Historical information

Victorian Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (VIOSH) Australia is the Asia-Pacific centre for teaching and research in occupational health and safety (OHS) and is known as one of Australia's leaders in the field.
VIOSH has a global reputation for its innovative approach within the field of OHS management.

VIOSH had its first intake of students in 1979. At that time the Institution was known as the Ballarat College of Advanced Education. In 1990 it became known as Ballarat University College, then in 1994 as University of Ballarat. It was 2014 that it became Federation University.

VIOSH Australia students are safety managers, senior advisors and experienced OHS professionals. They come from all over Australia and industry.
Students are taught active research and enquiry; rather than textbook learning and a one-size fits all approach. VIOSH accepts people into the Graduate Diploma of Occupational Hazard Management who have no undergraduate degree - on the basis of extensive work experience and knowledge.

Eric Wigglesworth was born in England in 1926. He came to Australia in the 1960s. He was a specialist in accident injury prevention and continued this when in Australia. He was a Director of the Injury Research Project at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and a Director of the Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Foundation. He became a Fellow of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
Eric was instrumental in establishing the Graduate Diploma in Occupational Hazard Management in 1980 at Ballarat College of Advanced Education - the first tertiary-level course in accidental injury prevention in Australia. This course and others relating to Occupational Health and Safety were the centre of study for what was known as the Victorian Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Australia - VIOSH.

Physical description

Colour photograph