Building professional capability for sustainable workplace wellbeing
Diploma of Workplace Wellbeing
Build the capability to lead workplace wellbeing strategically.
Develop the professional capability to assess workplace conditions, influence stakeholders, develop and implement workplace wellbeing strategies, coordinate the right expertise, support organisational change and evaluate outcomes that contribute to sustainable organisational performance.
Nationally recognised qualification | Online | Self-paced | Flexible | Monthly intakes | 12 months
At a glance
Qualification: Nationally recognised Diploma
Delivery: Online, self-paced and flexible
Intakes: Monthly
Duration: 12 months, approximately 3 to 8 hours per week
Investment: AU$13,000. Payment plans and employer sponsorship options available
For organisations: build workplace wellbeing capability from within
For organisations
Build Workplace Wellbeing Capability From Within
Workplace wellbeing is too important to sit with one person or one program.
Organisations need people who can connect workplace wellbeing with leadership, culture, work design, psychological health and safety, workforce capability and organisational performance.
The Diploma develops that capability internally. Rather than relying solely on external providers to deliver isolated wellbeing initiatives, organisations can develop a professional who understands their workplace, can engage the right stakeholders, develop appropriate strategies, coordinate implementation and evaluate what is working.
For employers, the investment is not simply in an employee’s professional development. It is an investment in organisational capabilities to:
- Build internal workplace wellbeing capability.
- Connect wellbeing with organisational strategy and sustainable performance.
- Strengthen coordination across People & Culture, WHS, governance, leadership and wellbeing.
- Develop someone who can lead, coordinate and evaluate while knowing when specialist expertise is required.
- Apply workplace projects and assessment to relevant organisational priorities.
Why Workplace Wellbeing Needs Professional Capability
Organisations are navigating increasing complexity across work design and psychosocial factors, leadership and capability, workforce wellbeing and retention, organisational change and sustainable performance.
The Diploma develops transferable professional capability that can be applied across sectors and organisational contexts.
What a Workplace Wellbeing Professional Needs to Be Able to Do
Through the Diploma, you will develop the capability to:
- Understand people, work and organisational conditions
- Assess workplace wellbeing needs
- Influence leaders and stakeholders
- Connect and coordinate relevant expertise
- Develop and implement strategy
- Support organisational change and sustainable work practices
- Contribute to psychosocial health and safety within scope
- Evaluate initiatives and improve outcomes
Workplace Wellbeing Doesn’t Happen in Isolation
Workplace wellbeing is inherently multidisciplinary.
A workplace wellbeing professional does not need to be the expert in every discipline. They need to understand the broader workplace system, know what sits within their scope, and know when and how to collaborate with others.
- People & Culture / HR: align wellbeing with people strategy, culture, capability and employee experience.
- WHS professionals: identify and address workplace health and safety considerations, including psychosocial hazards, within the appropriate professional and regulatory framework.
- Psychologists and mental health professionals: engage specialist assessment, clinical support, treatment or psychological expertise when required.
- Leaders and managers: build leadership capability and embed sustainable practices into everyday work.
- Occupational health, rehabilitation and allied health professionals: draw on specialist expertise where individual or organisational needs require it.
- External wellbeing providers, EAPs and other specialists: coordinate complementary services so they support an integrated workplace strategy rather than operate as isolated initiatives.
The role is not to replace these professionals. It is to understand the workplace wellbeing landscape, bring the right people together and help translate specialist expertise into a coherent workplace strategy.
Build the professional capability to lead workplace wellbeing strategically: from understanding workplace conditions and stakeholder needs through to strategy, collaboration, implementation and evaluation.
A distinctive professional proposition
The Workplace Wellbeing Professional as the Connector
You do not need to be the psychologist, WHS specialist, HR expert or clinician. You need to be capable of working intelligently with them.
01
UNDERSTAND
the workplace system and evidence
02
CONNECT
the right stakeholders and expertise
03
COORDINATE
strategy and action
04
LEAD
implementation and influence
05
EVALUATE
and improve
What you will be able to do
The Professional Capability Model
Through the Diploma, you will develop the capability to:
01
UNDERSTAND
people, work and organisational conditions.
02
ASSESS
workplace wellbeing needs, conditions and opportunities.
03
INFLUENCE
leaders, teams and stakeholders.
04
CONNECT
bring together the right internal and external expertise.
05
STRATEGISE
translate evidence and priorities into workplace wellbeing strategy.
06
ACTIVATE
coordinate initiatives, capability development and implementation.
07
TRANSFORM
support leadership, culture, relationships and sustainable work practices.
08
IMPLEMENT
embed strategy into systems and day-to-day practice.
09
EVALUATE
measure effectiveness and outcomes.
10
IMPROVE
use evidence and learning to strengthen future strategy.
From Wellness Activities to Workplace Wellbeing Capability
Workplace wellbeing is becoming a strategic organisational capability.
Organisations need professionals who can connect wellbeing, psychosocial safety, leadership, culture, work design and sustainable performance, and translate that understanding into practical strategy and action.
ASWA’s long-term vision is to support this profession through The SUSTAIN Way™, our framework for human sustainability, and the development of qualifications in workplace wellbeing.
How the Diploma connects with The SUSTAIN Way™
The SUSTAIN Way™
ASWA’s proprietary human sustainability framework and strategic context.
Workplace Wellbeing
The professional discipline focused on creating conditions where people and performance can thrive.
Diploma of Workplace Wellbeing
The professional qualification that develops and assesses the capability to apply this thinking in workplace contexts.
Potential Professional Pathways
Graduates may apply this capability within workplace wellbeing, People & Culture, HR, organisational development, health and wellbeing, leadership and capability, and related advisory roles.
The Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) code for the intended occupational outcome of this course is 222131 Human Resources Adviser.
Psychologically Healthy and Safe Work Culture
Develop the capability to contribute to psychologically healthy and safe workplaces as part of a broader workplace wellbeing strategy. You will learn to contribute to psychological health and safety within scope, recognising when specialist referral or collaboration is required.
Who the Diploma is for
- People & Culture and HR professionals with responsibility for workplace wellbeing, culture or capability.
- Workplace wellbeing, health and wellbeing, and organisational development professionals.
- Managers and leaders responsible for people, culture and sustainable performance.
- WHS and psychosocial safety professionals seeking broader workplace wellbeing capability.
- Professionals moving into workplace wellbeing leadership or advisory roles.
- Experienced practitioners seeking a nationally recognised qualification to formalise and deepen their capability, and to build practical capability for the evolving workplace.
For organisational decision-makers
The Diploma is also relevant to those who sponsor and shape workplace wellbeing capability in their organisation:
- HR and People & Culture leaders.
- WHS and safety leaders.
- Wellbeing and employee experience leaders.
- Organisational development and capability leaders.
- Executives and business owners responsible for workforce capability and sustainable performance.
Competence + Confidence
Based on a proven whole-person and whole-organisation framework, the Diploma is intended to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to competently and confidently:
- Develop, implement, evaluate and monitor workplace wellbeing strategies that support a positive, safe and healthy work culture
- Design, coordinate, implement and evaluate workplace wellbeing initiatives and programs
- Influence leaders, teams and stakeholders to build capability and embed workplace wellbeing
- Develop workplace strategies and initiatives that respond to identified organisational and workforce needs
- Integrate workplace wellbeing principles into organisational systems, practices and leadership
- Communicate effectively to ensure effective outcomes of workplace wellbeing strategies
- Contribute to psychological health and safety within scope, recognising when specialist referral or collaboration is required
- Apply professional judgement within scope, coordinate appropriate expertise and work effectively with specialist professionals when required
Your Program Journey
Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy supports career-long progression. Whether you are new to workplace wellbeing or already have a track record in the field, we help you achieve your professional goals. Our Diploma, professional development short courses and microcredentials enable you to learn core practical skills, then specialise and maintain your knowledge as you develop your career in workplace wellbeing.
Understand: Build the knowledge and professional foundation to interpret workplace wellbeing challenges.
Your journey starts with the Understand phase.
You’ll follow a tailored learning path, with the opportunity to adapt your projects and assessments to your career goals and organisational context, building the knowledge and professional foundation to interpret workplace wellbeing challenges.
Apply: Use real workplace contexts to develop and demonstrate professional capability.
Next, you’ll apply your learning in real workplace contexts through a practical project, developing and demonstrating professional capability in a way that matters to your organisation.
Implement & Influence: Translate your learning into workplace strategy, action, collaboration and professional practice.
Finally, you’ll translate your learning into workplace strategy, action, collaboration and professional practice, bringing your capability directly into your role and strengthening your professional impact and confidence.
Throughout these stages, ASWA offers more than just added support. Our subject matter experts (SMEs) have created in-depth resources, offering you current insights and industry-aligned tools as you progress. You’re not just learning. You’re building a sustainable career foundation, gaining the skills and connections to thrive in workplace wellbeing.
Will Your Employer Sponsor Your Learning?
The Diploma can be an investment in more than individual professional development. It can help your organisation build workplace wellbeing capability from within.
Many organisations sponsor their employees for our programs. If you’re considering employer sponsorship, we’re happy to provide information you can take to your manager, People & Culture team or executive decision-maker, and we can assist with the necessary documentation.
Learn More
- Invoice Requirements
If you require any customization, our advisory team can assist you. We will gather your required information to ensure the invoice contains everything you need. You’ll be asked to have your employer sign a quote before the invoice is issued. - Part/Full Sponsorship
Our advisors are here to support you throughout the reimbursement process, whether your company covers the fee fully or partially. - Additional Questions
Should your employer require specific information to approve your reimbursement, our advisory team is well-equipped to help you.
Meet Your Lead Facilitator and Mentor, Angela Derks
Angela Derks is the Founder and CEO of the Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy and has more than 25 years’ experience across wellness, leadership, education and workplace wellbeing. She is the developer of ASWA’s workplace wellbeing approach and The SUSTAIN Way™ framework. Discover more about Angela and her work.
How and when to apply
When
We offer monthly intakes for your convenience and life-study-work flexibility. Course participants receive an email with their login and other details on the 15th of each month.
How
When you are ready to secure your spot in your chosen month start date, complete the APPLICATION FORM. Completing the application does not commit you to enrolment. An ASWA team member will contact you to talk through the qualification, study requirements, payment options and next steps.
If you have any questions about the course or application process, please CONTACT US
Detailed Course Topics
You can find more detailed information on what is covered within this course at this government website
Benefits
Graduates describe the Diploma of Workplace Wellbeing as a rigorous and practical professional development experience. It is a nationally recognised qualification in workplace wellbeing, designed by subject matter experts for busy professionals who want to strengthen their expertise and build capability for the evolving workplace.
You will:
- Gain practical frameworks, tools and strategies that can be applied to workplace contexts
- Learn the theory and, most importantly, the practical how-to of integrating workplace wellbeing into organisational systems, practices and leadership
- Build the capability to connect and coordinate the right expertise and to influence leaders and stakeholders
- Enjoy a flexible course design that fits around your work and life commitments
- Have highly experienced facilitators alongside you at every step of your journey
- Find enrolment easy, with support through every step of the process
Learning resources and support
Mentoring, connections with health and wellbeing experts, and access to ASWA’s online resources and like-minded community support you throughout the course.
Development activities include The ASWA Wellness Tracker, strengths and core values assessments, and personal mentoring. Our subject matter experts have created in-depth resources offering current insights and industry-aligned tools as you progress.
Duration and study time
Designed as a 12-month program with flexible, self-paced study. We recommend allowing approximately 3 to 8 hours per week, depending on your experience, study habits and assessment schedule.
If you need more time, course extensions are available. Each extension provides an additional 12 months at a cost of $1,300.
Assessment Methods
Assessment is designed to demonstrate your ability to apply workplace wellbeing knowledge and professional skills in practice. Wherever appropriate, assessments can be contextualised to your workplace, organisation or professional goals. You will work with realistic workplace scenarios and projects involving analysis, research, consultation, strategy development, implementation planning, collaboration, communication and evaluation.
A major feature of the Diploma is the development of a workplace wellbeing strategy for an organisation, which you present (to your manager or to your course facilitator) via Zoom. Assessments also include written responses, research and reports, and consultation-based wellbeing planning.
All assessments are tailored to your work or business context, though simulation scenarios can be provided if necessary. We also offer reasonable adjustments to ensure that assessments accommodate your individual needs. CONTACT US if you have any further questions regarding assessment methods.
Admissions criteria
The Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy accepts applications from students based anywhere in the world with a general minimum age requirement of 17 years.
Our applicants typically include experienced work professionals with 5+ years’ work experience.
Please note: This course is delivered 100% online.
English language proficiency requirements
As tuition is delivered in English and will require a high level of written and spoken English, all students will be required to complete an online Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test as documented evidence of the required level of proficiency in the English language.
Credit for prior study
Subject credits may be awarded for previous studies. To apply for credits, you will need to submit academic transcripts including detailed subject outlines/course descriptions for each relevant subject and/or certified copies of testamurs to the Enrolments Team.
Applying for Credits
To determine if any credits may be applicable to your enrolment, you’ll need to provide us with your official transcript, or at least a list of the units of competency, listing the accredited units of competency from your completed or current accredited course(s). We will cross-reference these with the units in the Diploma of Workplace Wellbeing to determine any eligible credits.
Fees and payment options
Please note that enrolment is not finalised until the deposit has been paid.
Investment
AU$13,000. Payment plans and employer sponsorship options are available. The course fee is GST exempt and includes a deposit of $1,500.
You can choose to pay via:
- Invoice directly to your employer;
- Direct Deposit, where you have complete control over your payments; OR
- Credit Card (1.7% fee applies)
Payment Options
You can choose from weekly, monthly, quarterly or a customised payment plan option that suits your unique needs. We can also provide a customised payment solution that suits your organisation’s payment and budgeting needs. Contact us to discuss further.
Tax Deductibility
Depending on your circumstances, education expenses may be tax deductible. Please seek independent tax advice.
University credit
Graduates may be eligible for credit toward related university qualifications. Please contact us for current university credit arrangements.
Accreditation and CPE points
Nationally Recognised Course
The Diploma of Workplace Wellbeing is an accredited, nationally recognised course developed and delivered by the Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy in partnership with a Registered Training Organisation. Full accreditation and RTO details will be published here once the current course approval process is complete.
CPE Points
Professional industry associations will credit their members with CPE points for completing this course.
International students
As the demand for workplace wellbeing capability continues to grow both nationally and globally, we have both domestic and international students from many countries.
Students studying online from outside Australia are not required to have a student visa and are welcome to enrol. If you hold an Australian student visa, please contact us before applying so we can confirm your eligibility. Email wellness@aswa.net.au to discuss any learning needs or support you might need.
Scope of practice: what the Diploma does and does not qualify you to do
The Diploma develops workplace wellbeing capability. It equips you to understand the workplace system, assess needs, influence stakeholders, develop and implement strategy, coordinate the right expertise and evaluate outcomes.
It does not qualify you to practise as a psychologist, clinician, WHS specialist or other regulated professional. Graduates work within scope, recognise when specialist assessment, treatment or technical expertise is required, and collaborate with or refer to the appropriate professionals.
For employers: sponsoring an employee
Many organisations sponsor employees through the Diploma as an investment in internal workplace wellbeing capability. We can invoice your organisation directly, provide a quote for sign-off, and supply information for your manager, People & Culture team or executive decision-maker.
Workplace projects and assessments can be aligned to your organisation’s priorities, so the learning is applied where it matters.
What others have to say about us:
Ready to build your workplace wellbeing capability?
Build the professional capability to lead workplace wellbeing strategically: from understanding workplace conditions and stakeholder needs through to strategy, collaboration, implementation and evaluation.
Not ready to commit to the Diploma? Then our microcredentials are the perfect option for you.
Learning
Pathways
Course
Dates
Sustainable
Solutions
