Caretaking Rivers for the Community

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject is concerned with demonstrating how catchment management projects are integrated into catchment management programs to achieve multiple outcomes across multiple sites. It demonstrates how the "Principles of Natural Resources Management" apply to the design of river health and water resources protection programs. The content will focus on medium term outcomes at a sub-catchment or reach scale. Subject material will consider programs for:

stakeholder involvement,

erosion management,

riparian management,

habitat restoration,

managing drainage schemes,

managing the environmental water reserve, and

floodplain management.

The subject addresses the acquisition of the data and the knowledge to formulate activity and monitoring programs using integrated assessment and prediction tools and risk-based approaches.

The structured remote learning component reviews obligations under compliance and statutory requirements and guides students toward familiarity with various tools to assist in program development. Students also work remotely on their project which for this subject will involve broadening their previous work to build a comprehensive program to manage a catchment issue. The four day intensive face to face session focuses on building and using the skills needed to develop effective catchment management programs including:

risk and risk assessment,

communication,

social issues and community involvement,

using "toolkit" products,

knowledge management and corporate memory, and

program evaluation.

There is also a presentation dealing with program implementation how to get the program off the bookshelf and on to the ground.

A one-hour written test on compliance and statutory requirements (10 percent).

Group "toolkit" exercise. Equivalent to 1,000 words each plus participation (20 percent)

Tutorial exercises and short tests during the intensive phase (10 percent)

Individual project report(s) equivalent to a 4,000 word assignment (50 percent)

500 word (equivalent) ongoing critique of the subject's relevance to the key natural resources management principles (10 percent)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On the successful completion of this subject students will:

be able to recognise the interdependence of activities and integrate them into effective programs;

understand how the seven natural resource management principles are served by combining projects into programs;

be confident in building and applying knowledge in practical settings to think and plan strategically;

be able to articulate their knowledge to interact effectively with stakeholders;

optimise programs using risk based approaches and triple bottom line concepts; and

understand the requirements for meaningful monitoring and assessment of program outcomes.