Course

Foundations of Modern Safety Thinking

Starts May 18, 2026

$1,804 Enrol

Full course description

About this course

This course has been developed through a partnership between Griffith University and Qantas, as part of the Safety Academy by Qantas Group. This collaboration enables a strong connection between theoretical foundations and practical application, offering insights from both academic and industry perspectives.

This course explores how safety thinking has evolved, from early ideas about accidents and worker behaviour to the modern understanding of safety as a complex interaction between people, systems, and organisational environments. It is ideal for leaders, safety practitioners, and professionals seeking to understand the foundations of contemporary safety practice. 

Designed for learners who currently work in, or aspire to work within, an HRO, you will hear from a range of subject matter experts who will support your growth as a safety professional and leader.

This micro-credential is part of a broader suite of courses being developed within the Safety Academy by Qantas Group, aimed at upskilling safety professionals and cultivating effective safety leaders.

This course is the first step in building deep capability in safety leadership.

As Part A of the Safety Principles and Culture offering, it can be taken as a standalone course. Learners who wish to extend their impact can also complete Organisational Failure, Culture and Resilience to earn a digital badge and gain credit towards the Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership. The courses do not need to be studied concurrently, giving you flexibility to progress at your own pace.

Commencing
Mon 18th May 2026
Online
6 Weeks
3 Modules
including assessment
1,804
GST Inc

Course Snapshot

What are the course learning outcomes?

This course explores how safety thinking has evolved, from early ideas about accidents and worker behaviour to the modern understanding of safety as a complex interaction between people, systems, and organisational environments. It is ideal for leaders, safety practitioners, and professionals seeking to understand the foundations of contemporary safety practice. 

You’ll begin with the origins of safety science, tracing the development of safety systems from the Industrial Revolution through to today’s concepts of work‑as‑imagined vs work‑as‑done. You’ll then dive into person‑focused theories of accident causation, exploring accident‑proneness, behaviourism, and the historical roots of behaviour‑based safety programs, along with their limitations and risks. 

The course then moves into human factors and system safety, introducing key ideas from cognitive psychology, cognitive systems engineering, and system safety design. You’ll learn how these fields reframed accidents from individual failings to system‑level challenges, and how this shift influences today’s risk management and safety improvement approaches. 

By the end, you’ll understand the major intellectual shifts that underpin modern safety thinking, and be equipped to interpret contemporary safety challenges with greater clarity and insight.

What core topics are offered?

The micro-credential is divided into three (3) comprehensive modules, each exploring critical elements of safety:

  • Introduction and Principles of Safety Science: Examines historical and modern safety practices.
  • Person-focused Theories of Accident Causation and Safety: Analyses traditional models and their application in current settings.
  • Human Factors and System Safety: Investigates the interplay between human roles and operational safety.
Who is this course suited to?

This course is designed for safety professionals working in or aspiring to work within High Reliability Organisations (HROs). It is ideal for leaders, safety practitioners, and professionals seeking to understand the foundations of contemporary safety practice. 

What are the course credentials?

Participants who complete this micro-credential will earn a certificate of completion. Participants who package this course together with Organisational Failure, Culture and Resilience (study both courses) will be eligible to receive a digital badge to recognise their achievement, demonstrating to employers and peers the skills and knowledge acquired. Participants that complete both this course and Organisational Failure, Culture and Resilience will also earn 10 credit points (CP) that contribute toward the Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership at Griffith University. 

What does my course schedule look like?

This 6-week online course is structured for flexible, self-paced learning and is hosted on Griffith University's Learning Management System. The course includes:

  • Rich content featuring videos, readings, case studies, and activities.
  • Optional interactive webinars for deeper discussion, potentially featuring Qantas subject matter experts.
  • Assessments that involve workplace analysis and scenario-based tasks to reinforce practical understanding and direct application of course material.
Who are the course facilitators?

Lead academic, Sidney Dekker, is a Professor in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science. Sidney has founded the Safety Science Innovation Lab in 2012, which introduced ‘Safety Differently’ and ‘Restorative Just Culture’. Both have inspired global movements for change and undergird Griffith University's highly popular Graduate Certificate in Safety Leadership. Please CLICK HERE for Professor Sidney Dekker.