Why the five-day Diploma of WHS isn’t worth your time

One of the most popular courses that AlertForce provides is the Diploma of Work Health and Safety. Lasting for a duration of six months, the Diploma of WHS teaches and hones the skills necessary to build a successful career in this important industry. As a broadly recognised, accredited qualification, the Diploma of WHS is a welcome addition to any professional’s C.V., so much so that a truncated, five-day version of the course has been devised.

However, we at AlertForce believe that this version of the course offers little value when compared to the six-month rendition, and there are a raft of reasons as to why. In this article, we’re going to examine a few of them.

1. It’s nigh-on impossible to absorb all the necessary information in just five days 

On the full-length version of the course, there are a number of distinct modules that must be studied in order to gain a better understanding of the WHS world. These include managing and investigating WHS hazards, risks and incidents, learning about information systems and other safety measures and initiatives. Additionally, students will also discover how to develop, implement and maintain WHS management systems, amongst a host of other points.

As such, the six-month duration of the course allows enough time for students to take in the wealth of information coming their way, analysing and demonstrating their knowledge as they do so. On the five-day version, we don’t believe that students have the necessary time to learn and absorb everything they need to. It’s possible that tutors will be skirting over the facts and potentially missing out vital details. This spells bad news for both the students and the working world – if a WHS professional’s skills are insufficient, he or she could be placing a lot of people at risk.

2. Registered training organisations should always have students’ best interests at heart 

In these austere times, we know how financially squeezed many households, businesses and individuals really are. Therefore, it’s only natural that students will be looking for the best deal when it comes to their education, and the shorter, intensive version of the Diploma in WHS simply doesn’t offer good value. Priced at an average of $1,799, it’s three times as expensive as the longer course, without offering a better outcome for the student.

Sure, a student may get their qualification more quickly, but without having enough time to fully grasp the finer concepts of WHS, they’ll come out poorer for the experience, both on a financial and educational level. To this end, we at AlertForce believe that all RTOs should have a duty of care towards their students, and not be purely financially motivated.

As a registered training organisation (RTO), AlertForce has always prided itself on delivering the finest possible education for its students, whilst at the same time offering value for money. We want our students to head out into the world of WHS equipped with the tools needed to succeed, and we don’t think that the five-day Diploma of WHS will properly prepare them.

3. Though the certificate has the same name, it’s not of the same quality 

Of course, the Diploma of WHS has the same name regardless of how it is taught. Even so, it’s likely that a holder of this qualification will be asked, in an interview, whether they took the long or short version of the course, as this can have a big bearing on a potential employer’s thinking. After all, WHS managers have a deep understanding of their industry, and they know what is quality, and what isn’t.

Indeed, they are fully aware that the longer version of the Diploma of WHS course offers greater value and better prepares an individual for the world of work than does the shorter one. This puts applicants with the former in a far stronger position than those with the latter, so even if it does take you a little more time, the full version of the Diploma of WHS is by far the better option in the long run.

Managers value what the long course will teach you, and will understand that you’ve taken the time and effort to study in the greater detail that the extended time period allows. They will be more hesitant to employ a person that studied the five-day course, , knowing that they won’t have had the time to study and digest the information properly.

We can fully understand the appeal of the five-day diploma. Your certificate will be in the post within a short few weeks, and you can add it to your C.V. in preparation for that dream position. Certainly, it’s time efficient, and must be very tempting for those looking for a quick fix. However, before you apply and hand over your hard-earned cash, remind yourself of this: if the five-day Diploma of WHS isn’t valued by the industry, what’s the overall point of having it under your belt?

Patience is a virtue, or so the old adage goes. If you have this virtue, your time and effort will be far better spent studying the full-length course, as this will stand you in much better stead when it comes to the rough-and tumble of the job market. Be sure to get in touch with the expert team at AlertForce to find out more about our courses – we look forward to hearing from you.