Admission and Unit Information - Graduate Certificate in Bushfire Protection
Accreditation
The course is recognised by Fire Protection Association Australia as a qualification for accreditation under the Bushfire Planning and Design scheme.
Admission
Applicants must have an undergraduate or higher degree in engineering, building, building surveying, architecture, urban studies, local government or public sector management, planning, natural resource management, emergency management, science, land-use planning or environmental studies.
OR
An AQF Diploma or higher in engineering, building, building surveying, architecture, local government or public sector management, planning, landscaping, natural resource management, emergency management, science or environmental studies PLUS 2 years professional work experience in the building industry including engineering, building surveying, planning, architecture, local government, environmental management or state fire services.
OR
An AQF Certificate III in engineering, building, building surveying, construction, architecture, science, environmental studies or public safety (firefighting) PLUS at least 4 years professional work experience in the building industry in the fields of engineering, building surveying, construction, architecture, local government or fire services.
Applications from Australian citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
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 UWS should also use the information provided on the UAC website.
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 UWS.
Course Structure
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 40 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.
Semester 1
This unit describes the factors affecting bushfire behaviour and the models which are used to predict bushfire behaviour, the principles of fire ecology, and the assessment of bushfire hazards on property and the environment. Topics include the measurement of fuel, rates of spread and flame length equations, fire danger indices and landscape issues, topographical influences on fire behaviour, the importance of fire regimes and fire thresholds on flora and fauna, habitat and fire impacts on environmental services such as soils and water catchments. The role of fire behaviour in determining impacts on structures is also described.
Choose one of
This unit describes the techniques, hardware and extinguishing agents used to fight and control bushfires and focuses on the logistics involved in ensuring safe, efficient and effective control. The content includes bushfire fighting strategies in the context of rural and interface environments, hazard reduction, brigade structure and incident control arrangements. The role of planning in supporting fire fighting is also considered.
Fire Technology and Engineering Principles
The unit introduces students to the basic principles of fire behaviour and fire safety design so that they can appreciate fire safety systems and interpret fire safety engineering design concepts. The unit covers the basics of combustion, building fire characteristics, smoke movement, responses of fire safety devices, building fire resistance, response of building occupants, fire safety engineering design and assessment methodology. The unit provides the basis for understanding fire safety engineering and the techniques and tools used in fire safety engineering.
Semester 2
Building in Bushfire Prone Areas
This unit describes the basis for the design and construction of buildings to withstand bushfire attack, the measures that can be incorporated into building design to achieve this and the legislative building requirements affecting bushfire environments. The unit examines the mechanisms of bushfire attack on structures, the role of landscaping on building survival and how materials perform in the presence of a bushfire event. The unit describes the role of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian Standards in the construction of various building types and the legislative and regulatory environment in which this operates.
Planning and Development Control
This unit describes the general planning issues relevant to developments in rural and urban areas. The content covers the factors important in determining the allocation and use of land and resources together with the contributions of development to the built and natural environment. Topics include: urban and rural design issues; the impact of the 3 tiers of Government process on development control, and the legal, political and technical issues relevant to impact assessments. Particular attention will be paid to the role of the private sector in developing controls, self regulation and appeal processes. Planning in both the micro and macro environments is examined in the context of sustainability, heritage values, community resources and its strategic effects on the recycling of existing land and non-renewable natural resources. Hazardous environments such as bush fires, floods, landslip and cyclone are also considered.
