Underground Mining: Planning, Safety & Design
Intake commences 20 April 2026
✅Enhance safety through structured design principles
✅Apply real‑world execution and troubleshooting skills
AusIMM courses rated 4.9/5 (4.5k+ reviews)
 Duration |
 Delivery |
 Course Type |
 2026 intakes |
 PD Hours |
 Language |
20 hours
|
100% online |
Associate Certificate |
20 April 2026 |
Up to 20 |
English |
Course Overview
Underground mining is complex, high-pressure, and unforgiving — and the expectations placed on new engineers have never been higher. This course equips early-career mining professionals with the applied knowledge, frameworks, and practical tools needed to step confidently into underground planning, design, and operations.
Across four structured modules, you’ll learn how underground systems work in practice, how to apply safe and efficient design principles, how to communicate plans effectively across departments, and how to validate and troubleshoot execution in the field. Developed with underground engineering specialists from Resolve Mining Solutions, this course closes the critical gap between university theory and real-world site performance.
Who Should Enrol?
This course is purpose-built for professionals involved in underground mine planning, operations, and short-term engineering responsibilities, including:
- Graduate & Junior Underground Mining Engineers
- Planning, Scheduling & Technical Services Engineers
- Mine Operations Engineers transitioning into underground roles
- Training Managers onboarding graduates or early-career staff
- Consultants working across underground projects
- Site teams seeking consistent, structured capability development
Ideal for professionals across Australia, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where underground mining demand and depth are increasing.
What You’ll Learn
Practical Underground Mining Fundamentals
- How underground mining systems, layouts, and sequencing work in practice
- Drilling & blasting mechanics, production cycles, and heading development
- Underground infrastructure essentials (power, ventilation, pumping, services)
Safe and Efficient Mine Design
- Core design criteria that balance safety, productivity, and cost
- Vertical, horizontal and mass excavation design concepts
- Hazard identification and risk management at the design stage
- Approval processes and design quality assurance
Introduction to Mine Economics & Cost Estimation
- Fundamental economic concepts and their application within the mining industry
- How capital and operating costs are classified and included in various unit costs for an operation
- Assess financial risk in designs and adopt an economic thought process in their workflows to maximise value of designs
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
- How to present mine plans clearly to operators, supervisors, and contractors
- Required planning inputs, priorities, constraints, and enablers
- Strategies for reducing misalignment and improving execution
Execution, Validation & Troubleshooting
- How to validate design execution in-field
- Troubleshooting frameworks to diagnose and correct issues
- Using production data for continuous improvement and root-cause analysis
By the end of the course, learners will not just understand underground mining -they will be able to participate confidently in planning, design, and operations.
Career Outcomes
After completing this course, professionals will be able to:
- Transition confidently from university to underground engineering roles
- Contribute meaningfully to weekly planning, scheduling, and short-term design
- Communicate effectively with supervisors and experienced operators
- Make informed decisions that improve safety and productivity
- Build credibility early in their careers, accelerating progression
- Strengthen their technical capability with a recognised credential
This course gives early-career engineers the clarity, confidence, and capability to succeed in high-pressure underground environments.
Course Modules
Module 1
Underground Mining Essentials
- The Underground Environment - Mining Methods & Variations
- Fundamentals of Rock Breakage
- The Mining Cycle - Development
- The Mining Cycle - Production
Module 2
Designing For Safety & Efficiency
- The Planning Cycle
- The Mining Cycle - Development
- The Mining Cycle - Production
- Mine Services & Infrastructure Planning
Module 3
Introduction to Mine Economics & Cost Estimation
- Economics in Mining
- Capital & Operating Costs
- Cost Modelling (First Principles)
- Principles in Practise
Module 4
Communication, Execution & Design Quality Assurance
- Governance
- Communication and Engagement
- Measuring and Tracking
- Design Quality Assurance & Troubleshooting
Course Pricing
- Exclusive discounts
- Access to digital library
- Networking opportunities
- Professional development
- Industry insights
- Networking opportunities
- Professional development
- Industry insights
Download the course brochure
Underground Mining: Planning, Safety & Design
Learning Objectives
- Apply underground mining methods and risk management frameworks
- Optimise technical processes in rock breakage and equipment selection
- Plan and execute mining cycles for development and production
- Design for safety and operational efficiency
- Analyse mine economics and cost estimation
- Enhance communication, execution, and quality assurance
Course Structure
The five-week course is a collaborative, hands-on online learning experience, taking learners approximately 20 hours to complete. Please note the live sessions are not mandatory, the virtual classrooms will be recorded and available on the same day for participants who are unable to attend the live event. Course content includes:
- Two one-hour virtual classroom sessions
- Pre-recorded videos featuring interviews with experts
- Resources such as case studies, articles, associated content
- Group discussion forums
- Knowledge checks in the form of short quiz questions
Course Schedule
| Course dates |
Virtual classrooms |
|
Course commences: 20 April 2026 Course closes: 31 May 2026 |
Module 1: No virtual classtoom Module 2: Thursday 30 April, 19.00–20.00 AEST Module 3: No virtual classroom Module 4: Thursday 14 May, 19.00–20.00 AEST |
|
Note: The virtual classrooms listed above are the only scheduled activities for this course but they are not the only activities. All other course work (eg videos, readings, knowledge checks, etc) can be completed at your own pace on the learning platform within the course duration. All activities must be completed before the course close date. The virtual classrooms will be recorded and made available within 24 hours for those participants unable to attend the scheduled sessions. |
|
Course Co-created with Resolve Mining Solutions
Resolve Mining Solutions has partnered with AusIMM, the peak professional body for mining and geotechnical engineering, to strengthen industry capability and support early-career engineers. This collaboration brings practical, industry-led expertise into the course, drawing on Resolve’s strengths in ventilation, mine planning, drill and blast, mine economics and design.
Digital credentials
Earn recognition for your learning
Receive both a digital badge and a formal certificate to showcase your newly acquired skills and knowledge. Your badge links to a detailed course outline and can be added to your LinkedIn profile, email signature, intranet, or other platforms—making your achievements easily accessible and trusted by employers and colleagues.
Free template
Business case to attend
Enrolments now open
Intake commences 20 April 2026
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Frequently asked questions
What are the technical requirements to participate in the course? i.e. do I need a webcam, microphone, etc?
The course will be run entirely online via a cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS) which can be accessed via computer, tablet or phone. Participants will simply need to have a working Internet connection and a computer, tablet or phone with sound to access the course. Please note that some course videos and the virtual classroom recordings are hosted on Vimeo. Participants in regions where Vimeo is blocked may need to use a VPN to access these materials.
How long will the course take?
The full course is estimated to take about 20 hours of learning. Participants will have access to the course platform for five weeks to complete all modules.
How often will the courses be run?
We aim to run two intakes each year.
Will the course be delivered in other languages?
At the moment, the course will only be delivered in English.
Does someone have to have a prequalification of years’ experience before they can do the course?
No, the course is designed for those already working in the resources sector, but not previous experience in mine electrification is required.
How many PD hours do I receive for undertaking the course?
Participants can earn professional development (PD) hours for undertaking the course. One contact hour of technical content is equivalent to one PD hour.
Is this underground mining course suitable if I’ve never worked underground before?
Yes. This course is specifically designed for graduates and early‑career professionals who may have strong theoretical knowledge but limited or no underground site experience. It builds foundational understanding of how underground mines operate in practice, helping learners step into underground roles with greater confidence and situational awareness.
How is this course different from what I learned at university?
University programs focus heavily on theory. This course focuses on how underground planning, safety and design decisions are applied and executed on site. It bridges the gap between academic knowledge and real‑world underground operations, including communication with operators, design validation and troubleshooting.
Does the course teach underground mining design software?
No. The course does not provide software‑specific training. Instead, it focuses on design principles, decision‑making frameworks and practical understanding so learners can better interpret, challenge and apply designs produced using industry software.
Is this course only for mining engineers?
No. While mining engineers are a key audience, the course is also relevant for geologists, planners, technical professionals and operational team members who contribute to underground planning, safety or execution and want a stronger understanding of how underground systems work.
Does the course cover underground safety and hazard management?
Yes. Safety is a central theme throughout the course. Learners develop the ability to recognise, communicate and manage common underground hazards, and to understand how planning and design decisions directly influence safety outcomes underground.
Will I learn how underground mine plans are implemented?
Yes. One of the core outcomes of the course is understanding how mine plans move from design to execution in the field, including where issues commonly arise and how to identify and troubleshoot them.
Is this course useful if I already work underground?
Yes. Even professionals already working underground benefit from the course by strengthening fundamentals, improving cross‑team communication and developing a more structured approach to design validation, hazard recognition and operational problem‑solving.
Will this course make me “job ready” for underground roles?
The course is designed to accelerate readiness and confidence for underground roles by building practical understanding and decision‑making capability. While it does not replace site experience, it significantly reduces the learning curve when entering or progressing in underground positions.
Does the course include assessment or exams?
The course focuses on applied learning and capability development, rather than traditional exams. Learners engage with structured modules designed to reinforce understanding and practical application across planning, safety and design contexts.