About this course

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Tocal College has partnered with Animal Health Australia (AHA) since 2005, and Plant Health Australia (PHA) from 2015, to deliver nationally accredited training for biosecurity emergency response personnel. This highly successful partnership is being concluded in June 2023 and Tocal is no longer able to take new enrolments.

At a glance:

Location: Online or Blended Delivery
Course duration: Approx. 65 days over 24 months
Number of units: 11
Indicative fees: Nil (jurisdiction funded)
Accredited Course: Yes

The PUA50219 Diploma of Public Safety (Biosecurity Emergency Response Management) has five (5) core units and six (6) elective units of competency. The core units are covered by the IMBER and BRIEFBER online modules and face-to-face workshops.

Course structure

To successfully gain this qualification, you will:

  1. Complete two (2) foundation courses from Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia
  2. Complete five (5) core online modules
  3. Attend two (2) core face-to-face workshops
  4. Complete six (6) elective units and attend the relevant face-to-face workshops.

The diagram below gives an overview of the course structure.

Diploma flowchart

Details

Complete the two (2) Foundation Courses from Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia. These provide an informative introduction to the operation of plant pest and animal disease biosecurity emergency responses.

    The five (5) core online modules include:

    • IMBER 1 Leading and managing - taking control (approx. 25 hours)
    • IMBER 2 Context (approx. 25 hours)
    • IMBER 3 Communication (approx. 15 hours)
    • IMBER 4 Plans, reports and records (approx. 20 hours)
    • BRIEFBER Conducting briefings and debriefings in a biosecurity emergency response (approx. 4-5 hours)

    Each online module has an assessment task which must be successfully completed before attending the workshop. Attendance at the face-to-face workshop is compulsory.

    Your chosen electives will also have an online module.

After successful completion of the online modules, you can progress to the two (2) face-to-face workshops. These workshops cover the requirements for your jurisdiction and practical tasks to support your learning. Your final assessment tasks for the five (5) core units of competency will be undertaken during the workshops. You will also be required to attend face-to-face workshops for your chosen electives (see below).

Note: Please check with your jurisdiction training coordinator to make sure this course is available in your area.

Core units of competency:

To obtain a Diploma of Public Safety (Biosecurity Response Management), you must complete the two (2) foundation courses, five (5) core units, and six (6) elective units. Each elective unit is covered by an online module followed by a face-to-face workshop. The electives are:

  • POBER Planning and overseeing a biosecurity emergency response (approx. 50 hours)
  • SAFEBER Ensuring a safe workplace during a biosecurity emergency response (approx. 20-25 hours)
  • OP3BER Managing operations for a Level 3 incident (approx. 20-25 hours)
  • FINBER Managing financial resources during a biosecurity emergency response (online module only) (approx. 25-30 hours)
  • PLANBER Managing planning for a Level 2 biosecurity emergency response (approx. 20-25 hours)
  • COORDBER Coordinating resources in a multi-agency biosecurity emergency response (approx. 20-25 hours)
  • PHYSBER Managing physical resources in a biosecurity emergency response (approx. 50 hours)
  • PIBER Managing public information during a biosecurity emergency response (approx. 25-30 hours).

You will be required to attend face-to-face workshops in order to successfully complete the units of competency and be awarded the Diploma.

Elective units of competency:



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