Graduate Certificate of Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Action

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Action
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Length	1 year part-time
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$19,100 AUD
Level	Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
Deakin course code	A567
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Addressing the complex humanitarian aid challenges of the 21st century demands a new type of thinking. Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Action will introduce you to the tools, techniques and theories current workers are using to revolutionise the sector. Your knowledge will equip you with the skills to play a vital part, whether it be on the frontlines or in improving our systems of aid.

Ready to make a valuable difference to, and in, the humanitarian aid sector?

The Graduate Certificate of Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Action is delivered by Deakin from the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, a collaborative venture between Deakin and Save the Children that combines good humanitarian practice with academic rigour and seeks to address the power balance that can be created and perpetuated by even well-meaning aid.

The course has a dual focus on equipping you with the skills to make a difference, and the critical knowledge to improve the sector.

In core units, you will explore the role and purpose of humanitarian aid and its current challenges.

Course elective units give you the opportunity to dive deeper into specialised functions, such as humanitarian aid financing and project management.

Deakin’s humanitarian assistance courses are among the first in the Asia-Pacific region – meaning when you study with us, you will benefit from our long history of sector engagement.

Through networking opportunities embedded in the course, you can also capitalise on Deakin’s strong partnerships with international non-government organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, other locally based NGOs, government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other relevant stakeholders.

Fees and charges

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing this course within the same year in which they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of study. Four credit points is used as it represents a typical enrolment load for a Graduate Certificate.

Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.

Learn more about tuition fees.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities for humanitarian assistance graduates exist in government and non-government agencies concerned with the provision of all aspects of emergency and humanitarian responses, including service provision, logistical support, communications, program management and support, community engagement and support, funding, coordination, monitoring and evaluation.

Employment in the humanitarian field is also expanding, including in related areas, such as teaching, training, organisation and community capacity building, disaster risk reduction assessment and programming, consulting enterprises, journalism and communications, project management and community development.

Some of the roles you might obtain as a graduate of this course include: project administration assistant, research officer, or logistical support officer.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply specialised knowledge of the historical development of humanitarianism and relate this knowledge to the humanitarian contexts, through analysing current and future sector-wide trends and applying learning, sector standards and strategies to a range of complex national and international situations.
Communication	Communicate the theories and practices of humanitarian action and influence and engage a diverse variety of stakeholders to effect change.
Digital literacy	Select and apply communication technologies to conduct and critically analyse research, communicate findings and other information and build relationships to engage a diverse group of stakeholders.
Critical thinking	Review and critically analyse current local and political aid environments, synthesise knowledge from a variety of stakeholders and critically reflect on current and future humanitarian trends to propose solutions and prioritise actions.
Problem solving	Use creative and critical thinking and high level professional judgement to identify resources, to engage stakeholders, and to plan and evaluate a range of solutions and responses to complex humanitarian problems.
Self-management	Engage in critical self-reflection through independent learning, commitment to continuing professional development and through receiving feedback.
Teamwork	Not explicitly assessed
Global citizenship	Apply humanitarian principles and values, and actively engage in humanitarian operations across a variety of contexts taking into consideration cultural, social, political, economic, environmental and ethical issues.

Approved at Faculty Board October 2018

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Disaster Resilience and Humanitarian Action, you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
2 credit points of core units
2 credit points of course elective units.

Most units are equal to one credit point.

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Note: This course is part-time only.

Course structure

Core units

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Units

AHL701

Principles of Humanitarianism and Disaster Management [2026 is the final year of offer for this unit, ADS701 replaces this unit in 2027]

AHA716

Refugees and Forced Migration

Electives

Plus two credit points from the following list:

ADH717

Climate Change and Sustainability

ADS715

Cross Cultural Communication and Practice

ADS723

Monitoring and Evaluation

ADS711

Non-Government Organisations and other Development Actors [2026 is the final year of offer for this unit]

AHA722

Program Design [2026 is the final year of offer for this unit, ADS705 replaces this unit in 2027]

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

completion of a bachelor degree or higher
at least two years' relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent).

Examples of relevant work experience include, but not limited to: Development and Humanitarian Sector (NGOs, community based organisations, charities, multilateral development or humanitarian agencies, UN programmes or agencies), Local, State, Federal Government, Human Rights Commission, Embassy, Ombudsman, Development Policy, Community Development, Community Engagement, Health care overseas or remote Australia, Human Rights advocating for asylum seekers, a communications/media person work in the not for profit sector, humanitarian field (teaching, training, organisation and community capacity building, disaster risk reduction assessment, communications, project management, community development, social work, cultural heritage, arts management, sports management.

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for credit transfer. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your credit transfer. Your credit transfer is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Work experience

Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.