Without compliance with laws the rule of law is arguably meaningless. This proposition applies as equally to environmental and natural resources laws as it does to other areas of law. Environmental law has evolved in western industrial societies as a distinct body of legislation and legal judgments only in the last forty years or so.It is a complex area subject to the shifting, often competing and unpredictable influences of government economic policy and community demand for acceptable environmental quality.Regulators responsible for achieving compliance with environmental and natural resources laws are dealing with an area of regulation that has special dimensions and attributes. It is a most challenging aspect of twenty first century government.
The Graduate Certificate in Environmental Compliance (GCEC) is designed for students who are working in positions that require knowledge and understanding of environmental legislation and compliance issues, irrespective of their professional backgrounds.
The course builds on the students' current workplace experience and exposes them to underlying principles, theory and practice of environmental regulation, investigation of possible regulatory breaches and enforcement of those regulations.
Teaching Mode and Entry Requirements
The GCEC is a postgraduate coursework program delivered part-time in external mode over 12 months. It is a non-semester course taught primarily online together with a residential intensive.
Course Aims and Learning Outcomes
The GCEC is designed to provide students, irrespective of their professional backgrounds, who are working or intend to work in positions that require knowledge and understanding of environmental legislation and compliance issues with the opportunity to acquire deeper knowledge and enhanced skills in environmental compliance.
This course has a strong industry focus aimed at equipping students with the necessary knowledge to apply environmental compliance theory and practice in workplaces. The GCEC will introduce students to some core competencies, successful completion of which will better equip them to carry out environmental compliance.
On completion of the program, graduates are expected to be able to:
- apply their skills and abilities to develop the solutions of environmental compliance;
- analyse and critically discuss theory and practice of environmental compliance; and
- exercise a deeper understanding of the regulatory theory and the dynamics affecting investigation and enforcement.
Program of Study / Course Structure
There are four topics which must be completed for a successful award of the GCEC. A student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic. Except with the permission of the Faculty Board, the program must be completed within four consecutive semesters. Unless otherwise agreed, the topics must be taken in the sequence they appear below. The topics are:
- LEGL8300 - Principles of Environmental Law
- LEGL8301 - Environmental Compliance: Theory & Practice
- LEGL8302 - Investigating Environmental Crimes
- LEGL8303 - Enforcing Environmental Law
Each topic is 4.5 units.
Other than Investigating Environmental Crimes, which is taught in intensive mode in Adelaide over four days in May, the topics are completely online. Each topic contains a number of modules, which contain or make reference to varied content and require the completion of activities based thereon. Some activities are assessed as indicated in the Statement of Assessment Methods (SAMS) contained in each Topic Guide.
Teaching Staff
The course will be taught by experienced staff at Flinders Law School, a lawyer from national firm DLA Phillips Fox in conjunction with staff at TAFE SA. The award will be conferred by Flinders University.
Students will study four topics on a part-time basis over one year - three being delivered online, and one intensive-mode:
SATAC/ COURSE ENTRY
CLOSING DATE: Please refer to the Satac website, http://www.satac.edu.au
TO APPLY: for the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Compliance you will need to apply through SATAC at: http://www.satac.edu.au
GRADSTART CODE:2GC018
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: applicants must normally hold an approved Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution, or five years relevant professional experience. Credit may be granted, on application, for comparable prior studies.
ALTERNATIVE ENTRY: the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature
FURTHER INFORMATION: contact the Admissions/Prospective Students Office on (08) 8201 3074 or 1300 657 671 (local call cost) or email postgradinfo@flinders.edu.au or visit www.flinders.edu.au
FEE-HELP: is available to those who are eligible. For further information visit:FEE-HELP
For information on assistance please contact the Student Finance Services Ph: (08) 8201 3143 or 1300 360 351 (local call cost within Australia). You can also email them at:
fees@flinders.edu.au
To discuss your study options contact:
Mr David Cole
Environmental Compliance and
Sustainability Studies, TAFE SA
P: (08) 8207 8322
E: david.cole@tafesa.edu.au
Mr Brendan Grigg
Flinders Law School
P: (08) 8201 3987
E: brendan.grigg@flinders.edu.au
Chris Haas
School Manager
Flinders Law School
P: (08) 8201 3813
E: chris.haas@flinders.edu.au
W: www.flinders.edu.au/law
For general enquiries about postgraduate study
options contact:
Admissions/Prospective Students Office
Flinders University
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001
P: 1300 657 671
E: postgradinfo@flinders.edu.au
