[Advice Needed] Studying Bachelor of Emergency Management

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  EightImmortals on 03/02/2019 - 14:26

  Meh, another 3-4 years of 'studying' and then she probably wont like that job either and be further down the HECS debt trap to boot? Convince her to try other jobs first, at least that she wont be further in debt (unless she is paying up front for the 'education' of course.) Sounds like she doesn't really know what she wants to do and is just taking a stab at something that 'sounds' appealing. Cynical? Maybe but it's nothing I haven't seen many times before. :)

  "We do not know what to expect besides what the uni website says. "

  Don't forget that Uni's are merely for-profit enterprises these days so don't get sucked in by their advertising campaigns. Look through the job ads in your area and see for yourself how many jobs are going in that area. Call up some 'emergency management' organisations and ask them directly what the job prospects are and if that degree is actually mandatory or worth anything to them.

  • 

    Syberian on 04/02/2019 - 16:52

    Thanks for the advice, looking through the job ads is great idea.
    I definitely take with a grain of salt anything written by the unis these days

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  Quantumcat on 03/02/2019 - 14:37

  +1

  How old is she? I wouldn't start a whole new degree. Do a certificate at TAFE for something that combines nicely with law (or just something that requires professional writing / helping people etc). Seems silly to spend several years on something that she might not like either. It would be different if it was something she had dreamed about since she was a kid but parents convinced her to do law which she always regretted - then following her dream finally makes sense. But not just to do something random that looks a little interesting.

  Also if she really wants to be back at uni it would be better to do a masters than a whole new degree. There's plenty of topics where you don't need to have done a similar undergraduate degree. And then on her CV her education will look like it makes actual sense.

  Oh and she should be looking at actual jobs not degrees - see what job she wants to do and the education that would look good when applying for it. Silly to do a degree and find out it is totally useless or doesn't lead to the job she assumed it would.

  • 

    pais on 03/02/2019 - 15:29

    +4

    I wouldn't start a whole new degree.

    +1.

    I definitely wouldn't be signing up to study for another 3+ years if you've already got a degree + have been working for a few years. I'd definitely be looking at either a masters or a diploma.

    You also run the risk of investing a lot of time & money into a new role that you could end up disliking also. The cost of volunteering somewhere for 3 months will be a much cheaper lesson than another degree.

    • 

      Syberian on 04/02/2019 - 16:53

      Agree with both of you. Will look into a diploma, I think is the best way to go now

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  dcep on 03/02/2019 - 14:49

  +2

  lawyer has a lot of fields to try out

  barrister or
  solicitor in conveyancing, family, civil, criminal, etc.

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  Nutrino on 03/02/2019 - 14:56

  "Cyclones, bushfires, floods, plane crashes, and oil spills have all shaped significant events in history globally in recent years. How these events are managed, before, during and after a crisis can mean the difference between life and death."

  Quote from charles sturt uni.

  Sounds like a fun job.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 03/02/2019 - 15:44

    +1

    But do they hire graduates into these roles? I think they tend towards ex-military Duntroon graduates with experience.

    • 

      mskeggs on 03/02/2019 - 20:14

      +2

      Cops, firies, soldiers, yep.
      I would be astonished if a graduate with no experience could get a job.
      These degrees are for people doing the job who are looking to advance, not new entrants.

      • 

        Qkumber on 04/02/2019 - 16:09

        +1

        To get a paid job in the emergency management field you need to be a volunteer for several years first eg with SES or CFA or work for a government department that has an emergency responsibility. This is usually on ground grunt work. To progress in emergency management you need significant training which is provided on the job. It takes years.

        • 

          Syberian on 04/02/2019 - 16:54

          @Qkumber: Oh, we didn't know that

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  renster72 on 03/02/2019 - 15:13

  As she already has a degree maybe look at doing a cert IV

  https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/PUA42712

  https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/PUA41012

  • 

    Syberian on 04/02/2019 - 16:55

    Many thanks! that's a good idea, I hadn't found those ones

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  [Deactivated] on 03/02/2019 - 15:16

  +1

  Medicine. Be a medical litigator (medical malpractice is so Vogue presently). Very popular with the doctors :)

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  holdenmg on 03/02/2019 - 17:14

  +2

  If this is the CSU course…

  Applicants for the Bachelor of Emergency Management must meet the following Admission Requirements:

  At least one year's work experience (paid or voluntary) in an industry, organisation, agency or enterprise that has emergency management roles and responsibilities demonstrated by a detailed resume.

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  symo on 03/02/2019 - 17:25

  May be a good idea to approach your local ses unit and have a chat with a local controller as most of them would have done either the full course or parts of it (via internal training) or may even put you in touch with someone who already completed the course.

  • 

    Syberian on 04/02/2019 - 16:56

    Yeah, that's a good idea. Will try that

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  Qkumber on 04/02/2019 - 16:18

  I work in emergency management in Vic and have been deployed interstate and I’m on national EM committees for my specialist area. Happy for you to pm me if you want. It took me several years for my career to progress to a full time position in the EM space. I’ve done significant training in this area. There are opportunities but depends what area of EM she’s interested in. In Vic at least there is a very bushfire focus of EM (my specialist area is quite obscure compared to fire).

  • 

    Syberian on 04/02/2019 - 16:57

    +1

    Thank you! I'll let her know and might shoot you a pm later