UWA PLUS

Tailings Roles and Responsibilities - MINEM542

This micro-credential discusses how the organisational structure set up to manage a tailings storage facility can contribute to preventing accidents and tailings releases. Using the GISTM (Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management) as a framework, the roles and responsibilities of personnel including the Accountable Executive, the Engineer of Record, and the Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer are discussed, amongst others. The use of a RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, or Informed) matrix is illustrated with reference to the above roles, as well as that of the Design Engineer and an Independent Tailings Review Board.

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 roles and responsibilities of personnel appointed in positions related to tailings management, and the interactions between these personnel. It is the second of three micro-credentials in Tailings Governance.

Participants will learn about the designations required by the GISTM (Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management), and how implementation of a suitable RACI matrix provides levels of protection against future catastrophic failures of tailings storage facilities.

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

  • Two PD Points - stackable for academic credit towards the Graduate Certificate in Tailings Management*
  • A Certificate of Achievement
  • A UWA Plus Professional Development Transcript, listing all successfully completed micro-credentials

*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 in Tailings Management.

Delivery mode
Online access to learning material, on demand. Two online discussion forums will be held for students to discuss the learning material and share their own insights into the topics covered.
Course dates

14 July 2025 - 5 September 2025

Registrations close

18 July 2025

Effort
50 hours (including online learning, personal study time and assessments)
Academic lead
Professor Andy Fourie
Cost
$1,100 inc. GST
Critical information summary
MINEM542 Tailings Roles and Responsibilities [PDF 245KB]
Keyboard

What you'll learn

Participants will be able to:

Distinguish between the various roles required by the GISTM and the interaction between these roles

Compare the responsibilities of designated personnel responsible for tailings management

Develop a RACI matrix for tailings management personnel as well as external parties

Evaluate the extent to which organisational structure ensures multiple lines of defence for tailings governance within an organisation

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.

 

Recommended prior knowledge

Bachelor of Engineering, or Master of Professional Engineering, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA. It is advisable that students take MINEM541 - Compliance before taking this micro-credential.

Engineering numerical skills are required, as there will be some calculations that are essential to understanding the material.

 

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 are: (1) Tailings Compliance and (2) Tailings Management Plans.

The Calendar of micro-credentials can be found here.

*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 in Tailings Management.

 

Apply

Applications are open.

  • If you are not an employee of BHP or Rio Tinto, please click here to register and pay for this micro-credential
  • If you are an employee of BHP or Rio Tinto and this is your 1st-3rd Tailings Management micro, your fee is covered by your employer. Please click here to register.
  • If you are an employee of BHP or Rio Tinto and this is your 4th-12th Tailings Management micro, please click here to register and pay for this micro-credential