News | New Diplomas Set Standard for Risk Management Training
22/06/2011
The Associate Minister of Transport, Hon Nathan Guy, launched the Diplomas at CAA's offices on 21 June.
New Zealand has set an international standard for aviation risk and safety management training, with the launch of three new National Diplomas in Aviation.
The National Diploma Series was launched in Wellington last night (21 June) by the Associate Minister of Transport, The Hon Nathan Guy.
“These Diplomas are a world first. They set the bar internationally and position New Zealand as a global innovator and indeed leader in aviation safety and risk management,” said Minister Guy.
“They are about building better, stronger business and complement the work the Civil Aviation Authority is doing on Safety Management Systems that will come into play in the next two years.”
The three Diplomas have been developed by the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO) and Aerosafe Risk Management, a global provider of risk and safety management training. Each Diploma supports the Aviation Industry Association’s (AIA’s) professional development programme and is fully endorsed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The Diplomas cover regulatory oversight and governance, risk management, and safety management systems. They will support the New Zealand aviation industry’s efforts to embed world-class safety and risk management practices within the public and private sectors.
Kimberley Turner, Chief Executive Officer of Aerosafe, said the three National Diplomas are the only Diploma level, vocationally-based, industry accredited qualifications of this type on offer anywhere in the world.
“The Regulatory Oversight and Governance Diploma, in particular, is unique as it is specifically designed for senior executives, board members and regulatory staff. The combined effect of the complete Diploma series is that it provides both aviation businesses and the Regulator with access to common skills, knowledge, methodologies and approaches.”
Each of the three Diplomas is quality assured and registered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
ATTTO Chief Executive Elizabeth Valentine said the Diplomas focus on driving cultural change in risk and safety management from the top down.
“Lifting risk management standards across an industry is about so much more than sending staff on a course. It is about up-skilling everyone, from the board and executive who lead and develop a safety oriented culture to those who implement it. The three qualifications have something for people at all levels.”
CAA Director Steve Douglas said the Diploma Series was developed in direct response to a recognised need within the aviation industry to train the next generation of industry leaders.
“I am enthusiastic about this exciting initiative, which will educate and prepare New Zealand’s aviation Regulator, industry and stakeholders for moving activities and practices beyond compliance,” he said.
“Through these Diplomas we will collectively increase our assurance over, and the safety performance of, one of New Zealand’s most valued industries.”
Irene King, Chief Executive of the AIA, said her organisation supported the Diploma series, which effectively builds on professional development opportunities already offered by the AIA in New Zealand.
“The National Diploma Series is about generating ownership, and building smarter, more competitive businesses through adopting a risk based approach to management,” she said.
Background:
About the Diplomas:
- The National Diploma Series has been designed to assist aviation organisations to upskill their employees and enhance organisational practices in the fields of safety management, risk management, and regulatory oversight and governance.
- The Diplomas are: National Diploma in Aviation (Regulatory Oversight and Governance); National Diploma in Aviation (Risk Management); and National Diploma in Aviation (Safety Management Systems).
- The Diplomas target senior industry executives, regulatory staff and safety/risk management specialists within both the public and private sector.
- They are designed to be taught through a combination of face-to-face workshops, online tutorials, independent study modules and workplace-based projects – depending on the Diploma. They can also be taught as in-house, client-specific training for organisations looking at implementing organisation-wide risk management and governance programmes.
- Each Diploma is completed over a 22-month period. Registration costs $7160 (for employed New Zealanders eligible for industry training funding) including workshops, resources and other learning support.
- All three Diplomas are registered by the NZQA at Level 5 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
- The Diplomas build on New Zealand’s leadership in international risk management standards, which commenced with the release of the AS/NZS 4360 on risk management in 1995. This suite of qualifications puts in place a practical application of these standards for aviation businesses and sectors.
Benchmarked internationally:
- As part of the process of developing the Diplomas, Aerosafe spent three months benchmarking these Diplomas against risk, safety and governance training options in the UK, US, Europe, Australia and Canada.
- Although there are a large number of university qualifications and other training options available covering risk and safety management, there are few that provide the practical, vocational-based and industry endorsed learning that these Diplomas do. This is the only series of three complimentary Diplomas in these fields.
- The Regulatory Oversight and Governance Diploma in particular is unique in the world as the only Diploma-level, vocational-based governance and oversight qualification designed specifically for the aviation sector.