There are three (3) online quizzes in this unit. The quizzes will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of EMS concepts and procedures, from the unit content, including your ability to: 

• Access Standards Australia documents in the ISO 14000 series, textbooks, articles, and other resources that are relevant to environmental management
• Use appropriate information technologies to engage in research and other data/information gathering activities regarding EMS
• Explain the origins of EMS and their linkages to Environmental Impact Assessment processes and other mechanisms of environmental protection
• Identify key documents and elements of standards in the ISO 14000 series and describe their functions
• Describe and apply key features of ISO 14001:2015 and AS ISO 14004:2018
• Describe the key concepts and principles of environmental management using the ISO 14001:2015 EMS framework
• Describe the essential features of EMS auditing
• Describe the general requirements and processes involved in EMS certification
• Critically evaluate approaches to implementing EMS using the ISO 14001:2015 framework
• Discuss some of the on-going issues regarding EMS as an effective mechanism for environmental protection
• Accurately cite relevant standards and unit learning materials

About the quizzes:

• Each quiz will cover content from earlier weeks of the unit. The specific weeks for each quiz are listed below and in the unit schedule.
• You can only attempt each quiz once.
• When you open a quiz, you will have three (3) hours to complete it. If you open a quiz less than three hours before its closing time, you will not receive the full three hours. The quiz will automatically close at the scheduled closing time, even if you have not finished.
• Each quiz will cover a mix of multiple-choice, short answer, and short essay questions.
• For most questions, you will need to support your answers using relevant sources from the unit content, such as readings, lectures, and ISO standards.
• You must cite and reference these sources correctly. Required referencing styles are Harvard or APA 7th. Correct referencing is part of academic integrity. Not citing your sources, or citing them incorrectly, is a breach of the Student Academic Integrity Policy. You can find clear instructions for correct citing and referencing on the unit Moodle site.
• You must complete all quizzes on your own in Moodle. Working with classmates or anyone else is not allowed. Collaborating on a task that is not group work is considered academic misconduct under the Student Academic Integrity Policy.
• Your final mark for this assessment will be the total of your marks from all three quizzes.
• This is a timed assessment, so the 72-hour grace period does not apply to any of the quizzes.

Content and due dates for each quiz are:

Online Quiz 1: covers material from Weeks 1-4; opens Monday, 6 April, 9:00am AEST and closes Sunday, 12 April, 9:00pm AEST

Online Quiz 2: covers material from Weeks 5-7; opens Monday, 4 May, 9:00am AEST and closes Sunday, 10 May, 9:00pm AEST

Online Quiz 3: covers material from Weeks 8-10; opens Monday, 25 May, 9:00am AEST and closes Sunday, 31 May, 9:00pm AEST

You must not use AI at any point during the assessment: Level 1 use (No AI). You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. All quiz questions are based on the unit’s Moodle materials including readings, learning resources, lectures and tutorials. Answers generated from internet searches or GenAI tools may not match the assessment content. Using GenAI tools for this assessment may lead to academic misconduct reporting and penalties.

In each quiz, students will be assessed on their ability to:

• Demonstrate understanding of key concepts in environmental management and Environmental Management Systems (EMSs)
• Find, interpret, and apply relevant information from standards and unit materials effectively
• Support their answers with appropriate evidence from the unit and use correct academic referencing

This written assessment is designed to guide you through the systematic development of an Environmental Management System (EMS) for a small hypothetical or real organisation using the AS/NZS ISO 14001: 2016 Amd 1: 2024 framework. If you choose to develop an EMS for a real organisation, you must obtain prior approval from the Unit Coordinator.

The task is split into two distinct components, Parts A and B. Throughout this assessment, you should focus on the environmental factors specific to your chosen organisation’s location, operations, and activities.

Part A: Draft EMS Manual - Organisational Context, Leadership, Planning and Operation (Clauses 4, 5, 6 and 8)

Objective: Develop 4 of the 5 foundational PDCA Model "Plan" elements of the EMS.

Your submission should include the following:

• Title page with your organisation’s logo
• EMS Clauses:

• • 4.1 Understanding the organisation and its context
  • 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties
  • 4.3 Scope of the environmental management system
  • 5.1 Leadership and commitment
  • 5.2 Environmental Policy
  • 5.3 Organisational roles, responsibilities and authorities
  • 6.1.2 Environmental aspects                                                   
  • 6.1.3 Compliance obligations
  • 6.2.1 Environmental objectives
  • 6.2.2 Planning actions to achieve environmental objectives
  • 8.1 Operational planning and control
  • 8.2 Emergency preparedness and response

• EMS Documentation:

• • Environmental Policy
  • Register of Environmental Aspects and Impacts and an accompanying Risk Assessment Rating Matrix and Risk Priority Classification for these impacts - Please note that you must assess both environmental risks and opportunities
  • Register of Environmental Compliance obligations
  • Register of Environmental Objectives and Targets
  • One example of an Environmental Management Programme that is aimed at one of the environmental objectives and targets that you have identified
  • Register of Standard Operating Procedures aligned with the organisation’s environmental aspects, impacts, and objectives
  • One example of a Standard Operating Procedure aligned with the organisation’s environmental aspects, impacts, and objectives 
  • One example of an Emergency Preparedness and Response Procedure aligned with the organisation’s environmental aspects, impacts, and objectives 
  • One example of an Environmental Incident Report Form aligned with the organisation’s environmental aspects, impacts, and objectives

• References (in-text and list)

• Declaration of your use of GenAI tools (This is required whether you use these tools or not, please refer to the template in Moodle.)

Part B: Draft EMS Manual - Support, Performance Evaluation, Improvement (Clauses 7, 9 and 10) and Complete Document 

Objective: Complete the “Plan” elements, develop the PDCA Model “Do, Check, and Act" elements and refine the entire system based on Part A marking feedback. Your submission should include the following:

• Title page with your organisation’s logo

• EMS Clauses:

• • 4.1 Understanding the organisation and its context
  • 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties
  • 4.3 Scope of the environmental management system
  • 5.1 Leadership and commitment
  • 5.2 Environmental Policy
  • 5.3 Organisational roles, responsibilities and authorities
  • 6.1.2 Environmental aspects                                                     
  • 6.1.3 Compliance obligations
  • 6.2.1 Environmental objectives
  • 6.2.2 Planning actions to achieve environmental objectives 
  • 7.1 Resources                                                 
  • 7.2 Competence                                              
  • 7.3 Awareness                                                     
  • 7.4.2 Internal communication
  • 7.4.3 External communication
  • 7.5.1 Documented information - General
  • 7.5.2 Creating and updating
  • 7.5.3 Control of documented information
  • 8.1 Operational planning and control
  • 8.2 Emergency preparedness and response
  • 9.1.1 Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation - General
  • 9.1.2 Evaluation of compliance
  • 9.2.2 Internal audit programme
  • 9.3 Management review
  • 10.2 Nonconformity and corrective action
  • 10.3 Continual improvement

• EMS Documentation:

• • Environmental Policy
  • Register of Environmental Aspects and Impacts and an accompanying Risk Assessment Rating Matrix and Risk Priority Classification for these impacts (Please note that you must assess both environmental risks and opportunities.)
  • Register of Environmental Compliance Obligations
  • Register of Environmental Objectives and Targets (You must include all significant aspects and impacts as environmental targets.)
  • One example of an Environmental Management Programme that is aimed at an identified environmental objective and target
  • Register of Competence, Training and Awareness relevant to implementing the organisation’s environmental objectives
  • Register of External Environmental Communication
  • Register of Standard Operating Procedures aligned with the organisation’s environmental aspects, impacts, and objectives
  • One example of a Standard Operating Procedure aligned with at least one of the organisation’s environmental aspects, impacts, and objectives 
  • One example of an Emergency Preparedness and Response Procedure aligned with the organisation’s environmental aspects, impacts, and objectives 
  • One example of an Environmental Incident Report Form aligned with at least one of the organisation’s environmental aspects, impacts, and objectives
  • Schedule of Monitoring and Measurement aligned with the organisation’s environmental objectives
  • One example of a completed Non-conformance and Corrective Action Report aligned with the organisation’s environmental objectives
  • Internal EMS Audit Schedule aligned with the organisation’s environmental objectives

• References 

• Document headers, footers, and links to appendices

• Declaration of your use of GenAI tools (This is required whether you use these tools or not, please refer to the template in Moodle.)

You are permitted Level 3 use (AI collaboration) of GenAI tools in Parts A and B of this assessment.

Students will be assessed on their ability to:

• Demonstrate a clear and comprehensive understanding of their organisation’s environmental context and the full EMS framework, aligned with AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016 Amd 1:2024.
• Identify environmental aspects, impacts and compliance obligations, evaluate environmental risks and opportunities, and develop appropriate objectives, targets, controls, and procedures relevant to their organisation’s context.
• Produce accurate, complete, and well‑structured EMS documentation, including policies, registers, procedures, and other required records, using consistent document control.
• Describe and develop effective environmental monitoring, auditing, corrective action, and continual improvement processes, specific to their organisation’s context, and that align with the ISO 14001 framework.
• Communicate clearly and professionally, present work to a high standard, cite all sources correctly, and effectively incorporate feedback and appropriately declare and cite use of GenAI tools.