Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management

The aim of the Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management is to provide students who already have a degree, or extensive applicable experience, with advanced theoretical and applied knowledge of occupational health and safety management, which can be used in professional practice or further advanced study in this area.

Important Notice:

This qualification is currently undergoing a review, and the paper structure may change from 2027. Students who have already completed papers under the existing structure will not be disadvantaged, as these papers will continue to be recognised. An updated list of papers for the following year will be released later in the year.

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SIT Online
Campus
SIT Online
Qualification
Graduate Diploma
Level
7
Credits
120
Duration

One year full-time

Up to five years part-time

Intakes are 17 weeks long

Dates
TBC
Fees
This programme qualifies for SIT Zero Fees. Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more information.
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$8.00 per credit (incl. GST)

International Fees

$100 per credit (incl. GST). See International.

Course Outline

The Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management will teach you personal and professional skills that are necessary to be successful in demanding and evolving business environments.

This programme offers a blend of theoretical and practical learning, with an emphasis on applied knowledge and skill. High importance is placed on the development of occupational health and safety management skills (such as communication, presentation, interpersonal and problem solving skills) in addition to the development of specific business knowledge.

You will learn to:

  • Critically analyse strategic occupational health and safety issues facing organisations, 
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures management,
  • Undertake an influential leadership role.
Course Content

Compulsory Papers

MGT645 Workplace Health and Safety Resilience in Dynamic and Disrupted Contexts (15 credits)

This course provides learners with the skills to strengthen and adapt workplace health and safety systems and practices in dynamic and disrupted contexts.  Learners will evaluate how disruption affects organisational health, safety and wellbeing, and will develop inclusive, proactive strategies that build organisation, system and person resilience, support psychosocial wellbeing, and empower and engage workplace stakeholders through culturally responsive and inclusive leadership and communication.

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Evaluate the potential impacts of dynamic and disrupted contexts and disruptive events on workplace health and safety systems, practices and worker wellbeing in the New Zealand context, and identify opportunities to build resilience.
  • Adapt health and safety systems and practices to strengthen organisational resilience, quality, and to support both leadership and employee capability in dynamic and disrupted workplace contexts.
  • Lead and apply inclusive and culturally responsive health and safety communication and engagement strategies to support participation and psychosocial wellbeing in dynamic and disrupted workplace contexts.

Select 75 credits from:

MGT615 Occupational Health and Safety Management Practice Leadership (15 credits)

This course provides learners with the leadership skills and capabilities required to influence, support and model best practice in occupational health and safety.  Leaners will explore leadership approaches that strengthen health and safety performance, address individual and organisational improvement, and foster inclusive and protective health and safety cultures.  

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Analyse occupational health and safety leadership best practice, inclusive of safety culture and quality leadership, for a specific organisation.
  • Identify key factors in health and safety performance management and critically examine strategies to review and lead improvement in individual and organisational performance.
  • Lead and support the application of leadership concepts, behaviours and practices that consider diversity, inclusion and the development of a positive and protective workplace health and safety culture.

MGT711 Occupational Health and Safety Sustainability Practices (15 credits)

This course aims to develop learners’ ability to critically evaluate and integrate sustainability principles, ESG frameworks, and organisational responsibilities within occupational health and safety (OHS), and to examine how these factors influence worker wellbeing, organisational culture, and long-term performance. The paper further aims to equip learners with the skills to design and justify sustainable OHS initiatives that enhance organisational resilience, support ethical and culturally responsive practice, and utilise data-driven, digitally enabled approaches to improve workforce wellbeing and sustainable organisational outcomes. 

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Critically evaluate sustainability principles, ESG considerations and organisational responsibilities in relation to occupational health and safety management. 
  • Critically examine the relationship between organisational sustainability, worker wellbeing, organisational culture and long-term organisational performance. 
  • Design a sustainable occupational health and safety initiative that supports organisational resilience, ethical practice and workforce wellbeing.

MGT712 Workplace Health and Wellbeing Strategies (15 credits)

This course aims to develop learners’ ability to critically evaluate workplace health, wellbeing, and psychosocial risk factors, and to understand their influence on organisational performance and workforce capability in contemporary work settings. It further aims to strengthen learners’ capacity to assess the role of leadership, organisational systems, and environmental factors in shaping worker wellbeing, engagement, and health outcomes. The course also aims to equip the learners with the skills to design, implement, and evaluate contextually appropriate, evidence-informed workplace health and wellbeing initiatives that address psychosocial risks, support inclusive and resilient work environments, and utilise data and digital tools to enhance organisational effectiveness and workforce wellbeing. 

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Critically evaluate workplace health, wellbeing and psychosocial risk factors and their implications for organisational performance and workforce capability. 
  • Critically assess organisational, environmental and leadership influences affecting worker wellbeing, engagement and workplace health outcomes. 
  • Formulate a workplace health and wellbeing initiative and evaluation measures appropriate for an organisational and workforce context.

MGT713 Occupational Health and Safety Strategic Management (15 credits)

This course aims to develop earners’ ability to critically evaluate strategic occupational health and safety (OHS) management frameworks, governance structures, and organisational systems within complex and dynamic organisational environments. It further aims to strengthen learners’ capacity to analyse organisational risks, capabilities, stakeholder expectations, and performance drivers that influence strategic OHS decision-making. The course also aims to equip learners with the skills to formulate and justify strategic OHS priorities, implementation approaches, and performance measures that enhance organisational resilience, support ethical and accountable practice, and leverage data-driven and digitally enabled solutions to achieve sustainable organisational performance. 

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Critically evaluate strategic occupational health and safety management frameworks, governance approaches and organisational systems in relation to complex organisational environments. 
  • Analyse organisational risks, capabilities, stakeholder expectations and performance factors influencing strategic occupational health and safety decision-making. 
  • Recommend strategic occupational health and safety priorities, implementation approaches and performance indicators that support organisational resilience and sustainable organisational performance.

MGT742 Critical Risk and Organisational Resilience (15 credits)

*Students must complete MGT645- Workplace Health and Safety Resilience in Dynamic and Disrupted Contexts before enrolling in this paper.

This course aims to develop learners’ capability to critically evaluate and apply critical risk management, safety assurance and organisational resilience approaches within complex organisational environments. Learners will analyse organisational systems, operational controls and human factors affecting resilience outcomes, and develop strategic approaches that support operational continuity, organisational learning and sustainable organisational performance. 

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Critically evaluate critical risk management, safety assurance and organisational resilience approaches within complex organisational and operational environments. 
  • Analyse organisational systems, operational controls, human factors and environmental influences affecting critical risk and organisational resilience outcomes. 
  • Develop and justify an organisational risk control, resilience and assurance approach that supports operational continuity, organisational learning and sustainable organisational performance.

Select 30 credits from:

MGT702 Research Methodology (15 credits)

This course aims to develop learners’ research, analytical and evidence-informed decision-making capabilities within organisational and professional contexts. Learners will examine research approaches, data collection methods and ethical considerations, and apply research and communication skills to investigate organisational issues and present evidence-informed findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders.

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Critically evaluate research approaches, data collection methods and ethical considerations relevant to applied organisational and professional contexts.
  • Locate, critically analyse and synthesise information from academic, professional and organisational sources to support evidence-informed investigation and decision-making.
  • Apply research and analytical skills to investigate organisational, professional or industry-related issues and communicate evidence-informed findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders.

MGT740 Occupational Health and Safety Management Capstone Project (15 credits)

This course aims to develop learners’ ability to critically analyse occupational health and safety (OHS) issues and design, justify, and evaluate evidence-based strategies that address organisational needs and align with risk management and best practice standards. It emphasises implementation planning, stakeholder engagement, and the use of digital tools and performance measures, while strengthening learners’ capability to communicate professional, ethical, and data-informed recommendations to organisational stakeholders. 

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Investigate and critically analyse an occupational health and safety (OHS) issue, organisational challenge, or improvement opportunity within a business context using evidence-based approaches and organisational data. 
  • Develop an occupational health and safety initiative, intervention, strategy or organisational response that addresses the identified needs and aligns with organisational strategy, governance, and risk management principles, including implementation and measurable outcomes. 
  • Present and justify findings and strategic recommendations, including implementation considerations, using clear, structured, and professional communication appropriate for organisational stakeholders in Occupational Health and Safety management contexts.
Career Opportunities

Recent graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management have gained employment in private and public sectors including training institutions and industrial businesses, or furthered their career in their current employment, gaining additional responsibilities.

Application Criteria

Applicants must have obtained at least an undergraduate degree in any discipline.

Mature Applicants
Applicants must supply evidence of at least three years relevant work experience. Each mature applicant must provide their curriculum vitae detailing any relevant work experience and academic achievements.  The Programme Manager will use this information to assess whether the applicant is likely to successfully complete the Graduate Diploma programme.

All enrolments in the Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management are approved at the discretion of the Programme Manager in consultation with the Head of Faculty and teaching staff, as required.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. 
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

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