Caretaking Rivers for the Community

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Combination of remote learning and lectures, tutorials, practicals and projects

Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours.

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in the Graduate Certificate in Catchment and Waterway Management (GC-CWMGT) or the Graduate Certificate in River Health Management (N17AA). This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, 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 course are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Student Equity and Disability Support Team: http://www.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.

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.

• Participation in remote learning forums by providing online contributions to discussion points (5 percent)

• 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)

Students will be required on commencement of the subject to sign a statement (in hard copy) that they undertake that all work submitted will be their own, that they understand they may be required to take an examination in the subject if there is any doubt as to the authenticity of their assessed work, and that they understand plagiarism and/or collusion are the basis for disciplinary action.

A study guide and a book of readings is provided to students.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.