What is Diploma WHS, and who is it for?
The BSB51319 Diploma of Work Health and Safety is a nationally recognised qualification, delivered by CBD College (RTO 91399) and regulated by ASQA under the Australian Qualifications Framework. It's the next step up from Cert IV WHS, building on it to give you the knowledge and skills to manage and lead workplace health and safety at a higher level — applying substantial knowledge and well-developed skills across a wide variety of WHS contexts, rather than just contributing to WHS processes.
It's suited to:
- WHS officers and coordinators ready to step up
- Cert IV WHS holders wanting to advance their skills
- WHS managers and team leaders
- HR professionals managing WHS compliance
- Supervisors responsible for team safety
- Anyone wanting to manage WHS at a higher, more strategic level
After completing the Diploma, graduates are positioned for senior WHS coordinator and WHS manager roles across a wide range of industries.
Entry requirements & eligibility
Unlike Cert IV WHS, the Diploma does have a prerequisite: you must hold the core units of BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, or equivalent competencies (including predecessor units mapped as equivalent):
- BSBWHS412 — Assist with compliance with WHS laws
- BSBWHS413 — Contribute to implementation and maintenance of WHS consultation and participation processes
- BSBWHS414 — Contribute to WHS risk management
- BSBWHS415 — Contribute to implementing WHS management systems
- BSBWHS416 — Contribute to workplace incident response
A copy of your academic transcript listing these units is required at enrolment. You don't need to have completed your Cert IV WHS with CBD College — if you did it with another provider, that's fine, just provide your transcript, and contact us if you're unsure whether your prior qualification meets the requirement. If you haven't completed Cert IV WHS at all, you'll need to enrol in and complete that qualification first before starting the Diploma.
A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is required, as it is for all nationally recognised training.
Course preparation — Assessment 1: Before Day 1, you'll need to complete Assessment 1: nine short-answer questions covering WHS compliance and government legislation, essentially a recap of your Cert IV WHS content. It's good preparation for the face-to-face (or Zoom) component and gets you started before the week begins.
Credit transfer (CT): CT must be applied for before enrolment. Email your request to info@cbdcollege.edu.au with a copy of your academic transcript. CBD College assesses CT applications case by case, and will grant CT where the unit presented is (i) exactly the same (code and name) or (ii) an equivalent unit with currency demonstrated. Note that CBD College uses an integrated training and assessment approach — each assessment covers multiple units rather than one unit at a time. This means CT is often of limited practical benefit: removing the parts of an assessment covered by a CT unit would usually make the rest of the assessment incomplete or senseless, so applying for CT is unlikely to reduce your training and assessment workload in any meaningful way.
Course structure, duration & delivery modes
The face-to-face (or Zoom) component runs for 5 consecutive business days, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm AET — or just 4 days if you completed your Cert IV WHS with CBD College, since that qualification already covers part of the Diploma content. You're enrolled for 12 months, with written assessments completed at your own pace after the face-to-face component — there's no minimum time, and WHS experience plus good computer skills can significantly reduce how long this takes.
You choose one of two ways to attend:
- Classroom: In person with your trainer and classmates, at our Sydney CBD or Melbourne CBD campus (see Locations & addresses). Maximum 16 students per classroom course.
- Zoom: Live via video conferencing, available Australia-wide, run out of Victoria, and run the same way as the classroom course — you log on each morning and a dedicated trainer facilitates the day, with interaction between students throughout. Maximum 12 students per Zoom course.
Both delivery modes use the same qualification, trainers and assessments — the only difference is location. The face-to-face (or Zoom) component is where practical assessments happen, and you'll typically start on your first written assessment before Day 1 and continue through the week.
Your trainers: Our WHS trainers include Colin Martin (20+ years in WHS and emergency response, including 15 years in the Australian Army and a career as a nurse and registered paramedic) and Nicole Mesic (10+ years in WHS across construction, telecommunications and intralogistics, specialising in management systems, incident management and auditing) — the same experienced trainers who deliver Cert IV WHS.
Ongoing support: CBD College runs fortnightly Help Sessions via Zoom, specifically for Diploma WHS students — a drop-in style virtual classroom you can join for revision, consolidation and assessment support. You're welcome to attend as many of these fortnightly sessions as you need while you're enrolled, including after you've finished the face-to-face component.
Units of competency
Diploma WHS (BSB51319) is made up of 10 units — 5 core and 5 electives, packaged by CBD College:
5 core units:
- BSBWHS513 — Lead WHS risk management
- BSBWHS515 — Lead initial response to and investigate WHS incidents
- BSBWHS516 — Contribute to developing, implementing and maintaining an organisation's WHS management system
- BSBWHS519 — Lead the development and use of WHS risk management tools
- BSBWHS522 — Manage WHS consultation and participation processes
5 elective units:
- BSBWHS517 — Contribute to managing a WHS information system
- BSBWHS520 — Manage implementation of emergency procedures
- BSBWHS514 — Manage WHS compliance of contractors
- BSBWHS504 — Manage WHS risks
- BSBWRT411 — Write complex documents
Fees & payment options
The standard course fee is $1,999.
Alumni discount: If you completed your Certificate IV WHS with CBD College, your Diploma WHS fee is $1,800.
Payment options include credit card online, over the phone, or in person at our Sydney or Melbourne campus. You can also pay via Afterpay or Klarna as 4 interest-free payments of $499.75, or in instalments: 50% at enrolment and the remaining 50% before the course commences — contact CBD College to arrange this.
Bundle deal: If you haven't started either qualification yet, you can book Cert IV WHS and Diploma WHS together for $3,299 (a $199 saving on the combined full price) — call 1300 616 218 to arrange.
Refunds: If you cancel before the course starts, you'll receive a refund of the course fee less $499. No refund is available once the course has begun, or within 7 days of the course start date.
Computer & equipment requirements
You'll need a laptop with Microsoft Office installed — this is essential for completing your assessments, whether you're studying in the classroom or via Zoom. Average to excellent computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Word, are expected.
What to bring to face-to-face classes: Your laptop, photo ID, and a pen and paper.
Assessments
There are 5 integrated assessments, covering role plays (including taking part in WHS meetings), written project reports, templates, and written questioning based on scenarios. Practical assessments are completed during the face-to-face component — your trainer prepares you for these in class. Written assessments are started in class and completed afterward, and are submitted via email.
If you don't complete a practical assessment during the face-to-face week, the college will arrange for you to return on another date to complete it. If you don't finish your written assessments in class, you complete the remainder afterward — you have up to 12 months from course completion to submit everything.
Assessment is competency-based, so there's no "failing": if you're deemed not yet competent, you can attempt the assessment again, with additional support available through the fortnightly Help Sessions.
A real-world scenario, from start to finish
Throughout the course you work in the role of a WHS professional at the same fictional company used in Cert IV WHS, ABC Steel Engineering — a busy steel fabrication business with around 90 workers and 10 contractors, and some genuine health-and-safety challenges to address. Every assessment task connects back to this one workplace, so instead of answering abstract questions, you tackle realistic problems the way a senior WHS practitioner does on the job. As this is a Diploma-level qualification, the standard is higher than Cert IV WHS — you explain and articulate your responses in your own words, in depth. The five assessments are:
- Legislation — understanding and applying the WHS laws that apply in your state or territory.
- Systems and Techniques of WHS Management — leading WHS management systems, consultation and information systems.
- Risk Management — leading risk management and developing the tools used to manage risk.
- WHS Management of Contractors & Emergencies — managing contractor compliance and the implementation of emergency procedures.
- Participate in the Investigation of Incidents — leading the response to and investigation of WHS incidents.
Good to know: answers are written in your own words, typically four to five sentences, to explain, describe and articulate your response — dot points are only used where a question specifically asks you to "list." You reference the WHS laws for your own state or territory, so what you learn applies directly to where you work. Everything is submitted as one file by email. Practical tasks are completed in class, observed by your trainer, with results and feedback available in your Student Portal. Your work is marked by a qualified assessor, usually within 15 business days, and if anything needs another go, you'll get clear feedback and the chance to resubmit. If you have any language, literacy, numeracy, health or accessibility needs, let CBD College know beforehand so the right support can be arranged.
Certificates
Once you've submitted your assessments, they'll be assessed, and once you're marked competent across all units you'll be notified by email. Your BSB51319 Diploma of Work Health and Safety Certificate and Record of Transcript will be available on your Student Portal within 2 business days of being marked competent.
International students
No — international students cannot enrol if their visa requires them to study at a CRICOS-registered institution. CBD College is not a CRICOS-registered provider.
Deferral & part-time options
There isn't a fixed "part-time" delivery mode — the face-to-face (or Zoom) component runs as a single intensive week (5 days, or 4 for Cert IV WHS alumni) — but your written assessments can be completed at your own pace over up to 12 months, giving you effective flexibility once the classroom/Zoom week is done. If personal circumstances mean you need to discuss deferring your enrolment, contact CBD College directly to talk through your options.
Locations & addresses
Classroom courses run at:
- Sydney CBD — Level 5, 8 Quay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000 (next to Central Station)
- Melbourne CBD — Level 3, 55 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
The Zoom course is available Australia-wide for students not near either campus.
Getting in touch
Call 1300 616 218, email info@cbdcollege.edu.au, or visit cbdcollege.edu.au. You can enrol online or by phone.
Coming from Cert IV WHS?
The Diploma builds directly on Cert IV WHS (BSB41419) — you need its core units to enrol. If you completed your Cert IV WHS with CBD College, you get:
- A discounted fee of $1,800 (instead of $1,999)
- A shorter 4-day face-to-face/Zoom component (instead of 5 days)
- Fewer assessments, since your Cert IV WHS work already covers part of the Diploma content
If you haven't done Cert IV WHS yet, start there — see the Cert IV WHS article — or ask about booking both together under the $3,299 bundle.
Career pathway: continuing to Advanced Diploma WHS
After completing Diploma WHS, you can progress to the BSB60619 Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety to continue building your WHS expertise and move toward the most senior WHS leadership roles.
Consumer rights & legislation
CBD College's operations, including Diploma WHS, are governed by (among other legislation) the Privacy Act 1988, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.