In the first part of this graduate diploma, you will build the fundamental knowledge required to conduct or manage a transport accident investigation, including:

• underpinning regulations and procedures set forth by key stakeholders
• human factors principles
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS) considerations at the crash site
• evidence collection (including cognitive interviewing)
• evidence examination, and 
• the analysis and elaboration of a final report.

Further into your study, you will have the opportunity to learn additional skills which will allow you to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the investigation process and its contribution to the management of safety in rail, marine and air transport systems.

 Topics include:

• the use of specialised engineering techniques for the forensic examination of the various forms of evidence (including structures, propulsion systems and data recording systems)
• survivability and crashworthiness
• investigation of accidents in complex settings, and 
• safety management systems. 

You will have the opportunity to explore a range of topics that are key to the role of an accident investigator, enabling you to participate in the main phases of an incident or accident investigation process.

A number of teaching and learning approaches are used to develop your capabilities, including lectures, guest lectures by practitioners, class presentations, group discussion, student-led discussion and self-learning activities supported by an online learning management platform. This style of learning is designed to maximise your understanding of the curriculum content and skills, providing an environment where you can ask questions and seek feedback as well as contribute to class discussion with your peers. 

Classes will be offered in intensive mode over weekends or in week-long blocks. 

You are expected to be responsible for the completion of all out of class learning activities which may require extra reading of both library and online materials.

Some learning activities are structured from a problem-based learning perspective, where you may be in a small group or team, or work individually to apply knowledge to solve problems and examine case studies. This technique is designed to simulate the experiences you will encounter working as an accident investigator in a simulated environment.

Some subjects will include the use of a virtual reality model which will enable you to immerse yourself in a digital environment mimicking a crash site. You may also use laboratory equipment and/or practical demonstrations to complement theoretical concepts to be covered throughout the curriculum, and to provide you a hands-on experience of some resources and tools which you will need to use as an accident investigator. 

Assessment is ongoing throughout the teaching period and may include class tests, essays, reports, oral presentations, group projects, research projects, practical assignments or final exams.

The Graduate Diploma in Transport Safety Investigation has been developed in close collaboration with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to address a gap concerning the training of highly specialised accident investigation professionals in the aviation, rail and marine sectors.

The ATSB also makes available subject matter experts, and provides access to other resources during the delivery of the diploma to contribute to its continuous improvement.

The School of Engineering is formally linked to industry through its Industry Advisory Committee (IAC). The ATSB has a representation in the Industry Advisory Committee and maintains regular research and teaching collaborations with RMIT. 

Members of the IAC provide valuable input and are a major driver for change in the school's qualifications, particularly with regard to industry trends and future graduate capabilities.

Many of the staff teaching within this qualification are from local industry or have extensive previous industry experiences and well-developed contact networks, and many are currently engaged in industry funded research projects. These attributes, when integrated into teaching and courseware development, ensure that your learning experience is industry-relevant and work-integrated.   

The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this degree and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.

The face-to-face lectures in each subject in this qualification are scheduled in weeklong blocks, typically with a duration of 30 hours.

You are also expected to complete a range of self-learning activities available on a dedicated online learning management platform, incluidng pre-reading material (1 week prior to the intensive in each subject) and studying material and assessment tasks upon copmpletion of the intensive module (around 2-3 weeks).

To successfully complete this graduate diploma, you will be required to undertake seven core subjects that span investigation fundamentals and analysis, safety management systems, and contributing human factors.

You will also choose one elective subject, the options for which include risk management, research methods in engineering, infrastruction, applied analytics and more.