Master of Humanitarian Assistance

2021 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2021 course information
Award granted	Master of Humanitarian Assistance
Course Map	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021: Option 1: Research Paper Option 2: Minor Thesis A &B These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021: Option 1: Research Paper Option 2: Minor Thesis A & B These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2021: Option 1: Research Paper Option 2: Minor Thesis A &B Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Deakin course code	A767
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Note: This course includes a compulsory 5-day intensive class in Trimester 2 held at Deakin University Burwood campus for both campus and cloud located students. There is also elective unit that contains an intensive in Trimester 3 held at a Deakin University campus for both campus and cloud located students.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Intractable conflicts, climate disasters and pandemics – these are just a few of the challenges humanity currently faces. It’s clear that in the 21st century, the need for humanitarian aid has never been greater. But it’s no longer enough to assume our current practices can address these complex challenges. We need new humanitarian aid leaders, who can envision and enact a better version of the field.

Are you ready to help build a more sustainable and equitable humanitarian aid system?

Deakin’s Master of Humanitarian Assistance offers you the unique opportunity to gain practical skills through simulated experiences while exploring and analysing the role and function of humanitarian aid today. This dual focus ensures you graduate prepared to make a difference on the ground, and with the critical perspective and capability to introduce new ideas and improvements into the sector.

The course 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.

Explore the practice and theory of community-based solutions to forced displacement, needs assessment and emergency response planning, and national and international disaster risk reduction and recovery. A research unit gives you the opportunity to further explore issues of interest.

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.

Graduate with the skills to contribute abroad, at home, or in still-developing avenues.

Career opportunities

Job 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.

Some of the roles you might obtain, depending on your previous experience, include:

community engagement specialist
education adviser
grants manager
NGO program director.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

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.

Research information

Students will undertake research training and complete a research project in one of the three following options:

one credit points of research training in research design, and a one credit point research project;
two credit points of research training in research design and methods (qualitative or quantitative), and a two credit point research project; or
two credit points of research training in research design and methods (qualitative or quantitative), and a four credit point research project developed in consultation with a supervisor from the relevant discipline

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Critique the historical development of the humanitarian system and apply the key principles, exemplary practices and sector standards to current humanitarian context, both national and international, with particular focus on coordination, resilient communities, risk management, emergency responses, recovery strategies
Communication	Integrate, analyse, synthesise and evaluate the theory and practice of humanitarian action and communicate to a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences through reports, briefings, essays, case studies, and oral presentations.
Digital literacy	Research, analyse, report and communicate complex information via the employment of a range of sectors specialised and generic technological modes to a wide variety of audiences including humanitarian, professional and scholarly communities.
Critical thinking	Investigate, critically analyse, synthesise and report on issues facing contemporary humanitarian scenarios in light of established concepts, practice and design and develop actions, solutions and strategies to address them.
Problem solving	Apply initiative, creativity and intellectual rigor in researching, identifying, planning, implementing, managing people and processes and evaluating proposed innovative responses to complex situations and problems encountered in a range of humanitarian emergencies, locally and globally.
Self-management	Plan, organise and perform as an independent and reflective practitioner in the field as well as in the system generally, demonstrating a commitment to continuing professional development, scholarly research and professional contribution.
Teamwork	Contribute to the achievement of team goals and cohesiveness in diverse humanitarian emergency scenarios, humanitarian planning, implementation projects and research projects through active and constructive participation and contributions to resolving impasses and conflict.
Global citizenship	Adopt a number of roles, in an efficacious and ethical manner, in a broad range of humanitarian operations across diverse cultural, social, political, economic and environmental spectrums.
Approved by Faculty Board November 2018