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Course Overview
The aim of the Graduate Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety is to prepare professionals working in industry and community services in advanced aspects of occupational health and safety.
On completion of the course, students will be able to:
- identify and anticipate health and safety hazards in the workplace and recommend a systematic approach for their assessment and control;
- utilise knowledge from specialised disciplines in the application of effective prevention and control programs in the workplace;
- demonstrate effective consultation and communication processes in ways which make appropriate use of managerial and industrial frameworks and the social context of the workplace;
- analyse the implications of political, economic, social, cultural, and technological trends on workplace health and safety practices; and
- implement education and information programs to promote a safe and healthy workforce.
Career Information
In the Graduate Diploma of OHS students will undertake core subjects in the areas of human factors, occupational health, risk management, occupational hygiene, OHS law, safety systems and accident phenomenology. This will see graduates enhancing their career advancement opportunities as specialists being highly employable in their field of expertise across both the private and public sectors as safety professionals.
| Duration | 1 years full-time or 2 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 48 |
| Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
| Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
| Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
| Qualification (post nominal) | GradDipOHS |
| AQF Level | Level 8: Graduate Diploma |
| Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2026
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Admission Codes
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
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Domestic Availability
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2020
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Term 2 - 2019
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Term 1 - 2019
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Term 2 - 2018
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Term 1 - 2018
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Term 2 - 2017
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Term 1 - 2017
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Term 2 - 2016
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Term 1 - 2016
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Term 2 - 2015
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Term 1 - 2015
International Availability
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2020
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Term 2 - 2019
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Term 1 - 2019
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Term 2 - 2018
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Term 1 - 2018
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Term 2 - 2017
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Term 1 - 2017
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Term 2 - 2016
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Term 1 - 2016
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Term 2 - 2015
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Term 1 - 2015
Students are required to possess either
1) an undergraduate degree; or
2) five years experience in a safety science related role in upper or middle management; or
3) three years experience in a safety science related role and a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or Work Health and Safety.
Students applying on the basis of experience may be required to provide evidence of writing skills.
International Students
Refer to the international student section
All applications are subject to approval by the Head of Course or Discipline Lead.
Students who would like to join this course but have not attended university level studies previously and do not feel confident in their academic skills may benefit from enrolling in one of the CQUniversity bridging courses such as STEPS to prepare for their studies. Students who have not studied at university previously are also recommended to enrol in GOAS "Getting Optimistic About Study" a free unit which provides additional study skills support.
Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | CC78 - Graduate Certificate in Fatigue Risk Management |
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| Exit Awards | CC78 - Graduate Certificate in Fatigue Risk Management |
| Accreditation |
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Residential School Requirements
| Compulsory Residential School | There are 2 core units with a compulsory residential school for all students. These are Safety and Accident Phenomenology and Evidence Informed OHS Practice. |
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| Click here to view all Residential Schools | |
Practicum/Work Placement
| Not applicable |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2021 | 34 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
Examples are:
- Comply with academic and non-academic policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s 'Student Conduct Policy and Procedure', 'Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)' and 'Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure'.
- Demonstrating respect for cultural and professional diversity as well as individual differences and capacities in the safety science environment.
- Treating personal information obtained in the professional environment as private and confidential.
Examples are:
- Successfully processing your own emotions and behaviour when dealing with stressful situations that can arise in the safety science environment.
- Maintaining behavioural stability through successfully distinguishing your own personal behaviours, experiences and emotions from others and situations in a professional setting.
- Being reflective with personal behaviours appropriate to professional performance and being positive and receptive to processing constructive supervisor/lecturer/peer feedback or criticism.
Examples are:
- Complying with university and workplace policy with the use of social media, online discussion forums, email and other electronic forms of communication.
- Complying with the relevant workplace policies and practices including relevant OHS legislative requirements pertaining to the safety science environment.
- Complying with the policies and practices of organisations in which you may be placed or find employment.
Examples are:
- Verbally communicating in English your safety science knowledge with accuracy, appropriateness and effectiveness in a wide variety of contexts.
- Actively participating in discussion and course activities with appropriate use and command of language to the context.
- Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual, group or workplace.
- Establishing rapport with all stakeholders in the delivery of safety science practice and responding appropriately to stakeholders and other professionals.
- Using appropriate facial expressions, body movements and gestures, being mindful of space boundaries.
- Recognising and interpreting on-verbal cues of others and responding appropriately during activities related to the course and in professional practice.
- Adopting non-threatening body language during challenging and/or stressful situations with others.
- Competently and appropriately producing written assessment work in a logical, coherent manner, and with correct grammar and punctuation to the required academic standards.
- Expressing complex and detailed information and knowledge in logical and legible formats, in a timely manner that meets professional standards and clearly communicates the intended message.
- Accurately conveying and documenting information in a written form to develop and execute a case of cohesive argument that meets academic, professional and transport and safety sciences practice requirements.
- Competently using a desktop operating system such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X.
- Having access to a computer and having sufficient computer skills to engage in on-line learning, reading, initiating and responding to emails and other forms of electronic communication, and completing relevant assessments for the course. This includes being able to regularly access the Internet for coursework and research.
- Competently using productivity software such as Microsoft Office, and operate associated electronic technologies such as (but not limited to) digital scanners, cameras and video cameras, a tablet computer or a mobile phone in the contemporary academic, professional and transport and safety science practice requirements.
- Analysing, manipulating and displaying scientific information using a variety of specific programs.
Examples are:
- Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge and evidence in response to academic assessment items and in the professional practice with organisations in which you may be placed or find employment.
- Completing academic learning activities and assessment tasks, and performing professional skills within reasonable set time-frames.
- Constructing written text proficiently, in English, using appropriate vocabulary, correct grammar and conventions of speech, including being able to paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic and professional conventions.
- Competently reading, writing and accurately interpreting information to convey language effectively in a professional setting.
- Completing documentation that is accurate, clear and concise.
- Demonstrating competency in applying mathematics knowledge and numeracy skills to accurately read and interpret various measurements.
- Demonstrating effective use of mathematics knowledge and numeracy skills in the application of safety science practice.
- Demonstrating competency in manipulating and analysing numerical data.
Examples are:
- Having sufficient visual acuity to accurately measure and assess.
- Having sufficient visual acuity to work in a team-based safety science environment.
- Having sufficient visual acuity to identify hazards to self and others.
- Perceiving fine detail on a computer screen and/or mobile/portable device.
- Discerning an object from its background.
- Having sufficient auditory capacity to hear verbal communication from other professionals in safety sciences practice.
- Having sufficient auditory capacity to work in a team-based safety science environment where verbal and non-verbal communication is essential to practice.
- Having sufficient auditory capacity to capture auditory warning circumstances, movements or signals where other senses may not detect such stimuli.
- Interacting with a computer through input devices such as a mouse or keyboard.
- Interacting with mobile devices through inputs such as buttons and a touchscreen.
- Interacting with the physical environment.
Examples are:
- Reflecting critically on topics taught during the course.
- Identifying when a practice issue is outside one's scope or expertise and being able to reflect and learn from this experience.
- Identifying when one's practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions and be able to reflect and learn from this experience.
- Reflecting on situations that may be difficult and sensitive.
- Identifying, reflecting and learning from successful situations as well as opportunities for improvement.
Examples are:
- Actively participating safely and effectively in intensive safety science tasks that require sustained levels of physical energy and concentration over a long duration.
- Actively participating in a variety of safety science tasks in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Examples are:
- Incorporating a range of gross motor skills while participating effectively in activities related to safety science practice.
- Moving with ease while undertaking activities related to safety science practice.
- Working safely and effectively in a variety of physical environments applicable to safety science practice.
- Using a variety of fine motor skillsi n various safety science activities.
- Interacting with a computer through input devices such as a mouse or keyboard.
- Interacting with mobile devices through inputs such as buttons and a touchscreen.
Examples are:
- Relating positively and communicating with a wide variety of colleagues and stakeholders in the professional environment.
- Creating and maintaining rapport, empathy and at times using diplomacy to ensure effective working relationships and outcomes with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Being highly consultative in the processes of creating and sustaining effective working relationships and outcomes with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Creating cultural competence, sensitivity and willingness to work with a vast array of people in the community.
Examples are:
- Competently using a desktop operating system such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X.
- Having access to a computer and having sufficient computer skills to engage in on-line learning, reading, initiating and responding to emails and other forms of electronic communication, and completing relevant assessments for the course.
- Regularly accessing the Internet for coursework and research.
- Competently using productivity software such as Microsoft Office and operating associated electronic technologies such as (but not limited to) digital scanners, cameras and video cameras, a tablet computer or a mobile phone in the contemporary academic, professional and transport and safety science practice requirements.
- Analysing, manipulating and displaying scientific information using a variety of specific programs and applications.
- 1. Utilise evidence to inform OHS professional practice.
- 2. Critique and apply safety science concepts, knowledge and skills as well as systems thinking to problem solve in diverse and complex contexts.
- 3. Provide professional OHS leadership through advanced transdisciplinary communication skills, life-long learning and reflective practice.
- 4. Analyse the implications of political, economic, social, cultural and technological trends for OHS practice.
- 5. Engage in and develop a community of OHS practice.
| Course Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have advanced knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | |||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | |||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | |||||
| 4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | |||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concept | |||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | |||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | |||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | |||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | |||||
- Complete the core structure
| Number of units: 6 | Total credit points: 48 |
|---|
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| AINV20006 | Safety and Accident Phenomenology | |
| SAFE20017 | Human Factors in Complex Systems | |
| SAFE20018 | Fatigue Risk Management | |
| SAFE20011 | Exposures and Health Risk | |
| SAFE20019 | Evidence-Informed OHS Practice | |
| SAFE20016 | Safety Systems and Regulation | |