Overview
An Assessment for experienced practicing Safety Professional who do not have required tertiary qualifications to apply for SIA Membership Grading.
About the Assessment
The Challenge Assessment is to address any qualification issue for members who are applying for SIA Grading.
Tertiary qualifications in occupational health and safety have only been available in Australia since 1980. While there are now approximately 30 tertiary courses covering all States except Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, access may be limited for some people for a range of reasons.
The SIA encourages all Members to obtain tertiary qualification in safety.
Many members of the Safety Institute have worked in the industry for many years and have a broad range of competencies, or have qualification is associated areas where benchmarking competencies is difficult.
The Challenge Assessment is designed for members:
- who for a number of reasons, may not have gained tertiary qualification required by the SIA for Grading.
- to ensure equity of access for all occupational health and safety practitioners.
- Chartered Professional Members or Fellows who do not hold tertiary qualifications in OHS are applying for admission as a Chartered FSIA.
- to use as a useful mode of professional development for those who have tertiary qualifications in related areas and wish to increase their knowledge and skills in OHS. This group would include nurses, engineers, and psychologists, among others.
The Challenge Assessment has been introduced for three reasons:
- Equity of access to membership grading.
- To cater for those people who have broad experience and competence in occupational health and safety but do not have tertiary qualifications in occupational health and safety, and for whom tertiary study may be difficult to access or inappropriate for other reason.
- Professional development for those in related areas.
Who can benefit?
Any member of the Safety Institute who does not have a tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety may apply.
Chartered Professional Members who wish to apply for the Chartered Fellow grade and who do not have a tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety will have to complete the Challenge Assessment prior to applying for admission as a Chartered Fellow.
Member Benefits
Members who complete the Assessment and have 3 years fulltime experience (or equivalent part-time) in OHS will be admitted as a Member(MSIA). This is especially applicable to people who have worked in occupational health and safety for many years but have not completed a tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety. It also enables people who have a tertiary qualification in areas such as engineering, human resources, psychology, medicine or, management to formalise their skills in occupational health and safety and achieve recognition.
Completion of the assessment may also be used as a component of a claim for advanced standing in degree or graduate diploma courses.
Each successful applicant will receive a statement of results and a certificate.