Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership

Program code

3298

Available at

Nathan

Gold Coast

Mount Gravatt

Logan

South Bank

Online

Offshore

Other

Duration

1 year part-time

Credit points

40

Indicative fee

$17,500.00* per year (more)
* 2025 indicative annual fee

Admission requirements

  • Any Bachelor degree or higher
  • Relevant work experience

    (more)

Commencing in

Trimester 1 and Trimester 2

About this program

Understand the systems that govern safety.

Learn the skills necessary to enact a new kind of safety leadership that puts a focus on the practical expertise needed to get the job done. This graduate certificate will help you advance from the simple, linear cause-effect thinking that has typically characterised safety work in Australia and help you to challenge pre-occupations with process and compliance. You will learn about resilience, complexity science and holism and be taken on an exciting journey into a new era of safety.

You will study a range of theories that focus on why accidents happen and how they can be prevented, including normal accidents theory, human reliability theory, as well as structural and interpretational perspectives to risk and safety. With this knowledge, you will be capable of critiquing safety practices and comparing and contrasting the strengths and weaknesses of accident models, ensuring your analysis and critical thinking can help improve safety systems in your own workplace.

By looking beyond the narrow understandings of safety that still exist at many organisations and institutions, you will understand how to address safety using safety management systems and the processes and procedures that have proven roles in achieving high safety standards. Importantly, you'll view people as a solution to safety issues, not the problem, putting empathy at the centre of your plans to create a safe workplace.

Industry and expert connections

This program is for people who have worked in safety at various levels. Whether you are new to the field or are experienced, this degree will help you critically examine your own approach to safety and how it can be approved. You'll learn from experienced academics alongside graduates and working professionals in a collaborative working environment that includes interactive lectures and seminars and group work, so you can make important industry connections.

Graduate outcomes

You will find career opportunities in system safety, process safety and occupational health and safety roles at manager and director levels, particularly in industries such as energy, construction, healthcare, aviation, mining, manufacturing, transport and human services. Exciting career paths are available in corporations, government and consulting firms. You may also be eligible to apply for further postgraduate study.

Flexibility

Study anytime, anywhere - This degree is available online through our Digital campus, giving you more room to fit university with your work and social life.

Pursue further study

The courses in this graduate certificate may be credited towards a related graduate diploma or masters degree. Griffith's innovative Credit Precedent Database allows you to find out what credit decisions have been made in the past, which will give you an idea of what you can expect.

Attendance information

This Graduate Certificate program is offered part-time only and, therefore, is not available to International students in Australia on a student visa. This program is available to International students via online study only.

Managing Study Interruptions
Leave of Absence

Taking a leave of absence from this program is permitted, subject to conditions outlined in the Enrolment Procedure.

Work-integrated learning

The University supports its students to undertake work experience that complements their degree. Work experience is normally arranged by you with an employer you select but with approval from your Program Director.

My career opportunities

Safety is a critical aspect of a range of industries, including aviation, mining, construction, health care, transport, events, tourism, and many more. This graduate certificate can be the launching pad to a new career in safety or could help you advance your existing career in this field, including to the manager and director level.

Key employment sectors

  • Public Administration and Safety
  • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
  • Construction
  • Mining
  • Health Care and Social Assistance
  • Other Industries

Potential job outcomes

  • System safety manager
  • Process safety manager
  • Occupational health and safety manager
  • Safety director

*Source: Australian Government Job Outlook.

International students

An International student is one who is not:

  • an Australian or New Zealand citizen or
  • a Pacific Engagement visa holder or
  • a person who has Australian permanent resident status.
Indicative annual tuition fee

The indicative annual tuition fee is calculated based on a standard full-time study load which is usually 80 credit points (two full-time trimesters).

The indicative annual tuition fee is based on current conditions and available data and should only be used as a guide. These fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.

Tuition fees
  • An International student pays tuition fees.
  • Students are liable for tuition fees for the courses they are enrolled in as at the census date.
  • The tuition fee is charged according to the approved program fee for the trimester in which the student is enrolled.

Program fees for the Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership (3298)


If the fee rate for your program is not displayed above, please contact Student Connect for assistance.

Changing programs

If an International student changes to a different program they will be subject to the approved program fee for the trimester in which they are enrolled.

Permanent resident status

If an undergraduate student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will be provided with a domestic fee-paying place.

The student may then apply for a Commonwealth supported place at the next admission period provided that the student satisfies the conditions for transfer from a domestic fee-paying place to a Commonwealth supported place as set out in the Fees and Charges Procedure.

If a postgraduate student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will automatically be considered for a Commonwealth supported place (subject to availability) or a domestic fee-paying place as applicable for the program.

If a research student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will automatically be considered for a Commonwealth Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset or a domestic fee-paying place as applicable for the program.

Further information