Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership will have:  

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

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.  

This graduate certificate is designed for both those new to the safety field and experienced professionals seeking to advance their expertise. 

Highlights of studying the Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership 

• Examine key theories of accidents, risk and human reliability to understand why incidents occur and how to prevent them, including Normal Accidents Theory and Human Reliability Theory. 
• Analyse accident models and critically evaluate safety systems and practices to drive workplace improvements. 
• Strengthen your own safety practice through critical self-assessment and reflection. 
• Learn from experienced academics, graduates and industry professionals in interactive lectures, seminars and group work. 

Redefine safety with a people-centred approach 

Move beyond traditional, limited views of workplace safety and explore systems and processes that truly drive high safety standards. You'll learn to implement effective safety management strategies while adopting a mindset that sees people as key to solving safety challenges. By placing empathy at the core of your approach, you'll contribute to creating safer, more supportive work environments. 

Recommended study pattern

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

• Foundations of Safety Science
• Understanding Human Error and Just Culture
• Critical Safety Theory
• Introduction to System Safety

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 $7,800

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 2026, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

20

To be eligible for this program, you must meet one of the following criteria: 

• A recognised Bachelor degree (or higher).
• Four years relevant work experience.
• A combination of alternative admission criteria such as formal study, informal and non-formal learning deemed to be equivalent to either of the above.

Relevant work experience includes operation of safety equipment 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.

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.