Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership will have:  

1. specialised knowledge of current theories, principles and practices in safety accountability in complex fields of practice.

Understand the systems that drive safety 

Learn the skills to lead safety initiatives in a way that emphasises practical expertise and results. The Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership will move you beyond traditional, linear cause-and-effect thinking that has long defined characterised safety work in Australia. You'll be encouraged to challenge the conventional focus on processes and compliance, exploring the principles of resilience, complexity science, and holistic approaches to safety. Prepare to embark on an exciting journey toward a new era of safety leadership. 

By expanding your understanding of safety beyond the conventional, narrow frameworks still found in many organisations, you will learn how to utilise safety management systems, processes, and procedures that are proven to achieve high safety standards. Most importantly, you will adopt a mindset that sees people as part of the solution to safety challenges - not the problem - placing empathy at the core of your approach to creating a safer work environment. 

This program is suitable for both newcomers and seasoned professionals in the safety field. 

Highlights of studying the Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership 

• Explore various theories that explain why accidents happen and how to prevent them, including Normal Accidents Theory and Human Reliability Theory. 
• Gain insights into different perspectives on risk and safety, broadening your understanding of safety management. 
• Be equipped to critically evaluate safety practices, helping identify areas for improvement in your workplace. 
• Learn to analyse accident models and use findings to enhance safety systems and practices within your organisation.  
• Evaluate and improve your own safety practices through critical self-assessment. 
• Gain insights from experienced academics, graduates, and industry professionals. 
• Participate in interactive lectures, seminars, and group work to enhance your learning experience.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Foundations of Safety Science
• Understanding Human Error and Just Culture
• Safety Management Systems
• Critical Safety Theory

As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

For the award of Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership (GCertSafLead), you must successfully

Complete 40 credit points comprising:

• 40 credit points for all Foundation Module

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $8,000

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

Learn more about Griffith University.

Explore Griffith courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

21

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership, applicants must:

• hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing)
• OR have completed a minimum of four years of relevant work experience in industry - applicants will have either operational of safety equipment experience in an industry that has some kind of plausible safety concern, or where man-made disasters can happen (for example, construction, mining, oil and gas, aviation, healthcare, catering etc or in areas of IT, electricity, shipping, insurance depending on their documented experience).

Note: Degrees from overseas institutions must be assessed as equivalent to a recognised Australian bachelor-level degree.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

International students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) is not available for Domestic students.

Applicants should refer to the English language requirements section of the following University procedure for exceptions to these overall requirements:

• Admission Procedure

If you do not meet the University's specified English language requirements, you may wish to contact the Griffith English Language Institute to increase your eligibility for entering a Griffith University program. This Institute offers a number of English language and other courses at both its Brisbane and Gold Coast branches.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including:

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE.
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training.
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.