Course

Graduate Certificate in Bushfire Protection

Approved Abbreviation: GradCertBfireProt

Western Sydney University Course Code: 3710.2

AQF Level: 8

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year in this course was 2016 or later.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

For Commencement Year 2015, please refer to: 3710.1 Graduate Certificate in Bushfire Protection

This one-year part-time Graduate Certificate program aims to provide professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the behaviour and danger of bushfires in relation to local vegetation, land management and weather conditions. Students will gain the knowledge of the relevant planning and building regulations, standards and fire fighting. Graduates will be able to provide advice on developments in bushfire prone areas, assess building designs against the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the building code and standards.

This postgraduate course has been designed primarily as a Distance Learning course. However, select units (two in total) have intensive block style compulsory workshops that require students to attend. These workshops may include fieldwork, site visits or industry tours. Many of the other units have non-compulsory workshops and students are encouraged to attend the workshops to gain the benefit of the face to face interaction within the course. This course sets a pathway for further learning at Graduate Diploma and Masters levels.

Study Mode
One year part-time.

Accreditation
The course is recognised by Fire Protection Association Australia as a qualification for professional accreditation under the Bushfire Planning and Design scheme.

Admission

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree or higher, in bushfire protection, engineering, land surveying, building, building surveying, construction, planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, physical sciences, environmental studies, natural resource management, emergency management, land-use planning, local government or public sector management;

A Diploma or higher in bushfire protection, engineering, land surveying, building, building surveying, construction, planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, physical sciences, environmental studies, natural resource management, emergency management, land-use planning, local government or public sector management and two years full-time equivalent professional and/or voluntary work experience in the relevant fields in industry, local government or state fire services;

A Certificate III or higher in bushfire protection, engineering, land surveying, building, building surveying, construction, planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, physical sciences, environmental studies, natural resource management, emergency management, land-use planning, local government or public sector management or public safety (firefighting) and five years full-time equivalent professional and/or voluntary work experience in the relevant fields in industry, local government or state fire services;

Three years full-time equivalent professional work experience as a member of a state (or territory) fire service or bushfire consultancy firm working in the area of bushfire assessments.

Applicants seeking admission on the basis of work experience must support their application with a Statement of Service for all work experience listed on the application.

Statement of Service

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 60 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Summer Intake

Year 1

Summer session

200500

Bushfire Fighting

Autumn session

301103

Interpreting Building Regulations (Residential Buildings)

200457