UWA PLUS

Tailings Compliance - MINEM541

This micro-credential has been designed for professionals working in the field of tailings management. It is best suited to practicing engineers, geoscientists or individuals with responsibility for managing and/or operating a tailings storage facility who are interested in the relationship between various governance approaches and associated documents, as well as the evolving landscape of tailings governance. It is the first of three micro-credentials in Tailings Governance.

Participants will learn about the transition from prescriptive approaches to TSF regulation and governance, to an increasingly risk-based approach, which included the introduction of the concept of Consequence Category. The philosophy behind the Consequence Category approach and implications on design and operations of TSFs is explored. The discussions include an introduction to the use of detailed dam-break studies and how outcomes from such studies are used to inform consequence categories.

Upon successful completion of this micro-credential, you'll receive:

  • Two PD Points
  • A Certificate of Achievement
  • A UWA Plus Professional Development Transcript, listing all successfully completed micro-credentials
Delivery mode
Online
Course dates
28 April 2025 - 20 June 2025

 

Registrations close
2 May 2025

 

Effort
Total effort - 50 hours, including online contact hours, personal study time and assessments.
Academic lead
Professor Andy Fourie
Cost
$1,100 inc. GST
Critical information summary
MINEM541 Tailings Compliance [PDF 245KB]
Student reading outside on campus

What you'll learn

Participants will learn:

About the transition from prescriptive approaches to TSF regulation and governance, to an increasingly risk-based approach, which included the introduction of the concept of Consequence Category. The philosophy behind the Consequence Category approach and implications on design and operations of TSFs is explored. The discussions include an introduction to the use of detailed dam-break studies and how outcomes from such studies are used to inform consequence categories.

Assess the Consequence Category of a range of TSFs using desktop studies

Compare various approaches to assessing potential risks associated with TSFs

Differentiate between the requirements of guidelines developed by various international and national agencies

Identify and evaluate the key features to be included in an Integrated Knowledge Base for both existing and future TSFs

Keyboard 

Why study this course?

As a result of the recent Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management, there is increasing demand for tailings professionals at the same time as the industry is experiencing a shortage of personnel with appropriate training. The Standard will bring rapid change to the way the industry manages tailings and waste. This micro-credential and the subsequent micro-credentials will allow you to keep up with standards, technologies and guidelines dealing with tailings management.

Who should study this course?

This micro-credential has been designed for professionals working in the field of tailings management. It is best suited to practicing engineers, geoscientists or individuals with responsibility for input into risk assessments of tailings storage facilities, although the content covered and the principles discussed will find relevance in all fields of mining geomechanics.

Participants will learn about the transition from prescriptive approaches to TSF regulation and governance, to an increasingly risk-based approach, which included the introduction of the concept of Consequence Category. The philosophy behind the Consequence Category approach and implications on design and operations of TSFs is explored. The discussions include an introduction to the use of detailed dam-break studies and how outcomes from such studies are used to inform consequence categories.

Recommended prior knowledge

Bachelor of Engineering, or Master of Professional Engineering, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA.

What's next after this course?

The micro-credential is one of a series of twelve micro-credentials that are stackable towards the Graduate Certificate in Tailings Management. This micro-credential is one of three on the topic of Tailings Governance. The other two on this topic are:

  1. Tailings Roles and Responsibilities; and
  2. Tailings Management Plans.

In order to apply for the Graduate Certificate award you must have a Bachelor of Engineering degree or a degree in a related field and have met UWA's English language competency requirements. Please refer to the Graduate Certificate inTailings Management.