Every supervisor faces moments where they have to make a call — and live with what happens next. This course is built around those moments.
Using real coronial cases and prosecution outcomes from Australian workplaces, you will learn what separates a defensible decision from a negligent one. You will understand what the law actually expects of a front-line supervisor, how to recognise when a situation is drifting toward danger, and what to do when you are the one who has to make the call.
This is not a theory course. It is built around real cases, real decisions, and real consequences.
What You’ll Learn
- Why the gap between how work is designed and how it actually happens is the real source of risk — and what supervisors can do about it
- What reasonably practicable means in practice, and how to make decisions that hold up to scrutiny
- How experienced supervisors recognise when situations are drifting toward danger before an incident occurs
- The human factors that make even competent people make mistakes — fatigue, authority gradient, normalisation of deviance
- How to run a pre-task conversation that surfaces real information, not just ticked boxes
- When and how to exercise stop work authority — and how to build a culture where others will too
- The difference between human error, at-risk behaviour, and reckless behaviour — and why it matters for accountability
Who This Course Is For
Designed for front-line supervisors and team leaders in any industry where the consequences of getting it wrong are serious — mining, construction, utilities, manufacturing, health, and emergency services.
Course Materials
Download these resources before you begin. The Student Handbook supports your notes and reflections. The slide deck lets you follow along or print for reference.
- 📄 Student Handbook (Word Document) — Printable guide covering all 8 modules, reflection questions, and case study summaries
- 📊 Course Slide Deck (PowerPoint) — Full slide deck to follow along or print
Case Studies
Five real prosecutions used throughout the course. Download before your session or print for reference during group discussions.
- RPC Surface Treatment — The Death of Hamiora Sharland (PDF)
- Mastermyne — The Death of Graham Dawson (PDF)
- Kalidonis NT — The Death of Paul Leach (PDF)
- W.A.S.S. Nominees — A Death at the Salt Pit Conveyor (PDF)
- Ardent Leisure — The Dreamworld Tragedy (PDF)
Prefer Face-to-Face Training?
This course is also available as an in-person workshop for teams and organisations. Pricing is tailored to group size and location.
Curriculum
- 8 Sections
- 13 Lessons
- 3 Hours
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Module 01 — The Reality of Safety at the Front Line3
- Module 02 — What Reasonably Practicable Actually Means3
- Module 03 — Decision Making Under Pressure3
- Module 04 — The Human Side of Supervision2
- Module 05 — Conversations That Change Behaviour2
- Module 06 — When Things Start Going Wrong3
- Module 07 — Balancing Accountability and Fairness3
- Module 08 — Applying It All2
Certificate
Showcase Your Certificate
Instructor
Tom Bourne
Tom Bourne writes about the things organisations find uncomfortable to confront — why accidents really happen, what safety culture actually looks like in practice, and how leadership decisions shape risk outcomes in ways that rarely show up in incident reports.
With more than 25 years working across mining, government and education in Australia, his understanding of workplace safety isn’t theoretical. It comes from time spent with frontline workers and senior leaders alike, watching the gap between what organisations say about safety and how work actually gets done.
In addition to writing, Tom works in adult education and professional training, hosts the podcast Voices from the Edge, and contributes regularly to professional conversation through LinkedIn. He is based in Western Australia and works nationally.
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