My NEBOSH Experience: Opening doors and making a real-world difference

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-Jessie Bourke, Health, Safety & Environmental Manager, Nāti Growth

As the inaugural recipient of the ESL +IMPAC NEBOSH Scholarship in 2021, I was excited to have the chance to build on my practical on-the-job experience with a formal qualification. The NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, offered through +IMPAC, is a really robust course which improved my knowledge and understanding of what good H+S looks like. Studying it over the past two years has given me skills I can share in my local community and through the connections I have in forestry, farming, and in the civil engineering space.

A challenging but rewarding endeavour

While the NEBOSH Diploma demands significant time and dedication, +IMPAC's course content, experienced tutors, and flexible delivery methods set me up for success. As I navigated the challenges of balancing work, family, and study, I found immense support from my NEBOSH cohort and +IMPAC’s dedicated teaching staff.

Practical application and real-world impact

One of the most valuable aspects of the NEBOSH Diploma is its emphasis on practical application. The course content is designed to equip learners with the tools and knowledge needed to address real-world health and safety challenges. I was able to immediately apply what I learned to my existing role, particularly in areas such as noise risk management and workplace inspections.

I’ve learnt how important it is to take time to reflect carefully on where my organisation is currently at, in terms of safety practices, how to use this information to help gauge what’s needed to get to the gold standard, and bring my colleagues along on the journey.

I was particularly impressed with the depth of knowledge and experience of the +IMPAC tutors. Their passion for health and safety was infectious and their guidance was invaluable!

Supportive delivery and collaboration

Often, health and safety professionals are working in isolation, so it was nice to study the NEBOSH Diploma with people who were equally as passionate about health and safety as I am.

Working with our group gave me more shared knowledge and experience to draw upon particularly in some of the areas I haven’t had experience with, for example working underground or in confined spaces / gas testing. In these cases my awesome cohort were always happy to chat online and bounce ideas off each other.

A stepping stone to career advancement

The NEBOSH Diploma has not only grown my technical expertise but has also opened doors to new opportunities. The qualification has boosted my credibility and allowed me to take on more challenging roles. I am now in a position to influence safety culture, implement innovative solutions, and more effectively drive positive change within my organisation.

The NEBOSH Diploma has also equipped me to manage different risk profiles and engage with the Board and Executive - something I hadn't had exposure to previously.

The NEBOSH Diploma has an international flavour, one you can definitely cross layer with New Zealand law. And it gives you opportunities. I feel confident I could put my hand out to work overseas as it's an internationally recognised qualification, probably even more so out of New Zealand.

There are some amazing practitioners who haven’t undertaken formal education around health and safety, but I think going forward, as the industry matures or becomes more regulated, H+S professionals will be required to have certain qualifications, and NEBOSH meets the criteria.

A word of advice for aspiring health and safety professionals

If you're considering pursuing the NEBOSH Diploma, I encourage you to take the leap. While it may be demanding, the rewards are huge. My advice is to remember to prioritise time management, seek support from your cohort and +IMPAC tutors, and actively engage with the course material.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to study the NEBOSH Diploma with +IMPAC. It’s been a truly enriching experience that has helped shape my career and given me the skills to make a real difference in my workplace and beyond. I’m glad to take a break from studying right now but this experience has prepared me to take on further study in the future, maybe a Masters!

To find out more about our NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety course click here.

+IMPAC's NEBOSH International Diploma course also meets part of the entry requirements for Victoria University of Wellington’s post-graduate workplace health and safety pathway. Call 0800 246 722 or email contactus@impac.co.nz to find out more.