank Archer

Offered

Alfred Hospital Second semester 2009 (Flexible)

Synopsis

This unit aims to promote the development of a broad and critical conceptual and practical understanding of international disasters and humanitarian crises. It will bridge the response from "domestic" to "the international" and also between "disasters" and "humanitarian crises" and provide an introduction to other international health electives. The unit will define the elements and interrelationships
of the international disaster and humanitarian crises response system and examine
contemporary perspectives of humanitarian principles. The unit will outline the definitions, classification and epidemiology of disasters and humanitarian crises with an emphasis on the Oceania and South East Asian regions. This background, combined with an exploration of the literature of recent disaster and humanitarian crises, will be used to interpret relevant international standards and guidelines, which have evolved in recent years to guide policy and practice for international disaster and humanitarian response. The unit will introduce the application of guidelines for assessment, planning, and monitoring to plan for appropriate health action in disasters
and humanitarian crises, identify key issues relating to vulnerable groups, and the socio-political and cultural contexts. These principles will then be applied to examine the key elements in preparing for an international response as a team member, and the expectations of appropriate professional behavior whilst on field deployment. The unit will conclude with examining the implications of these principles for both community and responder education and identifying research opportunities
in the field of international disasters and humanitarian crises.

Objectives

By the completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the elements, inter-relationships, coordination and minimal standards of the international disaster and humanitarian crises response system;
2. Identify a contemporary perspective of the following humanitarian principles: health and human rights; international humanitarian law; protection of internally displaced persons and refugees in crises; and minimum standards, codes of conduct, and guidelines for disaster and humanitarian crises responses;
3. Outline the definitions, classification, epidemiology and natural history of disasters and humanitarian crises from both the global and students' regional perspectives;
4. Apply international standards and guidelines for assessment, planning, and monitoring in disasters and humanitarian crises to plan appropriate short term health action;
5. Identify key issues relating to disasters and humanitarian crises, specifically relating to vulnerable groups in such settings;
6. Describe the socio-political-cultural context of international disasters and humanitarian crises and demonstrate the essentials of cultural competency in planning appropriate health action;
7. Describe the key elements in preparing for an international response as a team member and the expectations of appropriate professional behavior whilst on field deployment in an humanitarian relief environment;
8. Identify education requirements and research opportunities for the domain of international disasters and humanitarian crises.

Assessment

3 part assignment (2,500 words)(45%)
Assignment (2,500- 3,000 words)(55%)

Contact hours

On campus students:
Students are required to spend, on average, 12 hours per week on this unit across the semester (156 hours in total) working through self-directed learning materials, participating in tutorials through MUSO and in preparation of unit assessment tasks. Within this total, students are also required to attend a 3 day (24 hours) on-campus intensive.

Off campus students:
Students are required to spend, on average, 12 hours per week on this unit across the semester (156 hours in total) working through self-directed learning materials, participating in tutorials through MUSO and in preparation of unit assessment tasks.

Prerequisites

MDM4010