Which professional sector….?
- has experienced unprecedented legislative focus and the development of organisational judicial responsibility?
- is expected to grow “very strongly” adding up to 25,000 job openings between now & 2018?
- does not have enough graduates or experienced professionals to meet the industry’s jobs demand
- is required by business across many sectors such as construction, engineering, entertainment, government, health, manufacturing, resources and many more?
Occupational & Environmental Health & Safety professionals are in-demand across Australia and around the world.
Terms such as WHS, risk management, hazard identification, compliance and safety are becoming universally used across all business sectors thanks to the legislative developments and ever-increasing focus on reducing work-based injuries.
For a career path that was previously portrayed as the poor relative of Human Resources, the results of a Federal Government Job Outlook research of Occupational & Environmental Health and Safety professionals may come as a shock and a great motivator to get skilled and enter this industry. Here are some of the key findings:
- WHS graduates coming into the workforce are attracting a minimum of $60k
- At the top end of the WHS and HSEC labour market, Australian professionals are demanding – and getting – packages approaching $350k.
- It’s widely recognised there are clear links between organisations with solid safety programs and their profitability
Challenges for employers to recruit WHS professionals are a good story for a WHS skilled job seeker and a great reason to look at a career change into the WHS field. Dilution of candidate numbers, quality of candidates, high salaries, little mentoring and limited career succession programs contribute to high demand for skilled professionals.
So what skills do you require to be successful in this field?
- understanding of WHS Compliance & Legislation
- quality consultation strategies
- implementation of systems & processes
- good communication & negotiation skills
- able to be firm and impartial when making decisions
- resourceful & able to take initiative
- good problem-solving skills
- able to work independently or as a part of a team.
Training Aid Australia has developed a quality Certificate in Work Health & Safety course which is an excellent starting point for individuals who want to expand their knowledge and skills in the area of Workplace Safety. The program reflects the role of workers who apply a broad knowledge base and well-developed skills in a wide variety of contexts and may include coordinators, advisors and facilitators.
We also offer the Cert IV WHS course which is suitable for people working in a work health and safety (WHS) role who may or may not work under supervision. They may provide leadership and guidance to others and have some limited responsibility for the output of others.
Courses run each month, however, places are limited. Distance learning options are available. Study with us today to gain the valuable knowledge to get your WHS career started.