Send me a PDF copyHighlights
- Learn how justice, care and local knowledge shape disaster recovery and community resilience.
- Build practical skills in policy advising, risk assessment, communication and ethical decision-making.
- Work on real-world projects through community partnerships and hands-on learning experiences.
- Prepare for a career in government, NGOs, humanitarian aid, social policy or community organisations and councils.
- Learn skills essential for supporting fair, inclusive, and sustainable community recovery.
Highlights
- Learn how justice, care and local knowledge shape disaster recovery and community resilience.
- Build practical skills in policy advising, risk assessment, communication and ethical decision-making.
- Work on real-world projects through community partnerships and hands-on learning experiences.
- Prepare for a career in government, NGOs, humanitarian aid, social policy or community organisations and councils.
- Learn skills essential for supporting fair, inclusive, and sustainable community recovery.
Why choose this course?
If you want to make a difference in how communities respond to crises and recover with fairness and dignity, this major is for you.
You’ll explore the intersection of justice, public health, risk management, communication and design to understand how disasters disrupt lives – and how ethical, evidence-informed decisions can support recovery.
Through applied projects and case studies, you’ll learn to analyse the unequal impacts of crises, design inclusive recovery strategies and advocate for policies that prioritise community voices.
You’ll be equipped to advise policymakers and organisations engaged in disaster response and recovery, ensuring that decisions prioritise the needs, voices, and resilience of affected communities.
Real-world learning
From your first year, you’ll engage with real-world challenges through community engagement units that connect theory with practice.
You’ll collaborate with local organisations, through two community engagement units, to understand the opportunities and challenges in disaster recovery. You can then apply your skills in a workplace setting through a work-integrated learning internship.
These experiences help you graduate with practical know-how, strong analytical skills and the confidence to make meaningful contributions in professional contexts.
Explore this course
This major prepares you to work across government, NGOs and community sectors with a focus on justice, resilience and ethical practice.
You’ll study:
- How disasters impact communities and disrupt social systems.
- Risk assessment and decision-making processes that centre justice and care.
- The role of policy in shaping recovery and resilience.
- Communication strategies for crisis response and public information.
- Interdisciplinary approaches combining justice, health, design and technology.
- Research methods to inform disaster recovery and community planning.
Your learning will emphasise collaboration and applied projects, ensuring you graduate ready to respond to real-world challenges.
Double degrees
Combine your Bachelor of Arts (Disaster, Justice and Community Recovery) with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and graduate with two qualifications in just 5.5 years. This combination is ideal for students who want to shape policy, lead recovery initiatives and advocate for justice in disaster contexts.
Careers and outcomes
This major opens up diverse career pathways in areas such as disaster recovery, policy development, humanitarian aid, and community resilience. Graduates are prepared for roles across government, NGOs, and social impact organisations, where they can influence policy, support communities, and design strategies for fair and sustainable recovery.
With a carefully chosen second major, you can expand into careers in:
- Policy, Planning and Systems Design: emergency management coordinator, disaster technology specialist.
- Community Education and Capacity Building: disaster preparedness educator, resilience trainer.
- Communication and Public Information: public information officer, crisis narrative specialist.
- Creative Recovery and Healing: trauma-informed creative facilitator, program designer for post-crisis healing.
Possible careers
- Community development officer
- Government relations officer
- Humanitarian aid worker
- Local disaster resilience support officer
- Ministerial or parliamentary officer
- Policy advisor
- Research assistant
- SES local controller
- Social impact analyst
- Social justice advocate
- Social policy advisor
In order to complete this course you must complete a total of 288 credit points.
Six core units: 72 credit points
Disaster, Justice and Community Recovery Major: 96 credit points comprised of:
- 72 credit points of core units
- 24 credit points of option units.
QUT You: 24 credit points
Complementary studies: 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major; OR
- one 84 credit point second major and 12 credit points of unit options (electives); OR
- one 72 credit point second major and 24 credit points of unit options (electives); OR
- two 48 credit point minors; OR
- one 48 credit point minor and 48 credit points of unit options (electives)
In order to complete this course you must complete a total of 288 credit points.
Six core units: 72 credit points
Disaster, Justice and Community Recovery Major: 96 credit points comprised of:
- 72 credit points of core units
- 24 credit points of option units.
QUT You: 24 credit points
Complementary studies: 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major; OR
- one 84 credit point second major and 12 credit points of unit options (electives); OR
- one 72 credit point second major and 24 credit points of unit options (electives); OR
- two 48 credit point minors; OR
- one 48 credit point minor and 48 credit points of unit options (electives)
As this is a new course, the threshold will be available mid-January 2027.
- Course code
- BA01
- QTAC code
- 441012
-
- Online
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
|
Cambridge C1 Advanced
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| TOEFL iBT Australia Test (120 scale) | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from October
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from July
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
International Merit Scholarship
A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
International Talent Scholarship
A new scholarship for 2026 that covers tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Updates about this course
The Bachelor of Arts (Disaster, Justice and Community Recovery) is available from 2027
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