ESG & Social Responsibility
Intake commences 14 July 2025
40 PD hours
100% online
AusIMM courses rated 4.9/5 (4.5k+ reviews)
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Course Overview
- Minimise ESG harm, maximise value.
- Analyse ESG performance critically.
- Deep dive into ESG in mining.
- Manage ESG risks, threats, and opportunities.
- Gain knowledge and skills to apply ESG/SR requirements in your workplace
Who is this for?
- Asset-level front-line leaders across all mining functions
- Corporate and investment-related professionals in the resources sector
- Consultants across all disciplines
- Mining professionals looking to enhance their skills in ESG analysis, performance, and assurance review.
Course Modules
Module 1 | ESG, Social Responsibility and Society
Building a sustainable future
In this module you will learn about ESG, Social Responsibility and Society and how to build a sustainable future, key points covered are below:
• Describe the history of sustainable development and how it has evolved into present day ESG/SR expectations
• Summarise different societal views of sustainability and how resource sector enterprises need to respond
• Explain why all resource sector professionals need to consider ESG/SR performance in their daily work
• Reflect on the importance of ethical thinking and how this can affect resource enterprises’ reputation and long-term success
• Identify moral dilemma in ESG/SR matters and related decision making
• Reconcile different views on ESG and Social Responsibility
Module 2 | ESG and Social Responsibility Analysis Methods 1
Mastering the metrics that matter
• Reference AusIMM’s Social Responsibility Framework and Statement links to membership/workplace expectations
• Recognise theoretical sustainability frameworks and how they influence ESG/SR expectations and behaviours
• Explain the multi-capitals economic model and how it translates into sustainability
thinking
• Adapt sustainability thinking for workplace application and know how to analyse ESG/SR-related issues to identify priorities
• Explain the concept and elements of enterprise management control architecture
• Participate in various ESG assessment methods at enterprise and asset-level
Module 3 | ESG and Social Responsibility Analysis Methods 2
Unlocking insights for impact
• Explain why risk in the social domain requires different thinking than conventional risk/hazard approaches
• Outline the difference between social impact and social risk, how they interrelate
and how to prioritise with other risks
• Stakeholder groups - who they are, what they might think about resource development and how to connect with them
• Explain the purpose of ESIA and the difference between regulatory and business driven ESIA
• Help participants “know when they don’t know” something and call in Environment
and Social Performance experts
• Summarise why everybody working at a resource enterprise needs to pay attention
to ESG/SR issues and behave accordingly
Module 4 | Operationalising ESG and Social Responsibility
Transforming your organisation
• Understand how ESG/SR accountabilities can be designated across all enterprise
functions at asset level
• Describe a simple model for planning and executing ESG/SR-related work in a
properly informed and competent way
• Understand how and why proper social and environmental induction is vital for
context-specific desirable workplace behaviours
• Recognise how to incorporate ESG/SR into strategic and asset planning, addressing
different timeframes
• Explain why and how ESG/SR elements need to be integrated into enterprise functional planning and plans.
• Explore ESG-related modifying factors that might be applicable to formal resource
valuation documentation
Module 5 | ESG Global Principles, Standards, Measurement, Assurance and Reporting
Setting the global standard
• Outline typical enterprise governance architecture and ESG-related control delegations
• Reference and summarise ESG-related global principles, standards, codes and guidance, and reconcile to local requirements
• Match ESG-related standards and metrics for performance tracking
• Apply due diligence thinking to ESG-related matters during project evaluations
• Reference relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to resource enterprise activities
• Align enterprise activities/outputs to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) elements
Module 6 | A Deeper look at some ESG and Social Responsibility themes
Key ESG & Social Responsibility themes
• Contribute to enterprise annual sustainability and/or ESG reports
• Understand human rights and why human rights due diligence review is important
• Understand why consideration of Indigenous and land-connected peoples is important in resource sector contexts
• Consider the value of local level agreements in various resource sector contexts
• Know the importance of cultural heritage management in resource sector enterprises and development scenarios
• Develop value propositions to gain competitive advantage through attention to ESG/SR-related matters
Course Pricing
- Exclusive discounts
- Access to digital library
- Networking opportunities
- Professional development
- Industry insights
- Exclusive discounts
- Access to digital library
- Networking opportunities
- Professional development
- Industry insights
- Exclusive discounts
- Access to digital library
- Networking opportunities
- Professional development
- Industry insights
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AusIMM courses rated 4.9/5 (4.5k+ reviews)
Download the course brochure
Professional Certificate in ESG and Social Responsibility
Learning Objectives
- Trace ESG evolution from sustainability.
- Align ESG with operational performance.
- Apply global ESG standards to mining.
- Learn enterprise ESG governance systems.
- Explore real world examples of enterprise ESG governance.
- Understand the role of ethics in decision making
- Develop ESG-related strategy and action planning
- Learn transparent ESG monitoring and reporting.
Course structure
The eight-week course consists of six modules over six weeks, with a final two weeks to complete written assessments. Each module consists of:
- Live virtual classrooms (recordings made available with 24 hours)
- Pre-recorded videos, featuring interviews with experienced industry experts
- Interactive learning activities and discussion
- ‘Take home’ analytical tools that can be used in the workplace
- Multiple choice questions
- Additional reading including case studies
The written assessment (Part A and Part B) requires participants to complete short answer questions that address the content presented in each module.
Live sessions are recorded and available within 24 hours for participants who are unable to attend.
Course schedule
 Course dates |
 Virtual classrooms |
 Assessments due |
|
Course commences: 14 July 2025 Course closes: 7 September 2025 |
Module 1: Wednesday 16 July, 11.30–13.30 AEST Module 2: Wednesday 23 July, 11:30 - 13:30 AEST Module 3: Wednesday 30 July, 11.30–13.30 AEST Module 4: Wednesday 6 August, 11.30–13.30 AEST Module 5: Wednesday 13 August, 11.30–13.30 AEST Module 6: Wednesday 20 August, 11.30–13.30 AEST |
Part A due: 24 August 2025 Part B due: 7 September 2025 |
Free template
Business case to attend
Course facilitators
Bruce Harvey
He is an Adjunct Professor at the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland and until recently was a Guest Lecturer at the University of Otago (NZ) MBA School delivering a course called ‘Leading Sustainable Enterprises’.
A member of the AusIMM Social and Environment Committee, he facilitated the development the Institute’s Social Responsibility Framework and the Environment and Social Performance competency development tool.
Narelle Wolfe
She began her career as a geologist where she became interested in broader issues in the resources sector and joined the AusIMM in a policy capacity in early 2000s. 1
She then spent the bulk of her career in a variety of site and corporate ESG and Social Performance roles for both large and small companies across several commodities and complex jurisdictions.
Narelle has served on AusIMM Branches, Committees and Societies during her career is proud to be back bringing the breadth of her operational experience to support the advancement of ESG capability development and professional standards within the resources sector and AusIMM.
Janina Gawler
Building effective partnerships with communities has been her career focus. Her work has included development of resettlement programs for emerging economies in Africa. She has negotiated land access with Indigenous people across Australia and developed strategies for engagement with First Nations and Indigenous people in Canada and USA, respecting and recognising Indigenous rights and working with mining companies to ensure continuing social licence to operate. A former CEO of the Australian National Training Authority. Janina was also Mayor and Councillor of the City of Echuca.
Alan Irving
Dr Geraldine McGuire
Geoff Deans
Geoff holds an MBA from the University of South Australia, a Masters of Community Relations for the Resources Sector from University of Queensland, a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact Assessment from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Education from Flinders University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also an AusIMM Chartered Professional for Social Performance and a board member of Indigenous Education and Boarding Australia (IEBA).
Course content has been guided by the AusIMM ESG and
Social & Environment Committees, with special thanks to:
Mark Noppe
Past participants share their experiences with AusIMM Courses
See what past participants are saying about AusIMM's Online Courses
Customer Testimonials
I found this course extremely valuable to my career development. The content is high quality with plenty of references and resources to deepen our knowledge. I enjoyed the case studies which illustrated the type of issues that can be encountered in the resource sector. Overall, it helped me to better understand and address ESG-related issues in my role.
Participant of August 2021 intake
I highly recommend investing in AusIMM's ESG course. I learnt ESG principles that are transferrable and I can apply these to mineral exploration, mining and renewable energy organisations and projects that all share the uncertainty of significant environmental and social impacts. I've gained new insight and I'm now better equipped, with a range of tools to address risks, reduce stakeholder impacts and grow benefits for more people.
Peta Abbot, Participant of October 2023 intake
The ESG course is fully packed and is designed with the clear intent to provide participants with key tools/resources not only during the eight-week duration of the course, but long after and beyond online discussions. The course materials provide links to topics that one may wish to further deep dive into. The proficient facilitators, being experienced and seasoned in the mining industry, are well-positioned to talk about their subject matters. I learned solid principles that I will be applying to my work daily.
Minerva Chaloping, Participant of March 2024 intake
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 platform 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 online course take?
The entire course will run over eight weeks (six modules over six weeks plus another two weeks to finish all course components). It is expected that participants will take about 40 hours to finish the entire course. This includes attendance at live virtual classrooms and completion of all learning activities.
Must a participant complete and pass all modules in order to finish the course?
Yes, it is a requirement for participants to complete all modules and pass all learning activities, including the final assessment. A professional certificate will be awarded upon successful completion.
How often will the courses be run?
We aim to run two to three intakes each year.
Can a participant sign up for only one or two modules of the course?
Unfortunately no, participants must complete the course in its entirety.
Will the course be delivered in other languages?
No, the course is currently delivered in English only. We are looking at delivering the course in other languages in the near future.
How many PD hours do I receive for undertaking the course?
Participants can earn professional development (PD) hours for undertaking the online course. One contact hour of technical content is equivalent to one PD hour.