TM5563 - Public Health Leadership and Crisis Management

[Not offered in 2020]

This subject empowers health professionals with the appropriate leadership knowledge and skills required for effective performance during rapidly changing situations and crisis events within and external to most organisations. Leadership in internal or external crisis events necessitates the application of general leadership principles under extreme circumstances often characterised by uncertainty and disorder, non-standard risks and consequences, limited timeframes in the context of rapid change and limited communication. Despite best laid plans, actual crises often require the ability to deal with the unexpected. How would you lead when preparations are insufficient and when core values are threatened? How would you respond to unanticipated situations when time is of the essence, and planned approaches don't work? Crisis events require not only require flexibility, but depend heavily on effective delegation, and well planned resource logistics. Health professionals planning or preparing for deployment to situations that are experiencing rapid change or crisis events, especially need to carefully consider what skills they require. This subject provides the skills, knowledge and awareness to assist health professionals in dealing with crisis events of varying magnitude and scope. The importance of self awareness in identifying and addressing crisis leadership strengths and challenges is emphasised. Students will leave with new and improved knowledge, awareness and skills, and extensive resources. Students participate in distance learning throughout the Study Period.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse the process of leadership and management of the public health response to crises and disasters;
• Use sound public health science to advocate for the inclusion of ethical decision making within organisations;
• Present solutions to public health management issues that develop within crises and disasters;
• Articulate the significance of a multi-disciplinary approach to leadership and management during crises and disasters;
• Communicate to both professional and non-professional audiences the public health imperatives that mitigate the adverse effects of a crisis.

Subject Assessment

• assignments (50%)
• written assignment 3000 words (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.