This unit will demonstrate to the student the role of community stakeholders in the management of environmental issues, where 'the community' may include international, national, regional scales of engagement and government, industry and public sectors. We use as a shared case study within the field of natural resource management, while the principles, skills and knowledge covered in this unit apply to any context where a community engagement is required for the implementation of a project or policy.
Students will build their understanding of social aspects of engagement including ethics, stakeholder analysis and monitoring and evaluation of programs. Applying tools such as social mapping, students will analyse the role of social structures in affecting the planning, processes and outcomes of natural resource management activities. Students will investigate community perspectives, and the importance of genuine participation with stakeholders for the development of effective practice.
By the end of this unit students will be able to undertake a stakeholder analysis, develop an ethical rationale, and design a program that can be monitored and evaluated for effective community engagement. To do this, the unit draws on a number of case studies in natural resource management and biosecurity, also of benefit students in other disciplines that illustrate how social partnerships and community engagement are integral to effective professional practice. The investigation of these case studies is complemented by a broad base of community engagement literature and tutorial activities that put theory into practice.
