APG5381 Effective crisis communications
Faculty of Arts
APG5381 Effective crisis communications is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Caulfield. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Caulfield
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Overview
Crisis communications is an increasingly important and specialised area of expertise in contemporary organisations. In an increasingly global and interconnected world, there are a growing number of crises that can challenge organisations, whether public, private or non-profit, and impact their reputations locally and internationally. In this unit you will gain expertise in approaching and designing communication strategies to manage crises and critical issues. Drawing on case studies and practical research from around the world, you will acquire skills in identifying issues and risks, analysing stakeholders, and developing effective and ethical communication plans to engage with audiences and publics during a crisis.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Caulfield | On campus, block |
Assessment
- QuizQuiz / Test20%
- Case StudyWritten30%
- Career development taskArtefact50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
identify and critically evaluate core concepts, including risks, issues, crises and stakeholders in the context of crisis communications;
- 2
identify and critically evaluate the implications of increasing globalization and digital technologies on crisis communications;
- 3
design and develop effective and ethical communications plans to proactively manage crises and mitigate their impact for diverse organisations;
- 4
apply advanced communication, research and analytical skills.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures6 hours
- Tutorials18 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
APG5381 is part of 1 area of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Alison Stieven-Taylor
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Alison Stieven-Taylor
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for APG5381?
APG5381 has no prerequisites.
When is APG5381 offered?
In 2026, APG5381 runs in Semester 2 at Caulfield.
How much work is APG5381?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does APG5381 have an exam?
No. APG5381 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include APG5381?
APG5381 is part of Strategic communications management.