Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

PUAOPE003 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Manage the public information function at an incident

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency PUAOPE003 - Manage the public information function at an incident
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to gather, assemble and disseminate timely, tailored and relevant information to the community and media and if the Incident Controller requires and can also include government, incident personnel and their organisations.An individual performing this role has the title of Public Information Officer and is typically appointed by the Incident Controller. Public Information Officers are required to liaise with the planning section, intelligence section/unit and other Incident Management Team (IMT) units to gather information about the incident. They then assemble this information into a form suitable for dissemination to the public, media and other stakeholders. They will also provide timely and relevant information to stakeholders; provide warnings and information to threatened communities, other stakeholders and the public; liaise with news media; manage media liaison issues and consult with affected communities in conjunction with relief and recovery organisations and/or agencies.Authorisation to perform this role is subject to organisational policies and procedures.No licensing, legislative or regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field Operations
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Manage media unit
  • Media unit is established, as required, to liaise with and respond to enquiries from the media at the incident
  • Media unit is communicated as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident
  • Current and timely information consistent with incident requirements and local knowledge is provided to the media, in accordance with organisational procedures
  • Preparation and issuing of media messages is managed by the media unit, working in conjunction with media networks, to disseminate key messages
  • Preparation of key messages for press conferences and other media events involving the Incident Controller, or other members of the incident management team, are drafted and managed by the media unit
  • Media needs and deadlines are communicated within the public information section and to the incident management team
  • Media liaison officers and/or escorts are appointed to support incident ground media liaison as approved by the Incident Controller
  • Organisational requirements for media liaison are applied
       
Element: Establish public information section
  • Initial briefing, including information required to manage the public information section, is obtained from the Incident Controller where the Incident Controller’s intent is confirmed
       
Element: Public information section objectives and tasks are identified and confirmed with the Incident Controller
       
Element: Information on the current and projected incident situation is obtained from the planning section, the intelligence section, if established, and from external sources including media reports
       
Element: Appropriate structure for the public information section is established, tasks are delegated and briefings are provided to assigned personnel
       
Element: Resources are identified and obtained to meet public information section requirements
       
Element: Safe work practices and health and welfare arrangements for the work area are implemented and monitored
       
Element: Manage public information section
  • Public information plan is prepared and objectives and strategies are specified to meet the information needs of the community and media
       
Element: Analysis of the incident, its risks, constraints and the information to be reported to identified target audiences is incorporated into the public information plan
       
Element: How information is to be communicated internally and externally to the community, media and other stakeholders is confirmed in the public information plan
       
Element: Timely and relevant information on the current and projected incident situation including, incident control objectives, strategies and resources at the incident is collected, summarised and prepared for dissemination
       
Element: Workload, progress and performance of the public information section is monitored and managed
       
Element: Public information section meetings are conducted, as required
       
Element: Structure of the public information section is adjusted during the incident to meet predicted and actual information demands
       
Element: Arrangements are made for a log and/or record of activities and decisions to be kept
       
Element: Manage information and warnings unit
  • Information and warnings unit is established, if required, to provide timely, tailored and relevant information and warnings to affected communities and stakeholders on behalf of the Incident Controller
       
Element: Information is gathered from the incident management team to maintain situational awareness
       
Element: Information gathered directly from the community and used by the information and warnings unit is provided to the intelligence unit
       
Element: Ongoing liaison with the community liaison unit and the media unit is undertaken to ensure that information is disseminated according to the area of responsibility
  • Media unit is established, as required, to liaise with and respond to enquiries from the media at the incident
       
Element: Media unit is communicated as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident
       
Element: Current and timely information consistent with incident requirements and local knowledge is provided to the media, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Preparation and issuing of media messages is managed by the media unit, working in conjunction with media networks, to disseminate key messages
       
Element: Preparation of key messages for press conferences and other media events involving the Incident Controller, or other members of the incident management team, are drafted and managed by the media unit
       
Element: Media needs and deadlines are communicated within the public information section and to the incident management team
       
Element: Media liaison officers and/or escorts are appointed to support incident ground media liaison as approved by the Incident Controller
       
Element: Organisational requirements for media liaison are applied
       
Element: Managecommunity liaison unit
  • Community liaison unit is established, as required, to promote two-way communication between the incident management team and affected communities
       
Element: Established community networks, groups and/or systems relevant to the incident area, that may assist with the acquisition and dissemination of incident information, are identified
       
Element: In consultation with relief and recovery organisations the information needs of affected communities are identified and timely, tailored and relevant information is prepared
       
Element: Community meetings and other activities are conducted to respond to community information needs and to log concerns requiring follow up
       
Element: Liaison is maintained with the operations and planning sections, the intelligence section or unit and the resource unit to ensure the accuracy of information disseminated to the public
       
Element: Liaison with the information and warnings unit is maintained to update incident information and potential threats to communities
       
Element: Local knowledge and information provided by the community about risks, issues and local factors provided by the community are communicated to the incident management team
       
Element: Information about the current and anticipated extent of the impact and broader effect of the incident on the community is communicated in a suitable and timely manner
       
Element: Feedback is obtained from the community on the effectiveness of the community liaison unit’s communication strategies and responses to community concerns
       
Element: Contribute to planning processes
  • Communication is maintained, as required, with members of the incident management team through formal and informal meetings, briefings and debriefings
       
Element: Incident management team is briefed on social and/or political issues and is provided with feedback on community needs and concerns
       
Element: Monitor and review public information function
  • Allocation and performance of public information resources is monitored and reviewed, in accordance with organisational procedures
       
Element: Briefings and debriefings are conducted, as required
       
Element: Post incident analysis is initiated and/or participated in
       

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Media unit is established, as required, to liaise with and respond to enquiries from the media at the incident 
Media unit is communicated as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident 
Current and timely information consistent with incident requirements and local knowledge is provided to the media, in accordance with organisational procedures 
Preparation and issuing of media messages is managed by the media unit, working in conjunction with media networks, to disseminate key messages 
Preparation of key messages for press conferences and other media events involving the Incident Controller, or other members of the incident management team, are drafted and managed by the media unit 
Media needs and deadlines are communicated within the public information section and to the incident management team 
Media liaison officers and/or escorts are appointed to support incident ground media liaison as approved by the Incident Controller 
Organisational requirements for media liaison are applied 
Initial briefing, including information required to manage the public information section, is obtained from the Incident Controller where the Incident Controller’s intent is confirmed 
 
 
 
 
 
Public information plan is prepared and objectives and strategies are specified to meet the information needs of the community and media 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information and warnings unit is established, if required, to provide timely, tailored and relevant information and warnings to affected communities and stakeholders on behalf of the Incident Controller 
 
 
Media unit is established, as required, to liaise with and respond to enquiries from the media at the incident 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Community liaison unit is established, as required, to promote two-way communication between the incident management team and affected communities 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Communication is maintained, as required, with members of the incident management team through formal and informal meetings, briefings and debriefings 
 
Allocation and performance of public information resources is monitored and reviewed, in accordance with organisational procedures 
 
 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUAOPE003 - Manage the public information function at an incident
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

PUAOPE003 - Manage the public information function at an incident

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: