| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Sustainable Management in Local Government |
| Unit ID: | DLGLM1004 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (DLGLM1000) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 080300 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit introduces students to the concepts and principles of sustainable development, emphasising the crucial leadership role of Local Government in guiding society toward a sustainable future - socially, economically, and environmentally. Students will explore major global and national sustainability challenges, priorities, and initiatives, and analyse their links to relevant local government and community actions. The unit also covers various tools and frameworks to support sustainable development within a local government context. Finally, students will develop a proposal for a project or initiative aimed at enhancing the sustainability of a local government area or community. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | |  | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Describe the interdependence of society, the natural environment and the economy and the key drivers behind the emergence of sustainable development as a global priority. |
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| K2. | Discuss key principles, initiatives and models of sustainable development and sustainable management and explain local government’s leadership role in society’s transition to a sustainable future. |
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| K3. | Outline the connections between global and national sustainability priorities and local government projects and functions. |
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| K4. | Identify key sustainability impacts of local government and indicators of sustainable management performance. |
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| K5. | Recognise tools and frameworks to assess sustainability impacts of local government activities and to guide the creation of sustainable development initiatives. |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Analyse local government projects and activities in relation to the broader social, economic, and environmental context. |
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| S2. | Examine and interpret local government policies, initiatives and reports supporting sustainable management. |
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| S3. | Interpret results of sustainable management tools, guides and/or frameworks. |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Critically analyse current practice in local government agencies and identify opportunities to enhance sustainable management performance. |
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| A2. | Develop a proposal and business case for an initiative/project to improve a specific local government function/activity and contribute to progress on one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals. |
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| Unit Content: |
Topics may include: - Concepts of sustainability
- Drivers of sustainable development
- International, national and local programs, initiatives and commitments to sustainable development.
- United Nations initiatives - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), UN Global Compact, Principles of effective governance for sustainable development.
- Sustainability challenges and their impacts on local government responsibilities.
- Current trends and priorities in sustainable management.
- Circular Economy, Net Zero emissions.
- Sustainable production and consumption, procurement, supply chains management.
- Measurement, management and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Triple Bottom Line measurement and reporting.
- Preparing and presenting proposals for sustainability initiatives
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| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods • Active listening for meaning and influencing • High-level empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments • Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth • Inspiring and enabling others • Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others • Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically on complex problems • Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry • Proposing creative solutions in problem solving | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: • Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research • Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: • The responsible conduct of research • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts • Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable • Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | 1 - Yes |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, A1 | Critical analysis of sustainable management performance of a local government authority and/or initiative. | Oral presentation/discussion and/or written report | 20 - 40% | | 2. | K2, K3, K4, K5, S2, S3, A1, A2 | Proposal and business case for sustainable management project/initiative | Individual or group task. Oral presentation and/or written report | 60 - 80% |
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