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SHORT COURSE

CSARM Module E: Risk-based Site Assessment

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$ 2,300.00

START DATE

 17 September

MODE

 Mixed (online and in-person)

DURATION

 3 days

COMMITMENT

 Pre-readings + 3 days
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Lead academic

Dr Sophie Wood

Dr Sophie Wood
CSARM Program Director

Sophie is a former NSW EPA and QLD accredited Site Auditor and is still a Certified Environmental Practitioner (Site Contamination Specialist) under the EIANZ scheme. She has a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences, Geology (BA) from University of Cambridge, UK and a PhD (in geochemistry) from the University of Leeds, UK. With over 30 years’ experience in contaminated land and waste management consulting, Sophie has specialised in risk assessment for much of this time.

Prior to joining UTS in 2022, Sophie was a partner with ERM for 13 years. She was the lead author in the 2013 NEPM Schedules B4 (Site-specific risk Assessment) and B7 (Health-based Investigation Levels) and has worked on many major contaminated site projects including the Barangaroo site gasworks remediation, the remediation of the gasworks beneath the new Sydney Metro station at Central Station and for Western Sydney Airport. She is passionate about high quality teaching and learning and loves working with students to help them get the maximum benefit from their studies.

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Risk-based approach to evaluation of impact of contaminants is integral to the contaminated site assessment remediation and management (CSARM) process, as well as to the development of regulatory and other guidelines. In this CSARM short course, examine the current principles, applications and realities of various risk assessment methods as applied to contaminated site assessment and remediation.

About this course

In this CSARM Module E short course on offer through UTS Open, you’ll work under the guidance of expert CSARM practitioners and risk assessment experts to explore the principles of risk assessment when working at contaminated sites. Course content covers:

  • Principles of risk assessment methodology in CSARM work
  • Principles and applications of ecological risk assessment methods
  • Principles and applications of human health risk assessment methods
  • The importance of risk assessment approach in developing regulatory guidelines
  • Development and application of new guidelines for environmental media quality
  • The realities of risk-based assessment in CSARM contexts.


This course is categorised as a short course on UTS Open however it meets the National Microcredentials Framework definition of a microcredential. Within the UTS Open site, we use a narrower definition of microcredentials as courses that align with subjects that form part of University of Technology Sydney award course structures. UTS Open short courses do not usually earn potential credit toward future postgraduate study, however there may be exceptions.

Key benefits of this course

In addition to building theoretical and practical CSARM expertise, this course will prepare you to:

  • Upskill or re-skill in this multidisciplinary field
  • Immerse yourself in the latest CSARM developments
  • Network with experts and other participants
  • Apply theory to practice during workshops and discussions.

Satisfactory completion of this course:

Digital badge and certificate

A digital badge and certificate will be awarded following the successful completion of any necessary tasks or assessments to demonstrate acquired learning of the short course or for meeting attendance and/or participation requirements.

Learn more about UTS Open digital badges.

Price

Full price: $2,300 (GST-free)*

Early bird price: $2,070 (GST free)* available until Wednesday 3 September 2025, 11.59pm (AEST). Use discount code CSARMEBE at checkout.

*Price subject to change. Please check price at time of purchase.

Additional discounts for online only attendance, professional members and multiple module/learner CSARM enrolments are available for this course. For further details, please check the Discounts section under Additional course information.

Payment on invoice requests must be paid in full and reconciled by our Finance team before you can access your online course materials. Please make sure your invoice payments reference the UTS Open invoice number. You should also forward remittance advice to support@open.uts.edu.au for more efficient reconciliation.

Enrolment conditions

Course purchase is subject to UTS Open Terms and Conditions.

Additional course information

Course outline

This is an intensive course, for which you will need to do some preparation prior to attending. It is presented at UTS City campus, with simultaneous presentation via Zoom for online participants.

There will be recommended reading lists and occasional preliminary exercises that you will need to complete before the live lecture sessions – this material will be uploaded on the teaching and learning platform, Canvas, to which you will be given access on registration. The materials on this platform will be available for you two weeks prior to the start of the sessions so that you will have enough time to prepare. All presenters assume that you have completed this preparation.

For on-campus participants:

  • there is a fieldtrip lasting approximately 4 hours. You will need to bring suitable clothing and footwear and drinking water. Safety equipment is not required (you will be provided with any safety clothing that is necessary). Further information will be provided on registration.

Additional information:

  • You will gain access to the lecture material (slide decks) shortly before the live lectures start
  • During each day of the course there will be 4x90-minute presentations, with different experts presenting each session
  • Between the lectures there will be tea and lunch breaks, with the course fully catered
  • The lecture presentations are designed to be interactive; questions from you are welcomed by the presenters as they provide the opportunity for the group to exchange experiences and discuss related issues
  • All of our presenters use recent case studies to illustrate the concepts they present; generally, real-life problems are workshopped in small groups so that you can apply the concepts yourself
  • Through the preliminary readings, and live lectures, workshops and group discussions you will gain the understanding of the importance of risk-assessment approach in contaminated site assessments and remediation through the theoretical and real-life case studies.

Specifically, the course will cover the following content:

  • The concepts and terminology of the discipline of risk assessment
  • The distinction between human health and ecological risk assessments and their inter-relationship
  • The basis and application of risk assessment methodology in developing quality guidelines for environmental media (soil, waters, soil vapour, sediments)
  • Weight-of-evidence approach in the evaluation of risk of harm
  • The realities of applying risk assessment approach to real life examples of contaminated site assessments and remediation
  • The importance of appropriate communication of human health risk assessment outcomes to stakeholders and non-experts
  • Relevant case studies as presented by expert site auditors.

Course delivery

The course is delivered via lectures, workshops and panel discussions, and a fieldtrip giving you the opportunity to share your experiences with presenters and other participants.

Course learning objectives

By completing this course, you should gain a greater understanding of the:

  • Use of risk assessment and media quality guidelines in CSARM
  • Methodologies for human health and ecological risk assessment
  • Calculation of risk of harm for human health
  • Weight-of-evidence approach in assessing contaminant risk.

Requirements

Online participants will require:

  • A personal computer with a web browser compatible with Canvas, Zoom and Microsoft Teams
  • Adequate internet access and sufficient software and bandwidth to support web conferencing. 

On-campus participants will require:

  • A personal computer with a web browser compatible with Canvas
  • Suitable clothing and footwear for the fieldtrip.

Discounts

Discounts are available for this course as follows:

  • Early bird until 3 September 2025 (use CSARMEBE): 10% discount
  • Online only attendance (Modules A CD E only): 12% discount
  • Professional association membership e.g. ACLCA, EIANZ, Engineers Australia, Soils Science Australia: 10% discount
  • 2+ modules or 2+ learner enrolments in CSARM: 13% discount.

Discounts cannot be combined and only one discount can be applied per person per course session. Discounts can only be applied to the full price. Discounts cannot be applied to any offered special price.

How to obtain your discount code

Please email sophieann.wood@uts.edu.au with one of the below:

  • Your online only attendance request (Modules A CD E only)
  • Your professional association organisation name and membership number
  • Details of your 2+ modules or 2+ learner CSARM enrolments.

How to apply your discount code 

  • Add this course to your cart. 
  • Click on "View Cart" (blue shopping trolley at top right of screen). You will need to sign in or sign up to UTS Open.  
  • Enter your eligible code beneath the "Have a discount code?" prompt and click on the blue "Apply" button.  
  • Verify your discount code has been successfully applied before clicking on the blue "Proceed to checkout" button. 

About the CSARM series

This course is one of five modules in the CSARM (Contaminated Site Assessment Remediation and Management) series.

Each course is a stand-alone module and does not necessarily require completion of other modules.

Courses can be studied in any order, regardless of the sequence in which they are presented over the year.

Contact us

For any questions on enrolment or payment, please email support@open.uts.edu.au  

For any questions about course content, delivery or progression, please contact the Course Coordinator, Dr Sophie Wood at sophieann.wood@uts.edu.au or on 0423 294 800.

Who is this course for?

This course is aimed at current and aspiring CSARM and related professionals, including:

  • Environmental scientists
  • Environmental engineers
  • Managers
  • Consultants
  • Local government officers
  • Anyone seeking certification as a consultant or site auditor
  • Anyone seeking a career change into CSARM or related professions.  

   

Book a session

Wed 17 Sep 2025-
Fri 19 Sep 2025
Expert: Dr Sophie Wood
  • Participants will need to spend approximately 10-15 hours of self-directed online learning prior to commencing the course.
  • Mixed (online and in-person)
  • 3 sessions, 25 hours total
$ 2,300.00

Enrolments close at 11.59pm 15 September 2025 (AEST), or when all places have been filled, whichever occurs first. Note that invoices must be paid in full and reconciled by our Finance team before you can access your online course materials.

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Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

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