Civil Safety: A Top 5 Shortlist in the Large Training Provider of the Year category
At Civil Safety, our mission has always been clear: to deliver high-quality, innovative training that transforms lives and meets the real-world needs of students, industry and the wider community.
We’re proud to announce that Civil Safety has been named in the Top 5 shortlist for Large Training Provider of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards 2025.
For our team, this recognition is about more than an award. It reflects the impact of the work we do every day to help people build skills, find employment and develop the confidence to succeed in some of Australia’s most demanding industries.
Putting Students at the Centre
As a long-standing Registered Training Organisation (RTO 32381), Civil Safety has always placed student safety, education and success at the heart of what we do.
We understand the high-stakes nature of the industries we train for and the importance of quality training that prepares people for the real demands of potentially dangerous work environments.
Our trainers bring decades of hands-on industry experience into every training environment. They combine technical expertise with the ability to communicate, motivate and mentor, ensuring students leave us with more than just a certificate.
They leave with the confidence, practical skills and industry knowledge to put their training into practice.
A Team Built Around Quality
Civil Safety has grown significantly, with a core team of 63 full-time professionals supported by more than 100 part-time, contract and casual staff.
Together, our people deliver specialist training programs to thousands of students every year across a diverse range of industries and locations.
Behind our trainers is a dedicated compliance and quality team that ensures high standards are maintained across assessment, delivery and student support.
For us, compliance isn't simply about ticking boxes. It's about investing in the systems, processes and people required to deliver quality training and achieve meaningful student outcomes.
Training Designed Around Industry
One of the things that truly sets Civil Safety apart is our ability to adapt.
Our training programs aren't one-size-fits-all. We work closely with industry to develop and customise training solutions around specific workforce requirements, operational environments and business objectives.
Our clients range from major mining companies and regional Councils to Government departments and small construction businesses. Regardless of the size or nature of the organisation, our approach is the same: understand what they need to achieve and build the training around that goal.
This agile, client-first approach allows us to respond quickly to changing workforce requirements. While traditional RTO structures can make it difficult to respond quickly to new training needs, our internal systems allow us to mobilise rapidly and, in some cases, develop and deliver new courses within a week.
Innovation That Goes Beyond the Classroom
Innovation has always been central to the way Civil Safety operates.
We were early pioneers in online training and continue to invest in technology that makes learning more flexible and accessible. But our commitment to innovation extends well beyond the digital environment.
We've developed mobile training units equipped to deliver high-risk training such as Working at Heights and Confined Space in some of Queensland's most remote communities.
We've delivered training in communities including Doomadgee and Napranum, helping ensure that geographic isolation isn't a barrier to accessing skills, qualifications and employment opportunities.
At the same time, we continue to invest heavily in face-to-face training, attracting experienced trainers who are passionate about education and helping people succeed.
This is particularly important for learners who may have struggled in traditional education environments or who face barriers such as low literacy, limited educational opportunities or a history of incarceration.
Creating Pathways for People Who Need Them Most
Our commitment to inclusion is a fundamental part of our approach.
We support students from all walks of life, with a particular focus on disadvantaged groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, at-risk youth and people involved in the justice system.
We recognise that every student arrives with different experiences, abilities and challenges. Rather than expecting everyone to learn in the same way, we adapt our approach to meet people where they're at.
This includes flexible learning pathways, culturally safe training environments and alternative assessment approaches.
For example, we've redesigned assessments so they can be delivered verbally for students with low literacy, helping remove barriers to participation while maintaining the integrity of the assessment process.
Connecting Training With Employment
For Civil Safety, training is ultimately about what happens after the course.
That's why we focus strongly on creating genuine pathways into employment and ensuring students can apply their skills immediately.
When students successfully complete their training, we aim to issue their certificates within 24 hours, allowing them to enter the workforce as quickly as possible rather than waiting days for their qualification to be processed.
This can make a significant difference for someone who is relying on a qualification to secure their next job opportunity.
Industry Collaboration Starts With the End Goal
Our Founder, Robert Kerridge, remains actively involved in ensuring our training continues to reflect the evolving needs of industry.
He regularly engages with employers, industry groups and other stakeholders to understand workforce trends and identify emerging skills needs.
This industry collaboration ensures our programs remain current, relevant and focused on real employment outcomes.
Whether we're training steel fixers from Mongolia for the Whittens Group, upskilling workers for major mining operations or developing programs for regional employers, our course design process starts with the end goal in mind: helping people succeed in the workplace.
We also maintain strong partnerships with regional Councils, Government departments and private companies across Queensland and beyond. These relationships help shape our course content, delivery models and student support strategies.
Measuring Our Impact
We believe that meaningful results should be measured.
Our success is assessed through a broad range of indicators, including student satisfaction, completion rates, post-training employment outcomes and independent validation.
Between 2011 and 2025, Civil Safety trained more than 100,000 students, with completion and employment outcomes consistently demonstrating the impact of our approach.
More than 90% of course completion survey feedback has informed the development or improvement of future training products, while more than 80% of graduates have secured full-time, part-time or casual employment following their training.
These results provide valuable evidence that our focus on practical, industry-led and student-centred training is delivering genuine outcomes.
A Culture of Continuous Improvement
We don't believe in resting on our laurels.
Continuous improvement is embedded in the way we operate. We conduct regular product reviews and program evaluations to ensure our courses remain effective, relevant and student-centred.
We actively seek feedback from students, employers and industry partners and use that information to continually refine our content, delivery methods and support services.
Our compliance and quality teams play a critical role in this process, ensuring our operations meet all regulatory requirements under the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) while maintaining a strong focus on best practice.
Making an Impact Beyond Training
Civil Safety's growth has been underpinned by a strong sense of purpose.
From humble beginnings, we now deliver training to hundreds of organisations across industries including mining, construction, civil, agriculture, logistics, health and safety, and rural operations.
But our impact goes beyond training statistics.
We are working to address broader challenges including unemployment, social exclusion and barriers to employment. Our work with Queensland Corrective Services, along with our innovative approaches to supporting at-risk students, is helping create pathways to employment and opportunities for long-term change.
We believe that changing one person's life can change many lives.
When someone gains the skills and confidence to secure meaningful employment, the benefits can extend to their family, their community and future generations.
Proud to Be Recognised
Being named in the Top 5 shortlist for Large Training Provider of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards is an incredible honour for everyone at Civil Safety.
It recognises the hard work and commitment of our entire team, but also reinforces why we do what we do: to deliver training that builds real skills, creates meaningful employment pathways and contributes to safer, stronger communities.
As Robert Kerridge, CEO of Civil Safety, says:
“Being named in the Top 5 shortlist for Large Training Provider of the Year is an incredible honour and a reflection of the hard work and commitment of our entire team.
“At Civil Safety, we're proud to deliver training that not only builds real skills, but creates meaningful pathways to employment – particularly for at-risk individuals and Indigenous students.
“This recognition highlights the impact of our inclusive, industry-led approach to training and the difference we can make in people's lives and in the communities we operate in across Queensland.
“We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved, but we're even more focused on what comes next: continuing to innovate, improve and deliver training that empowers people and builds safer, more capable communities.”
To learn more about our work and impact, please watch our short video below on how we are changing lives.
Civil Safety is a leading Registered Training Organisation (RTO 32381) for the mining, civil and construction industries, with operations across Queensland and Western Australia.
We provide safety and operational training to thousands of people every year from a diverse range of backgrounds. Our highly experienced trainers bring real-world experience to the classroom – ensuring our students graduate ready for work with the skills, confidence and qualifications required for safe and compliant operation in dangerous environments.
With a vast range of courses, plus a variety of learning methods including face-to-face, blended and online – we can help you gain the skills you need to enter a new industry or upskill in your current career.
Find out more information on the range of health and safety courses we offer, or give us a call on 1300 CIVIL S.