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Curtin University
Public Health

Health, Safety & Environment

Our course is one of the most varied and challenging of courses you can undertake with many career options available. There is a strong demand for our graduates with higher than average salaries offered in many sectors.Our program offers exciting opportunities, including the chance to join our program on a full scholarship .>

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From one of our students...

Kelly Fewster

I found [the SoPH] course was hands-on and diverse. On any given week we could be learning about basic microbiology, noise pollution, law, waste management, event safety, food science and health promotion, just to name a few. In the short time since graduation in 2004, I have been fortunate enough to have some fantastic job opportunities...
Kelly Fewster, Health, Safety & Environment Graduate

Read More >> | More Testimonials

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Jim Torlach Scholarship

Quick Facts

  • Our course is one of the most varied and challenging of courses you can undertake with many career options available. It is ideal for those who have yet to make up their mind.
  • There is a strong demand for our graduates with higher than average salaries offered in many sectors.
  • In second and third year the class sizes are kept small - this allows excellent opportunities to interact with lecturers who truly care about your progress and well-being.
  • The staff are friendly and experienced practitioners, who maintain links with the profession in the real world and share these experiences in the classroom.
  • Environmental Health Officer, traineeships are available at many Local Government Agencies which effectively means students get paid for studying! These traineeships also provide additional paid work during semester breaks.

Great News!!

Masters of Environmental Health - Fee Reduction

Commonwealth Supported Places have now been made available for the accreditation stream of the Masters of Environmental Health Programme. This is great news as it effectively means that fees have been halved.

Students can access Government Education Support

Also from 1 January 2008, students undertaking the Masters of Environmental Health programme may be able to access Youth Allowance, Austudy and the Pensioner Education Supplement, depending on their eligibility.

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Contact Information

School of Public Health

Tel: +61 (08) 9266 4583
Fax: +61 (08) 9266 4593
Email Enquries (click)

What is Health, Safety and Environment?

The BSc (Health, Safety& Environment) is a new course that combines two previous Curtin programs, the BSc (Environmental Health) and the BSc (Health & Safety). This new course is designed to broaden the employment opportunities for students in the rapidly expanding area of health, safety and environment, while still allowing students to select a major in either ‘Environmental Health’ or ‘Health & Safety’. There is currently an extremely high demand for graduates, who are receiving well above average salaries.

Concern regarding quality of life and the integrity and sustainability of the environment and workplaces has led to a demand for professionally trained personnel to create and maintain environments and workplaces that promote good health.  

About our Health, Safety and Environment Program

The Bachelor of Science (Health, Safety & Environment) has a strong science foundation where knowledge of human anatomy & physiology, chemistry, physics and microbiology is used as a basis for the development of the required professional competencies and skills. Units of study in this course use a workplace based approach and focus on the development of important graduate attributes and skills including critical thinking, information literacy and competence in using available technology.

Following their first year of study, students are able to select a major in either Environmental Health or Health & Safety

Information on Health and Safety

Health and Safety is concerned with workplace safety and the injuries and diseases that have a major impact on the work environment. There are many physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial or organisational hazards that can cause injury, death or disease in the workplace. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that more than 2 million people die from work-related causes every year. Internationally, there are two new cases each minute, bringing more harm to the global community than from road accidents, war, violence and HIV/AIDS combined. In Australia, the annual cost of associated ill health is between $15-37 billion every year. Health and Safety professionals work first to prevent then minimise the incidence and impact of workplace hazards.

Information on Environmental Health

Environmental health is concerned with managing those factors in the environment that may exert a harmful effect on community and population health. It comprises those aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, chemical, biological, social and psychological factors in the environment. Concern regarding quality of life and the integrity and sustainability of the environment has led to a demand for professionally trained personnel to create and maintain environments that promote good public health. Graduates of Environmental Health may work as Environmental Health Officers or Scientific Officers in government and a wide range of other fields including the food industry and environmental management.

Postgraduate Programs

Postgraduate programs are available in both Environmental Health and Health and Safety from Graduate Certificate to Doctor of Philosophy level. Entry level to these courses depends on previous qualifications and work experience
See our course list for more information.

General Information: Scholarships and Prizes

Health & Safety Major

Graduates of our Health and Safety Major of Health,Safety & Environment are eligible for membership with the Safety Institute of Australia, the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienist, The Human Factors and Ergonomic Society of Australia Inc and The World Safety Organisation.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in Occupational Health and Safety are accredited by the Institution of Occupational Health and Safety in the UK (IOSH).

This means that graduates of any of these courses can apply for Graduate Membership of IOSH. IOSH is the largest professional Health and Safety organisation in the world and plays an important role in maintaining professional standards and influencing government policies. This recognition is of particular interest/advantage to anyone wanting to work overseas in the OHS field.

  • The Jim Torlach Scholarship
    Students who intend to select the Health and Safety major and study full-time on campus study are able to apply for the Jim Torlach Scholarship. This scholarship provides full payment of HECs fees for 3 years and provides practical employment opportunities in the mining industry during this time.-[read about the past recipients of the Scholarship]  [read more about the Scholarship]
  • Annual Safety Institute of Australia (SAI) Prize - (Undergraduate)
    Available to WA Students Only
    This prize is awarded annually to the graduating student with the highest course average mark. This award provides the graduating student with Professional Recognition within the OHS industry, one year’s free membership to the SIA, free entry to an SIA (WA) function and a gift voucher.
  • Annual Safety Institute of Australia (SAI) Prize – (Postgraduate)
    Available to WA Students Only
    This is awarded to the graduating postgraduate student with the highest course average mark.

Environmental Health major

Environmental Health Courses accredited by Environmental Health Australia

Graduates of the Environmental Health Major are professionally recognised by Environmental Health Australia and eligible for appointment as Environmental Health Officers throughout Australia.

Professional Association Awards

Both of the following prizes are awarded annually and include an engraved medal, certificate and cash component as well as 12 month free membership with Environmental Health Australia.

  • Harold Salter Award
    This is awarded to the graduating student who displays the highest level of professional potential throughout the course.
  • Gold Award
    This is awarded to the graduating student who has the highest course weighted average over the entire course.

 

Courses offered

Undergraduate Courses

Double Degrees

Postgraduate Courses

Master & Doctoral Programs

Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities are excellent, with the majority of graduates gaining positions before graduating and over 90% employed within six months.

Recent graduates have been employed in a very diverse range of occupations and workplaces: Health, safety and environment professionals in industry including construction, mining, oil and gas; Scientific Officers and Health & Safety Officers in both government and private practice; WA Department of Health (Food/water safety, Wastewater and water reuse, Disease); Tobacco Control & Liquor Licensing); WA Department of Environment & Conservation (Pollution Enforcement, Swan River Trust); Worksafe Inspectors; Vocational rehabilitation and worker's compensation practitioners; Federal Government -Customs and Quarantine; Food Auditors in private industry; Occupational Hygienists.

Environmental Health graduates are also eligible for appointment as Environmental Health Officers throughout Australia.