Overview
Increasingly, humanitarian workers are exposed to insecure environments due to lawlessness, 
political instability and armed conflict, so there is a compelling need for them to be adequately prepared for any dangers they may encounter. All field workers should be proficient in establishing and maintaining telecommunications, whether working in a safe or hostile situation. Conscious of the varying needs within the sector, RedR endeavours to address the concerns of a range of organizations. These include relief, development and advocacy organizations, operational agencies and agencies that are not directly operational but provide support to community based organisations and national NGOs.
The course introduces what is a standard and recognised approach to managing security within the sector. It is important for everyone to have grounding in the concepts and principles underlying this approach as agencies develop their security policies and practices. The course provides an overview of individual and team risk management. This covers different contexts, adopting appropriate strategies, the development of security plans and procedures, and responding to incidents when they occur. An important element of the course is the operation and use of communications equipment, risk assessment of dangerous operating environment and personal safety coping mechanism.
Aims
The course aim is to enhance the ability of participants to perform their role safely and effectively in the field. Particular emphasis is made of the importance recognising the different mandates of organisations and the particular roles that individuals play as it relates to personal and team security.
Objectives
By the end of the course participants should be able to reduce the risk of injury and death to humanitarian workers by promoting:
- an understanding of security risks in the field environment
- the development of personal and team-based strategies
- effective use of communication and navigation devices
Audience
The Personal Security & Communications course is designed for people from all professional backgrounds and disciplines, and is open to all RedR Australia Register members, individuals and aid agency staff wanting to learn about personal security issues and the team implications. More experienced individuals and aid agency staff, and staff based in a head office who carry out monitoring visits to the field seeking to consolidate and build on existing skills and knowledge will also benefit from this training, as the course provides a unique opportunity to enhance their skills, gain fresh insights and share practical experience with others.
Course outline
- Security Context
- Introduction to Maps
- Field Preparedness and Evacuation
- Field Communication Protocol
- Sexual Assault
- Residence Assessment Exercise
- Basics of Negotiation
- Coping with Insecure Environments: Stress Awareness
- Weapons Awareness
- Fire and Movement
- Introduction to GPS and Navigation
- Field Communication Equipment
- Image and Acceptance
- Vehicle Check Points/Road Blocks
- Trip Planning
- Crowds and Mobs
- Field Security
- Hostage Survival
- Mines and Explosives
* It should be noted that this course can be extremely confronting to participants and is physically demanding. Participants are given due warning of this and are expected to recognise this warning on application to the course.
Selection criteria
As places are limited priority is given to those applicants who:
- are RedR Australia Register members or applicants
- currently work for an operational NGO
- intend to be deployed within 6 months of completing the course.
The course is in English and a reasonable proficiency is required for by participants.
Given the physical nature of the course physical fitness is should also be considered as self selection criteria.
Pre-course Learning
It is strongly recommended that all participants complete a preparatory on-line package before attending the PSC. Past experience shows that this will deepen your learning of personal security issues and allow you to contribute more fully to the practical scenarios at Dookie.
RedR Australia recommends two e-learning courses which are freely available within the humanitarian sector. You may choose the one most suited to your needs:
- Basic Security in the Field – United Nations Department of Safety & Security
- Stay Safe – International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Further information about each course
Basic Security in the Field – United Nations Department of Safety & Security
This is a mandatory on-line course for all candidates wishing in the future to deploy with any UN agency. As well as introducing security material of a general nature, this package focuses on the UN approach to security issues and provides comprehensive information on the UN Security System as it operates around the world. The course takes approx 4 - 5 hours to complete. An Advanced Security in the Field certificate is also available - this will take 3 - 4 hours to complete. If technical problems are experienced, please refer to the troubleshooting guidelines.
Stay Safe – International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Although this coursehas been designed primarily for personnel working within the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, it contains a great deal of generic security material and is very well suited to those wishing to deploy with any NGO. The course takes approx 3 - 4 hours to complete.
Certificates of completion
If you finish the online course/s, please bring your certificate/s of completion to Dookie to ensure trainers have an understanding about the proportion of partipants who have completed each course.
Note for RedR Australia Standby Register applicants
RedR Australia Standby Register applicants are required to complete the United Nations Basic and Advanced Security in the Field certificates as a prerequisite to being accepted onto the Register.
