Caretaking Rivers for the Community

This subject is not offered in 2011.

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.

• Participation in remote learning forums by providing online contributions to discussion points (5 %)
• Participation in the reflective diary requirement by online contribution (500 words total) (5 percent)
• A one hour written test on remote learning material (20 percent)
• Tutorial exercises, assignments and short tests during intensive (equivalent to a 1,000 word assignment) (20 percent)
• Individual project report(s) equivalent to a 4,000 word assignment (50 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.