Overview
This unit will provide students the opportunity to consolidate and apply all of the accident investigation and analysis theory studied in the Accident Forensics course to a real accident scenario. Learners will take a leadership role in planning and conducting a detailed accident investigation. Post investigation the learner will be required to analyse the accident causation sequences and linkages by applying an event tree or equivalent method.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prereq: AINV11001 Real World Investigation and AINV11002 Socio-technical Systems and AINV12001 Investigation Methods Practice and AINV12002 Accident Phenomenology and AINV12003 Accident Forensics and coreq: AINV13001 Accident Analysis
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Feedback from students during residential school.
Ensure the background scene knowledge of the witnesses is confirmed before they are placed in the field for interview by students.
Engage witness role players prior to the residential school and allow time to learn scenario to a higher standard.
Feedback from Personal observation
Volunteer witnesses are enthusiastic, but their enthusiasm and inexperience may lead them to improvise away from scenario content.
Engage witness role players prior to the residential school and allow time to learn scenario to a higher standard. Acting out of the scenarios with the witnesses prior to the residential school will provide a better outcome.
Feedback from Personal observation
Students need to be more aware of the variability of real-world witness responses under stressful situations
Include teaching material in the witness interview module about witnesses under stress.
- Plan and conduct a detailed accident investigation.
- Analyse the accident causation sequences and linkages by applying an event tree or equivalent method.
- Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to a major accident investigation.
- Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the graduating practitioner.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Group Discussion - 0% | ||||
2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
3 - Written Assessment - 50% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Communication | ||||
2 - Problem Solving | ||||
3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
4 - Information Literacy | ||||
5 - Team Work | ||||
6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
8 - Ethical practice | ||||
9 - Social Innovation | ||||
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
1 - Group Discussion - 0% | ||||||||||
2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 50% |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.perry@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Lecture:
Introduction to the unit:
- Unit expectations
- Moodle tour
Accident investigation planning.
- Evidence
- Briefings
- Contextual bias
- Cordons
- Critical decision making
- Notes and sketches
- Media management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture:
Photography and video
- Use of various capture equipment
- DSLR camera
- Point and shoot cameras
- Video
- Mobile phone
- Night photography
- Technical photography and measurements
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture:
Introduction to contemporary mapping & demonstration techniques
- 3D scanning
- Drones
- Photogrammetry
- 3D printing
- Virtual reality
- Credibility of contemporary techniques in court
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture:
Advanced statement taking
- Powers to take statements
- Identifying witnesses
- Planning the statement
- Hostile and uncooperative witnesses
- Use of various methods to take statements
- PEACE
- Cognitive interviewing
- 5 part statement
- Differences in approach to witness vs possible defendant
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Moodle task 1 due (30 March 2020) 09:00 hrs AM AEST
Module/Topic
Lecture:
Residential school preparation
- Logistics
- Program
- Expectations
Presentation Skills
- Use of visual media
- Presentation styles - Good & Bad
- Terminology - Know your audience
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Moodle task 2 due (6 April 2020) 09:00 hrs AM AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Risk Assessment due (13 April 2020) 09:00 hrs AM AEST
Module/Topic
Residential school - Bundaberg campus
- Management of accident scene
- Providing assistance at an accident scene
- Practical evidence collection
- Delivering a Presentation of initial findings
- Accident Forensic scene appreciation
- Hot scene reviews
- Returning to scene after processing of evidence
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Moodle task 3 due (20 April 2020) 09:00 hrs AM AEST
Residential School 20 - 24 April, Bundaberg Crash Lab
Portfolio assessed during residential school
Module/Topic
Lecture:
Identifying and collecting post scene visit evidence
- Powers to request for evidence
- Sources of evidence
- Access to evidence
Collating the Data - What are your facts?
- Facts v assumptions
- Sorting the 'wheat from the chaff'
- Verifying and validating facts.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture
Report writing
- Purpose
- Audiences
- Report structure
- Writing style
- Ethics and integrity
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Conducting your Accident Analysis
- Developing your Preliminary Analysis
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Moodle task 4 due (11 May 2020) 09:00 hrs AM AEST
Module/Topic
Lecture:
Narratives & Reflections
- Writing narratives accurately
- Reflecting and using this in future work.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Zoom Q & A session (if required)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Zoom Q & A session (if required)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Group Discussion
In this assessment task, your lecturer will set tasks exploring key topics. These tasks will help you to prepare for the Crash Lab residential school as well starting the analysis of your scenario. You must pass all four tasks in order to pass this assessment item. These tasks may include:
- Undertaking a practical task and submitting
- Presenting an argument on a topic provided
- Conducting some research and presenting a finding.
In your career, you will find yourself discussing points of view and you need to be able to argue your position effectively. These tasks will give you practice in this skill and also get you thinking about your learning in the Bachelor of Accident Forensics course to date.
More details about this assessment and the tasks themselves will be posted on the Moodle site throughout the term.
This is a Pass/Fail Assessment.
Task 1 due 0900 Mon 30 March 2020; Task 2 due 0900 Mon 6 April 2020; Task 3 due 0900 Mon 20 April 2020; Task 4 due 0900 Mon 11 May 2020
Two weeks after the submission date
For each task, you must post an answer which reflects your thoughts based on your readings and learnings in the Bachelor of Accident Forensics to date (remember your referencing when required!). Ensure that in your submission for each of the tasks you must, where required
- state your position or argument clearly and concisely
- support your position or argument with authoritative sources that are appropriately referenced
- provide any material in a professional well documented manner
This is a Pass/Fail Discussion Assessment.
- Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to a major accident investigation.
- Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the graduating practitioner.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Practical and Written Assessment
The work carried out in this assessment will form the basis for the final project in AINV13006 - Crash Lab Project 2. The standard of work undertaken in this assessment will directly affect the quality of your work in AINV13006.
During the Crash Lab Project residential school, students will work in investigation teams to investigate a series of accidents. Each student will lead one team and work as a team member on a number of teams led by other students.
You will be accountable for the integrity of the investigation in which you are the leader. This includes responsibility for:
- Managing your investigation team
- Safety at the accident scene
- Preservation of the the accident scene
- Gathering and continuity of evidence
- Identifying and interviewing witnesses
- Obtaining witness statements
- Identifying and collecting documentary and other evidence
- Creating and maintaining appropriate logs
- Initial analysis of the accident
- Initial preparation of the applicable logic diagrams
- Identifying and collecting information to be able to discuss the following areas within the final report:
- Human Factors (Physical, cognitive and organisational)
- Work organisation (eg. SMS, rosters, SOP, risk assessments, training)
- Victim pathology
- Crashworthiness
- Organisational issues
- Engineering issues, (eg design and/or failures)
- Regulatory analysis
Your practical application of the relevant theory will be assessed during the residential school against each of these subject areas. You and your team will collect evidence throughout the residential school. We will verify your understanding of your collected evidence Portfolio at the end of the residential school.
In addition, you will be required to prepare and deliver a presentation, supported by Powerpoint, that describes your investigation, your preliminary analysis, including your preliminary logic diagrams.
There will be four parts to this this assessment:
Part A : Preparedness (5%)
- Risk Assessment
Part B : Advanced Scene Management and Evidence Collection (35%)
- Accident Scenario - Team Leader Assessment
- Collected evidence Portfolio
Part C : Initial Analysis (10%)
- Verbal Presentation supported by visual materials
Part D : Professionalism (Pass/Fail)
- Throughout the residential school, students will be assessed on their ability to apply professional approaches to all activities.
Note: There is no submission required for Part D.
The majority of the assessment will be completed during the residential school. Your completed Powerpoint presentation should also be uploaded into the applicable assessment area in Moodle by 0900 hours on the Monday following the residential school.
NOTE: In order for all students to satisfactorily complete this assessment, it will be necessary for students in the investigation teams to share their collected evidence, artefacts, photos, maps, documents, records and logs etc with their team leader/s in a timely fashion. To facilitate this, students should each bring an appropriate USB stick to the residential school to facilitate the transfer of files.
Failure to share with your team leader your evidence, artefacts, photos, maps, documents, records and logs etc collected during the investigation activities at the residential school in a timely fashion, will result in your failure of this assessment task.
Risk assessment due via Moodle 1 week prior to residential school. Presentation slides are due via Moodle on 27 April 2020 9am AEST. Assessment of the remainder of this assessment task will take place during the residential school.
Within 3 weeks of submission date
The detailed assessment criteria for each part will be provided and explained during the term.
PART A: - Pre-planning (10%)
Students are required to attend the first morning of the residential school with a copy of the completed effective risk assessment (submitted 1 week earlier), required equipment and PPE as detailed during the lectures. Failure to have these items will result in the student being excluded from the practical activities of the residential school until the shortcomings are corrected.
PART B: - Scene Management & Evidence Collection (30%)
Accident Scenario - Team Leader Assessment
Collected evidence:
- Has collected, engaged with and can verbally explain the photos, sketch map and log sheets done by their team.
- Has considered and used contemporary mapping methods where possible.
- Has witness statements to appropriate standard and has interviewed a number of witnesses.
- Has sufficient materials and understanding to be able to prepare a report.
- Recognises weaknesses in collected materials and has a plan to address them
PART C: – Preliminary Analysis (10%)
Presentation – Presentation style, formatting, content & preliminary event tree logic diagram
PART D:– Professionalism (Pass/Fail) Throughout the residential school, students are expected to apply professional approaches to all activities.
Detailed marking matrices are provided in Moodle for these assessments.
- Plan and conduct a detailed accident investigation.
- Analyse the accident causation sequences and linkages by applying an event tree or equivalent method.
- Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to a major accident investigation.
- Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the graduating practitioner.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
The work carried out in this assessment will form the basis for the final project in AINV13006 - Crash Lab Project 2. The standard of work undertaken in this assessment will directly affect the quality of your work in AINV13006.
Submission shall be one file for Part A and one file for part B. Files must be in .docx or .pdf format.
PART A (40%) - Preliminary report
During the Crash Lab Project residential school each student will lead an investigation team.
For this assessment task you must:
- Obtain copies of all the relevant physical and documentary evidence, photographs, logs, interview statements etc collected by the members of your investigation team as part of the investigation in which you were team leader
- Develop your analysis of the accident and event tree which were commenced during the residential school
- Participate in tutorials to ensure that you and your peers have a greater understanding of the relevant investigation and lines of enquiry.
- Prepare a preliminary analysis, including a narrative of causation which aligns with the causation logic of your event tree.
- Present material in a preliminary report format
Assessment
The grade for this Assessment task accounts for 40% of the total assessment for this course.
Note: This exercise and preliminary report forms basis for your final report in AINV13006 - Crash Lab Project 2.
Your submission for the preliminary report will include the following materials collected to date:
- Executive Summary pertaining the accident you were managing
- Table of contents
- Background of accident you were managing
- Timeline
- PEEPO
- Event Tree
- Causation Narrative
- Discussion of lines of enquiry (including those eliminated)
- Evidence Logs
- Continuity Logs
- Photographic Logs and Photos
- Maps (Sketch and scale)
- Witness statements and/or records of interview (at least 5)
- List of documentary evidence you have collected
- An outline of the evidence you are going to seek to assist with your investigation (Investigation plan)
Please note: For members of your investigation teams to successfully finalise their portfolio items you will need to share the artefacts that you collected or created during the investigation of the accident scenes. This is a component of professionalism and failure to provide this information to your investigation team members in a timely manner, will result in an automatic fail of this assignment.
PART B (10%) - Reflection
You will be required to reflect on your preparedness for professional practice. For Part B of this assessment task, you are required to:
- Reflect on your learning in the Bachelor of Accident Forensics course to date.
- Complete a self assessment of your Part A report (using criteria provided by your lecturer).
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses in relation to each of the crash lab activities (eg evidence collection, logic diagrams etc).
- Explain how you will address any shortcomings prior to your industry placement.
You are free to present this Part B of the assessment in the format of your choice.
Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Two weeks following submission.
The detailed assessment criteria for each part will be provided and explained during the term.
PART A - Accident Analysis (40%)
Your report will be assessed on the:
- Description of the accident
- Quality of the logic diagrams (PEEPO, Timeline and Event Tree)
- Depth of analysis
- Identification of latent failures
- Consideration of similar accidents
- Causation narrative alignment to logic diagrams
- Written expression
- Presentation of report and materials
- Sources and referencing
PART B - Self-reflection (10%)
Your self-reflection will be assessed on your:
- Critical Reflection of own learning and performance
- Reflection on your preparation and capacity for leadership of investigation teams
- Reflection on your professional practice confidence and competence during the residential school activities
- Self assessment of the quality of your own work
- Plan to extend strengths and address shortcomings
- Written expression
- Plan and conduct a detailed accident investigation.
- Analyse the accident causation sequences and linkages by applying an event tree or equivalent method.
- Employ effective communication strategies appropriate to a major accident investigation.
- Demonstrate reflective skills appropriate to the development of the graduating practitioner.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.