Bachelor and Masters of
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
AND SAFETY SCIENCE
Above: BOHSSc students on work experience at Seaworld, Gold Coast, Queensland
BOHSSc students on work experience at Seaworld, Gold Coast, Queensland
Choose
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
AND SAFETY SCIENCE
at UQ
and you will choose a learning experience that is fun and
challenging. With a strong scientific focus, you will also study
health, psychology, law and management providing a
comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach to learning.
• You will graduate as a highly skilled Occupational Health
and Safety (OHS) professional; an occupation that is in
high demand from industry.
• You will have opportunities to work and learn from OHS
leaders from a broad range of industries, from Mining to
Retail, Hospitality to Healthcare.
• You will be job ready and gain practical experience
through industry placements, worksite visits and industry
research projects.
• You can apply for a number of exclusive scholarships that
offer an annual payment (from $4 000 - $10 000 per
year), paid vacation employment, and a guaranteed job
on graduating.
WHY IS OHS SO
IMPORTANT?
Considering that a significant proportion of a person’s life is spent at work, it is vital that the workplace is a safe and healthy environment. Did you know that globally more than
2 000 000 people die each year from work-related accidents and diseases, and many millions more are injured or become ill because of their work? Many of these workplace deaths, injuries and illnesses are preventable!
WHAT DOES
AN OHS
PROFESSIONAL
DO?
OHS professionals focus on preventing workplace injury and illness. On a day to day basis they could be involved in health and safety audits and inspections, modifying and monitoring hazards in the workplace, designing work environments, investigating incidents and delivering education programs. Some OHS professionals choose to specialise in occupational hygiene, ergonomics,
occupational health or occupational safety.
BOHSSc students on work experience at Seaworld, Gold Coast, Queensland
Occupational Health and Safety qualifications will lead to career opportunities all over Australia and around the world. The demand for OHS professionals is growing and there are strong employment opportunities with high salaries. Where you choose to work will depend on your personal interests and career goals. OHS qualifications open doors in diverse industries such as agriculture, construction, mining, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, tourism and transport.
WHERE CAN
I WORK?
WHAT COULD
I EARN?
The average OHS professional wage of $133,854 is at least 90% above the average Australian salary (according to the 2012 National Safety Recruitment Salary Survey). Packages range from $60,458 for graduates and entry level OHS personnel to OHS Group managers earning on average $256,250.
For the Bachelor of Occupational Health
and Safety Science (Hons) you will need:
Year 12 or equivalent – English, Chemistry and Maths B.
For the Masters of Occupational Health
and Safety Science you will need:
A four-year bachelor degree or equivalent in any field OR a three-year bachelor degree in science, health science or a related field that includes a minimum of an approved tertiary-level Chemistry course AND an approved tertiary-level Biology course.
WHAT ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
DO I NEED?
• Genes, Cells & Evolution • Fundamentals of Chemistry
• Introduction to Occupational Health & Safety • Introduction to Psychology: Physiological &
Cognitive Psychology
• Physical Basis of Biological systems • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology • Occupational Safety Science
• Anatomical Basis of Human Movement • Occupational Health
• Occupational Health Safety and Law • Physical Ergonomics
• Introduction to Human Factors • Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology • Risk Management
• Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems
• Industry Placements • Systems Safety Engineering
The MOHSSc is an eighteen month Masters program that builds on a degree in science, health science or engineering. Students are equipped with the theoretical knowledge, practical application and professional attributes necessary for a career in occupational health and safety. The program addresses well established industry hazards (chemical, physical, mechanical, biological and psychosocial) within the context of the core OHS disciplines - Occupational Hygiene, Ergonomics, Occupational Health, Safety
Science and Risk Management.
WHAT
WOULD
I STUDY?
The University of Queensland offers two programs in OHS: the Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety Science (Hons) for undergraduates and a Masters of Occupational Health and Safety Science for post graduate students.
The BOHSSc (Hons) is a four year undergraduate program that combines a strong scientific focus with practical application, including an industry placement and research project. Some of the courses studied include:
Sean Meiklejohn - “Knowing that someone’s loved one has
come home safely after a
day at work would be very
rewarding.”
After completing high school at West Moreton Anglican College, Sean Meiklejohn was unsure of what career direction to take. It was during his first year of studying another degree at the University of Queensland that he stumbled across the OHS stand at a UQ open day. He was staggered to find out that more than two million people die each year from work related injuries or illnesses. “Personally I found this global problem very disturbing. Every day someone’s parents, children and friends are not coming home safely from work” he says.
“I always knew that I wanted to work with people and make a difference
to their health and well being, and I realised that I could achieve this goal by working as an OHS professional. Knowing that someone’s loved one has come home safely after a day at work would be a very rewarding career”.
Sean has an interest in working in the construction and mining industry, and recently was awarded a $25 000 scholarship with Leighton Contractors. He is keen to apply the knowledge that he has already gained in science, psychology, statistics and law to the “real world” during vacation work with Leighton Contractors. “I strongly believe that OHS professionals can make a huge difference in organizations both large and small through a supportive safety culture”.
Let some of the UQ OHS students share their
experiences with you
Sarah Brisbane - “The degree itself is really interesting, and I
have gained considerable knowledge across so many disciplines,
not just purely in safety.”
Growing up in the mining town of Mount Isa, Sarah Brisbane had a fair idea of the importance of Occupational Health and Safety. “I had already started studying another degree at UQ, but I felt like I needed a change, so I looked into the new Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety Degree
and the rest is history.”
Sarah has been amazed at the depth of scientific knowledge that she gained particularly during the early years of study. “The science studies in chemistry, biology, biochemistry and anatomy, helped me with understanding the OHS disciplines of occupational hygiene, ergonomics, occupational health and safety. The degree itself is really interesting, and I have gained considerable knowledge across so many disciplines, not just purely in safety. This knowledge then makes it easier to interact with other professionals in the field.”
It is not surprising that Sarah is planning to return to her hometown of Mount Isa and begin working in the mining industry as a Health and Safety Advisor. She has already completed vacation work with Glencore Xstrata Mt Isa mines in both the open-cut and underground mining environments, and she is confident that with the knowledge and skills she has gained during her degree she will be successful in her OHS career.
Whitney Evans - “One of the main reasons I chose to study OHS
was that I enjoy working with people.”
It was an Occupational Health and Safety Module in her business subject at Kingaroy State High School that first heightened Whitney Evan’s interest in the growing OHS profession. “When I looked into OHS as a career, I realised that there were good employment opportunities and you could work in a variety of industries in Australia or around the world. I decided that the best opportunity for a professional career in occupational health and safety was to study at the University of Queensland and gain a well recognised degree” explains this third year student.
Whitney has already secured a scholarship with Stanwell valued at $40 000, and throughout her University breaks she has worked at the Tarong Power Station, one of Queensland’s largest power stations. It was here that she discovered the diverse and interesting activities that an OHS professional can perform. “I’ve been exposed to many different health and safety related tasks such as reviewing machinery guarding, developing risk registers, noise surveys, dust monitoring, water and radiation testing” says Whitney. “But it’s not only about the technical side of things, you also need to engage and communicate with people. This suits me as one of the main reasons I chose to study OHS was that I enjoy working with people”.
When she completes her degree, she is hoping to join a graduate program to further develop her OHS skills but she says “the good thing is that I will be able to work in many different places and industries in Australia or around the world”.
Wesley Ho- “I wanted to study something related to science and
to have a profession which was meaningful, and being able to
keep people safe and healthy addresses both of these.”
Wesley Ho, a past student of Brisbane State High School is in his third year of studying the Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety (Hons) at UQ. He finds the program engaging due to the emphasis on practical work which he
believes is more representative of professional practice.
“I have been pleasantly surprised by the quantity and quality of opportunities presented in the program so far. Some courses have multiple guest lecturers who are leaders in the field of OHS. The expertise and experience that they bring allows them to impart valuable knowledge that cannot be gained out of a textbook”. He also believes that the numerous work site visits conducted during the course have benefited his learning. “I have been given the opportunity to observe concepts taught in the lectures applied to real organizations such as the BP oil refinery, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital.”
Through his $30 000 scholarship with Xstrata Coal NSW and vacation work at the Tahmoor Colliery, Wesley has already had experience of the broad OHS activities in the mining industry. “I have been involved in training workers, mine inspections, and writing procedures and management system components.” For Wesley, his experience so far has reaffirmed why he chose to study the Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety (Hons).
“I wanted to study something related to science and to have a profession which was meaningful, and being able to keep people safe and healthy addresses both of these” he explains.
Kayley Zuhorn - “Small class sizes are great! It means that you
get to become close to your lecturers and course coordinators
which makes it much easier to seek help and ask questions.”
Kayley Zuhorn (on the left)
Kayley Zuhorn is a third year Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety Science (Hons) student and comes from Townsville, where her family has a safety equipment business. In her school breaks from Townsville Grammar, Kayley worked in the family business that specialises in confined space, height safety and rescue equipment.
“I was used to visiting lots of different work sites and I was aware of various safety hazards, so I definitely wanted to do something in this field. Choosing OHS at UQ was just a bit of good luck I guess, as I didn’t know that this degree existed and I just came across it at the last minute” she says.
Since moving from Townsville in 2011, Kayley has settled in at Cromwell College where she is a third year Resident Assistant.
Her transition to University life has been helped by the small class sizes in the BOHSSc (Hons).
“Small class sizes are great! It means that you get to become close to your lecturers and course coordinators which makes it much easier to seek help and ask questions. It also means that you get to know your classmates really well and make some great friends, as well as great contacts for when you get out into the workforce.”
After graduation, Kayley will be commencing a two-year graduate program with Leighton Contractors, but for now the $10 000 scholarship she has received from this company is helping with her living expenses.
Candace Bluff, a third year Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety (Hons) student is planning for a career in the mining industry. After completing Year 12 at Ipswich Girls Grammar School, she chose to study OHS at UQ because she was looking for a very practical application of science and knew that pure research or working in a laboratory wasn’t for her.
She has been awarded a Rio Tinto Alcan scholarship valued at $24 000 and has already had the opportunity to undertake vacation work with this company’s Brisbane corporate office. While working alongside
the principal occupational hygienist, she’s been able to apply some of the knowledge she has gained during her study. Dust, noise, UV radiation, and vibration are just some of the hazards that need to be measured and managed to ensure employee’s safety and wellbeing.
Candace says that many people are aware of the OHS issues in heavy industry such as mining and construction, but she has been surprised at how diverse the study and the application can be. “You don’t realise it until you get into it, but every single organisation and industry sector involves OHS to some degree. The field of OHS is also growing rapidly and the opportunities are endless, so no matter what industry you’d ultimately like to have a career in, OHS has the potential to take you there.”
Candace Bluff - “You don’t realise it until you get into it, but every
Matt Schleehauf - “If you love science then you are going to love
this course.”
A past St Laurence’s College student, Matt Schleehauf is in his second year of the UQ Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety Science (Hons) and has been awarded a $40 000 scholarship with the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Matt says he knew from Year 10 that he was passionate about science and that he wanted to study at the University of Queensland, but admits he had no idea of what field of study to go into. “I was looking for a career that was science based, that was definitely not a boring office job and where you could earn a fair bit while doing it” says Matt. After attending many career expos and information
sessions, Matt discovered that the UQ Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety Science (Hons) ticked all his boxes.
Matt has already had practical experience in OHS by working in his vacations with his future employer, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Not only did he gain practical experience in industrial safety inspections, but he now has a much wider knowledge of the Legislation that is designed to protect workers from workplace injuries and illnesses.
For Matt the most surprising aspect of studying OHS is that there are almost endless opportunities waiting at the end of the degree. He says that “the degree gives you the opportunities to experience everything there is to do with safety, including law, psychology, ergonomics, science, engineering and even management”. There are so many opportunities Matt is still deciding whether he will eventually specialize in Occupational Hygiene, OHS Law or management. His advice to school leavers is that “if you love science then you are going to love this course”.
Grace Carroll - “OHS is a profession in which there is an
availability to work in many industries and disciplines. I knew
that OHS is a growing area in almost every workplace and can
lead to a diverse and rewarding career.”
After she finished high school at Coffs Harbour in Northern New South Wales, Grace Carroll made the move to study the Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety Science (Hons) at UQ. “I was drawn to the campus
life and great job prospects not only from acquiring a degree from UQ, but the high job availability and need for qualified OHS professionals in industry. OHS is a profession in which there is an availability to work in many industries and disciplines. I knew that OHS is a growing area in almost every workplace and can lead to a diverse and rewarding career”.
Now in her third year, she adds that “studying OHS at UQ as allowed me to meet new people and network with many professionals. I was surprised I would have the relationships I do with my lecturers and peers in such a big university with thousands of students”. Grace notes that the other advantages of studying OHS are the numerous scholarship opportunities, ability to attend professional networking events and site visits just to name a few. Grace has recently been awarded one of these scholarships from Leighton Contractors worth $10 000. She already has had a taste of working in an OHS environment during vacation work at Fluor Corporation, one of the world’s leading publicly owned engineering companies. She knows that she is well on her way to her career goal of working within a company that holds health and safety as a priority and to educate others about the importance of maintaining their health, safety and well being.
Sybilla Casinader – “It’s just not science. You can end up
working with management systems, working in health, working
with the legal aspects of OHS. It’s so broad and there are so
many places you can go!”
A Bachelor of Science graduate majoring in Biomedical Sciences, Sybilla Castinader is now studying the new Masters of Occupation Health and Safety Science (MOHSSc). “One of my favourite TV shows is Air
Crash Investigations, and I have always had an interest in finding out what went wrong in accidents, and what can be done in the future to prevent it from happening again. I wasn’t sure where my Bachelor of Science would lead, so I studied two OHS electives in my final year and this confirmed that a career in OHS was definitely what I wanted to do” she explains.
Sybilla found that the choice to study the MOHSSc at UQ was made easier knowing that the program is consolidated into 18 months which enables her to graduate and start her OHS career quickly. Her biggest surprise since starting the MOHSSc has been discovering the diverse pathways open to OHS professionals. “It’s not just science. You can end up working with management systems, working in health, working with the legal aspect. It’s so broad and there are so many places you can go!”
Sybilla was fortunate to be awarded the Thiess Occupational Health and Safety Scholarship for her Masters studies. The $30 000 payment not only covers the cost of her degree and living expenses but allows her to conduct her Industry Research Project with Thiess. “It is great being connected to such a diverse and well-known company from the start of my degree, since I am already gaining insight as to what safety professionals can do within these companies, and I have had some valuable networking opportunities.”
