PUAEMR031
Design emergency management exercises

This unit describes the outcomes required to design, develop or modify activities that exercise elements of emergency management arrangements.Emergency management exercises are used to test emergency plans, practise responding to an emergency, develop and/or practise emergency management skills, build motivation for emergency management personnel, and/or measure an organisation’s ability to manage an emergency.

Application

This unit applies to workers with the responsibility for designing emergency management exercises. It does not cover the skills and knowledge for implementing those designs.

Emergency management exercises can be used in any context where there is a requirement to plan for, or manage an emergency. The exercise scale can range from a small activity in a volunteer emergency response unit to a major evacuation exercise for an industrial plant. The design skills in this unit can be applied to any context in which an emergency management exercise is appropriate.

No licencing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Determine exercise purpose

1.1 Exercise stakeholders are identified and engaged.

1.2 Exercise governance arrangements are confirmed.

1.3 Exercise aim is identified in consultation with stakeholders.

1.4 Exerciseobjectives that meet the identified aim are determined.

1.5 Exercise focus is determined, based on operational outcomes, results of training needs analysis, previous exercises and evaluation reports.

2. Design and plan exercise activities

2.1 Planning team is established where required.

2.2 Governance and planning meetings are held, agreements and decisions are made, and outcomes are communicated to stakeholders.

2.3 Componentsof the exercise program are identified, developed and documented in the exercise plan.

2.4 Exercise style and activities consistent with exercise objectives are selected in consultation with stakeholders.

2.5 Design planning processes are undertaken with stakeholders to meet exercise objectives and components.

2.6 Exercise documentation is prepared.

3. Assess exercise risks

3.1 Risk and safety considerations are included in planning process.

3.2 Activities which mitigate/reduce risks associated with conducting exercise activities are designed and included.

3.3 Exercise risk and safety management plan is prepared.

4. Plan resource allocation

4.1 Resources to support the exercise are identified and secured.

4.2 Exercise host is identified and commitment to achieving exercise objectives is secured.

4.3 Appropriate authorisation(s) to use resources are obtained and documented.

4.4 Availability and timeframes for use of resources is agreed by appropriate authorities.

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

manage small-group workshops and activities

build effective networks and relationships

work effectively in a group setting

liaise and communicate with other agencies

plan and deliver briefings and debriefings

prepare exercise documentation

interpret organisational needs to develop measurable, achievable objectives

research skills to build scenarios and exercise inputs

Required Knowledge

exercise management concepts and principles

educational principles underpinning the design of objectives and linking those to activities

incident management principles

legislative and regulatory arrangements relevant to using resources, such as land, buildings, equipment and volunteers

problem solving and decision making techniques

project management principles

risk and safety management principles

budgeting and logistic management principles

jurisdictional emergency management arrangements

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

bring together an effective exercise design and planning team

facilitate the construction of realistic, meaningful and safe activities that address the exercise aim and objectives

Consistency in performance

Candidates should be expected to present evidence from at least two different contexts or exercise styles, including at least one exercise that requires multi-agency or organisation input and of which one may be simulated

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed on-the-job or in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to a real-life exercise design project.

Method of assessment

Assessors should use formative assessment strategies in a simulated environment to contextualise underpinning knowledge. Summative assessment requires application of the unit in a real-life project, often in an action-learning context.

Assessment may occur in a work environment or in a simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions


Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Stakeholders may include:

staff

client groups

decision makers

members of the public

community groups

industry groups

public and private sector organisations

non-government organisations

elected officials

Exercise objectives may include:

assessing and/or demonstrating the capability of individuals, teams, systems and/or arrangements

assessing or auditing system(s) performance

developing new skills

evaluating emergency management plans

evaluating individuals/teams/facilities/systems

evaluating risk treatment strategies

exploring issues

improving team cohesion

meeting legislative or regulatory requirements

practising skills, systems or procedures

promoting awareness

sharing information

validating training objectives or learning outcomes

Exercise focus may include:

improving systems, plans or arrangements

developing/training participants

sharing information

testing or auditing systems, plans, arrangements, facilities, and/or individual or team competencies

Components of the exercise program may include:

exercise name

authorities, permissions and governance

scope or purpose statement

aim and objectives

activity plan

detailed schedule of activities

location (s)

risk and safety management plan

budget and logistics plan

evaluation/assessment plan

evidence collection tools/templates

debrief plan

Exercise style may include:

case study

discussion/desktop exercises

hypothetical exercise/scenario analysis

distributed interactive exercise

field exercise

functional centre exercises

role play

Design planning processes may include:

Determining assessment and performance criteria

planning briefings and debriefings

developing contingency plans

scenario and activity design

developing background information and exercise inputs

determination of activity management structure

developing documentation

issuing notification s to affected stakeholders

identifying and managing risks

identifying and securing resources

meetings

developing and reviewing key performance indicators

scoping of agencies participating and the level at which they are participating

seasonal weather considerations

agreeing on duration of exercise activities

Exercise documentation may include:

Activity inputs (general and special ideas)

activity notification

activity management checklists

assessor documentation

evaluation checklist

evidence collection templates

exercise injects

general instruction

incident action plans

meeting details

permissions and approvals

risk assessments

risk action plans

safety instructions

specific inputs

timetable/schedule of events

umpire documentation

Resources may include:

agency guidelines/instructions

catering

equipment

exercise staff

facilities

finance

first aid personnel

guest/specialist speaker

medical supplies and personnel

personnel

presenter

responders or victims with experience of an emergency

response guide

safety advisor

transport

volunteers

welfare support


Sectors

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.