Queensland mining mandates practising certificates for statutory roles

Statutory officials in Queensland’s mineral mines and quarries are now required to hold a valid Practising Certificate as part of a newly implemented professional development scheme introduced by the state’s mining regulator.

Effective 10 June 2025, the Practising Certificate Scheme (PCS) mandates continuing professional development (CPD) for holders of statutory notices under the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999. The scheme applies to all mining operations regulated by Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), and aims to align the sector with CPD frameworks used across other high-hazard industries.

Announced by Chief Inspector of Mineral Mines and Quarries, Hermann Fasching, in the latest quarterly report, the PCS is described as a critical milestone in strengthening regulatory oversight, maintaining workforce competency, and elevating safety performance across the industry.

“The introduction of the PCS marks a significant milestone in the professionalisation of statutory roles,” Fasching said in his message to industry. “It reinforces the importance of continuous learning, accountability, and leadership in fostering safe and sustainable mining operations throughout Queensland.”

Statutory roles under new compliance regime

Statutory position holders - typically appointed as site senior executives (SSEs), underground mine managers, ventilation officers, electrical engineers, and other legally designated officers - must now obtain and maintain a Queensland Practising Certificate to continue working in their roles.

The PCS, administered by the Board of Examiners, establishes clear obligations for:

• Maintaining current knowledge of legislation, risk management practices, and industry standards;

• Undertaking structured professional development to meet minimum CPD hours; and

• Participating in an auditable certification system that allows RSHQ to track qualifications, renewals, and compliance over time.

While many industry professionals already undertake training and upskilling, the PCS formalises these expectations into a statutory requirement - backed by enforcement powers.

Mine operators are advised to update internal systems to ensure all relevant personnel meet the new certification threshold and are supported in tracking their CPD obligations moving forward.

CPD framework aligned to high-hazard industry standards

The CPD framework underpinning the PCS is consistent with similar regimes adopted in aviation, energy, and construction - sectors where the consequences of human error can be catastrophic.

The new system is designed to reduce safety risks by requiring competency to be proactively maintained, rather than assumed based on historic qualifications or work experience.

This approach reflects global trends in mining jurisdictions such as Canada, the UK, and South Africa, where regulators have moved toward ongoing competency management as a foundation for safety-critical roles.

For Queensland’s mining industry, the move comes as the sector continues to face complex operational, technical, and regulatory challenges - from automation and remote operations to tailings management and critical minerals compliance.

Practical implications for mine managers

The rollout of PCS places renewed responsibility on mine operators and senior leadership teams to:

• Confirm which personnel require certification under the new scheme;

• Facilitate access to compliant CPD programs;

• Maintain documentation and reporting mechanisms for auditing purposes; and

• Review contracts and HR systems to reflect PCS obligations.

While the scheme primarily targets individuals, the accountability for non-compliance may extend to site management, particularly where an uncertified person is permitted to perform duties under the Act.

Industry observers say the new framework will likely trigger greater investment in structured training pathways and may influence recruitment practices.

Broader context: safety performance and incident trends

The PCS announcement comes amid a mixed safety performance across Queensland’s mineral mines and quarries in the final quarter of FY25.

According to the MMQ report, there were six serious accidents (SA) and 120 high potential incidents (HPI) in Q4, with a combined industry HPI frequency rate of 17.8 and a SA frequency rate of 0.43 per million hours worked.

No fatalities were recorded in the quarter, and the overall frequency rate for serious accidents continued to trend downward compared to previous years.

However, incident investigations highlighted ongoing issues with risk management, plant design, and supervision - particularly in cases where workers were injured due to uncontrolled equipment movement, falling objects, and inadequate ground support (pages 8–10).

By mandating ongoing competency for statutory decision-makers, the regulator is seeking to close the gap between procedural intent and operational practice.

Enforcement and transition

The regulator has not announced a specific grace period, but it is understood that statutory holders without a current certificate may be barred from performing legal duties if they do not obtain certification.

RSHQ has provided guidance on the application process and CPD requirements via the Practising Certificate Scheme website, and is expected to conduct targeted compliance checks in the coming months.

Operators are encouraged to communicate early with affected personnel and seek clarification where required to avoid disruptions to statutory coverage or site approvals.

The PCS is part of a broader regulatory shift in Queensland that includes increased transparency, more frequent unannounced inspections (22 percent of inspections in Q4), and a growing emphasis on safety leadership accountability.

Key takeaway

The launch of the Practising Certificate Scheme marks a regulatory pivot toward professionalism, transparency, and structured competence management across Queensland’s mining industry.

For mine managers and executives, the message is clear: compliance now goes beyond systems and processes - it includes ensuring the individuals charged with legal safety responsibilities are continuously developing, certifiable, and auditable.

Failure to do so may not just risk enforcement - but the safety culture and licence to operate.