Tailings Management
Tailings Management
Gain competency and expand your knowledge on the geotechnical, geochemical, governance, closure and socio-economic considerations of tailings management.
Quick facts
| Duration | Delivery | Course Type | Next Intake | PD Hours | Language |
1–8 weeks* |
100% online |
Professional Certificate |
2 June 2021 |
3–6 hours** |
English |
* Each module is 1 week. Professional Certificate duration is 8 weeks which includes time for assessments.
** Each non-assessed module is worth 3 AusIMM PD hours. Each assessed module is worth 6 AusIMM PD hours.
Course overview
AusIMM, in conjunction with leading experts in the mining industry, has developed the Professional Certificate in Tailings Management. Featuring internationally-renowned tailings experts and case studies, the course will cover geotechnical, geochemical, governance, closure and socio-economic considerations of tailings management.
The interactive, online format of the course will provide participants with an opportunity to learn in a community-based environment from wherever they are situated.
Who should attend?
Tailings consultants
Contractors and consultants.
Mining companies
Head office senior management and technical personnel with a responsibility for tailings.
Mining industry professionals
Tailings engineers, managers, and operators.
Course structure
The course content for each module will be delivered over one week. Each module consists of:
- A live 90-minute webinar featuring industry experts
- Pre-recorded videos, featuring Q&As with global tailings experts
- Interactive learning activities and group discussions
- Additional readings and case studies
- Multiple choice questions
The Professional Certificate option will also involve:
- Short answer questions
- Marked feedback from facilitators
- The opportunity to resubmit answers
Participants have the flexibility to select which modules they would like to complete within an intake and whether they would like to undertake formal assessments as part of the learning experience.
Live sessions are recorded and available within 24 hours for participants who are unable to attend.
Professional Certificate
Six modules with assessment
A Professional Certificate in Tailings Management will be awarded upon successful completion of all six modules and their associated assessments.
Full course
Six modules, no assessment
Participants can access the full course content but will not undertake the written assessment component. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon completion of all six modules.
Selection of individual modules
With or without assessment
Participants may choose to complete modules as individual units of learning (with or without assessments). Please note, Module 1 is a prerequisite for Modules 2–5.
Module 1
WEBINAR | Tuesday 8 June
11.30 - 13.30 AEST
Module 2
WEBINAR | Tuesday 15 June
11.30 - 13.30 AEST
Module 3
WEBINAR | Tuesday 22 June
11.30 - 13.30 AEST
Module 4
WEBINAR | Tuesday 29 June
11.30 - 13.30 AEST
Module 5
WEBINAR | Monday 5 July
11.30-13.30 AEST
Module 6
WEBINAR | Monday 12 July
11.30 - 13.30 AEST
Full course pricing
Facilitator
David Williams
Professor Williams was a member of an Expert Panel investigating technical causes of the Brumadinho tailings dam failure and is on a number of Tailings Independent Technical Review Boards, including for Escondida.
He authored the 2009 and 2016 Tailings Management Handbook, as part of the Commonwealth Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry. Professor Williams is currently involved in the Working Party for the Australian National Committee for Large Dams Guidelines on Tailings Dams – Planning, Design, Construction, Operation and Closure, published in 2012, with an update in 2019.
David Brereton
In 2012 David moved into a Deputy Director role in the SMI, with responsibility for driving cross-disciplinary research initiatives to address the technical, environmental and social dimensions of mining and sustainability. He retired from the University in July 2016 but continues to be active as a researcher and consultant.
For the first half of 2017 he was based in Lima, Peru, where he worked with the Universidad del Pacifico to build a research capability in mining and sustainability. In 2019 he led the development of a new mining engineering curriculum for the Western Australia School of Mines (Curtin University).
In 2020 he was engaged by the Global Tailings Review to edit a compendium of research papers and commentaries to accompany the release of the Global Tailings Standard. David is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and holds a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University.
Peter Chapman
Laurie Reemeyer
As Principal Development Advisor at Zinifex, he was responsible for process and environmental due diligence on potential base metals acquisitions globally. After completing his MBA, he spent several years at Amec Foster Wheeler in study management, process engineering and sustainability roles, before forming Resourceful Paths, a Vancouver based consultancy focused on sustainability in mining and metals. He recently provided technical support to Sedgman and New Century Resources for the reprocessing of historical tailings.
Peter Scott
Download course brochure
Professional Certificate in Tailings Management
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. They will not be required to download any software and will not require any hardware like a webcam or microphone.
How long will the course take?
The Professional Certificate option is estimated to take about 36 hours of learning (approximately six hours per module). Participants who enrol for individual modules will have access to the course platform for two weeks per module. Participants who enrol for all six modules will have access to the course platform for eight weeks to complete all modules.
Must a participant complete and pass all modules in order to finish the course?
Yes, it is a requirement for participants to complete all exercises and pass all learning activities for the modules they enrol for. A Professional Certificate or Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon successful completion of all six modules (depending on the course option selected).
Do I have to complete all six modules?
No, you can select the modules that relate to your own professional development needs. Note that Module 1 is a prerequisite for Modules 2-5.
How often will the courses be run?
We aim to run two to three intakes each year.
Will the course be delivered in other languages?
At the moment, the course will only be delivered in English. Live captioning can be requested for webinars – please email onlinecourses@ausimm.com if this is required.
Does someone have to have a prequalification of years’ experience before they can do the course?
No, however the course is designed for mining professionals who have working knowledge of and some basic working experience in tailings facilities.
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.