Become an essential first responder in the fast-paced world of 911 dispatch. Communications professionals require a unique set of skills to navigate high-pressure situations, supporting members of the public and emergency personnel during stressful situations.

 

Graduates will find opportunities working in a range of public safety professions, including:   

• Police, fire and EMS telecommunications  
• OnStar, crisis centre, security, hospital, CAA and taxi dispatch  
• Crisis centre telecommunications  
• Alarm monitoring stations   
• Transit fleet, transport company and lifeline medical dispatch 

 

Is it for you?

Have you got what it takes? You may be well suited to a career in public safety communications if you:   

• Have excellent communication skills  
• Are empathetic and compassionate   
• Remain calm under pressure  
• Are good at multitasking  
• Want a career where you can make a difference

 

How you'll learn

Experiential learning 

Prepare for a successful career in the public or private sector as public safety personnel with a well-rounded program that focuses on developing fundamental skills in communication, triage and de-escalation while providing unique experiential and hands-on learning opportunities.  

• In less than a year, learn the fundamentals of call and conflict management, crisis intervention and de-escalation to handle emergency calls with confidence, preparing you for a range of rewarding careers that make a real impact on your community. 
• Learn strategies for communicating with diverse groups of people in emergency and non-emergency situations, implementing a range of perspectives related to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. 
• Discover how to process calls in compliance with the industry standards for police, fire and medical emergencies using industry technologies, telecommunications systems, hardware and applications. 
• Explore techniques for mental health crisis management. 
• Develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, problem solving and multitasking. 
• Gain proficiency in map reading skills using available physical and advanced digital resources to provide navigational direction to emergency responders. 
• Review strategies for effective personal health and wellness in the public safety call taking and dispatching environment. 
• Experiential learning components include job shadowing in the workplace and scenario-based learning that uses a CAD simulator, telematic systems and current industry technologies.  

 

Flexible learning that suits your life

In semester one, you will attend classes online via Microsoft Teams.

 

In semester two, experience a mix of online and on-campus courses as well as a simulation lab and on-site observation shifts with our partners in emergency services communications.