HR Workplace Investigations Course

Internal investigation skills help HR professionals respond to workplace complaints, misconduct concerns and sensitive employee relations matters in a fair, structured and defensible way.

These skills are especially important when managing psychosocial hazards such as bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, aggression or intimidation, where poor complaint handling can increase harm, damage trust and expose the organisation to further risk.

A clear investigation process helps HR clarify the issues, gather relevant evidence, interview people appropriately, maintain confidentiality, apply procedural fairness and support decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify workplace issues, complaints, possible misconduct or non-compliance matters that may require investigation;
• Plan and initiate an investigation using a structured and defensible process;
• Clarify investigation scope, terms of reference, issues, evidence sources and persons to be interviewed;
• Gather, record and manage relevant investigation information and workplace evidence;
• Prepare for and conduct effective workplace investigation interviews;
• Apply procedural fairness, confidentiality, impartiality and ethical decision-making during an investigation;
• Analyse investigation information and prepare clear investigation outcomes; and
• Finalise investigation records and reports to support organisational decision-making.

Graduates will develop practical skills to support fair, consistent and evidence-informed workplace investigations within the scope of their organisational role.

This skill set is ideal for HR specialists and organisational personnel who are required to conduct, coordinate, support or review internal workplace investigations.

Typical participants include:

• HR Managers,
• HR Advisors and HR Business Partners,
• People and Culture specialists,
• Employee Relations and Industrial Relations personnel,
• Workplace Relations practitioners,
• Managers and supervisors responsible for internal complaints,
• Compliance, governance and risk personnel,
• Work health and safety managers involved in internal enquiries,
• Security, operations or site managers responsible for workplace conduct matters, and
• Public sector, local government and regulatory personnel involved in complaint or investigation processes.

The course is particularly relevant for organisations that need staff to manage workplace complaints and investigation processes in a consistent, fair and procedurally sound manner.

Participants may be required to investigate or support investigations into matters such as:

• Workplace bullying complaints,
• Harassment or inappropriate workplace behaviour,
• Sexual harassment allegations,
• Discrimination or victimisation complaints,
• Breaches of workplace policies or procedures,
• Code of conduct breaches,
• Misconduct or serious misconduct allegations,
• Conflict of interest concerns,
• Misuse of organisational resources,
• Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information,
• Privacy or information handling breaches,
• Fraud, theft or dishonesty concerns,
• Procurement, purchasing or conflict of interest irregularities,
• Timesheet, attendance or payroll irregularities,
• Work health and safety non-compliance or incident-related conduct,
• Alcohol and drug policy breaches,
• Aggressive, threatening or unsafe workplace behaviour,
• Customer, client or stakeholder complaints involving staff conduct,
• Contractor or employee conduct concerns,
• Inappropriate use of email, systems, devices or social media, and
• Other workplace conduct or compliance matters requiring a structured investigation process.

This course may support professional development for people working in roles such as:

• HR Manager,
• HR Advisor or HR Business Partner,
• Employee Relations Advisor,
• Workplace Relations Manager,
• People and Culture Manager,
• Compliance or Governance Officer,
• Complaints Officer,
• Workplace Investigator,
• Safety, Security or Operations Manager, or
• Manager responsible for internal complaint and investigation processes.

Completion of this skill set may support internal organisational capability in complaint handling, workplace investigations, employee relations and compliance functions.

There are no formal entry requirements listed for this skill set.

Core Training Group recommends that participants have experience in a role involving HR, employee relations, compliance, workplace leadership, supervision, complaint handling, safety, security, governance or operational management.

Participants should have sufficient workplace experience to understand organisational policies, workplace communication, confidentiality obligations and the importance of fair decision-making.

Pathways from this program to other qualifications or employment opportunities:

• Completion of this skill set provides credit towards PSP40416 Certificate IV in Government Investigations.
• The units may also support broader professional development in workplace investigations, human resources, employee relations, complaint handling, compliance, governance, WHS, security and public sector regulatory functions.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this skill set at the time of publication.

To enrol, you must have:

• Residency in Western Australia with proof of a local residential address, where applicable to the enrolment arrangement.
• Legal right to study in Australia.
• Must have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) number.
• Minimum age requirement is 18 years to complete this course.
• Sufficient identification for proof of identity.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) skills required for the course. An LLND assessment may be conducted at pre-enrolment to assess whether the applicant requires LLND support for this training.
• Be able to participate in classroom-based learning, scenario activities, group discussions, written assessment tasks and simulated workplace interviews.

This program is delivered as a five (5) day face-to-face course supported by self-directed study and assessment activities.

Students should expect to participate in up to 40 hours of face-to-face training and assessment support. Additional self-directed learning and assessment activities may be required, with total training hours of up to approximately 80 hours.

The face-to-face component supports guided learning activities, workplace investigation discussions, case studies, simulated investigation exercises, interview preparation and practical assessment activities.

Between or after contact sessions, learners may complete additional assessment activities through the aXcelerate Learning Management System (LMS), including written tasks, investigation documentation and evidence-based assessment requirements.

Learning activities:

Learning activities may include tutorials, facilitated workshops, workplace investigation case studies, instructional videos, scenario-based exercises, simulated investigation planning activities, evidence review activities, interview preparation and simulated workplace interviews.

Enterprise delivery:

Enterprise or organisational delivery may be available for groups. Training can be delivered on-site or at an agreed location across Western Australia, and the delivery schedule may be contextualised to suit organisational requirements, HR processes, workplace policies and the experience level of participants.

Compliance:

Training and assessment are delivered in accordance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2025 and the requirements of the relevant training package.

To be awarded PSPSS00040 Government Investigations Skill Set, learners must complete the required four (4) units of competency.

Units of competency

• PSPINV001 Plan and initiate an investigation
• PSPINV002 Conduct an investigation
• PSPINV003 Finalise an investigation
• PSPREG012 Gather information through interviews

This skill set is for individuals working in a range of regulatory work environments involving gathering evidence and interviewing persons of interest.

These competencies provide skills required to identify possible non-compliance and plan, initiate and report on a subsequent investigation.

The units provide specialist skills to support public sector regulatory and compliance functions. Completion of this skill set provides credit towards PSP40416 Certificate IV in Government Investigations.

The RTO will issue the learner with a Statement of Attainment for the training completed:

• PSPSS00040 Government Investigations Skill Set

The Statement of Attainment will list the units of competency successfully completed.

The learner will receive this either on completion of the course in person or in the mail within 30 days of course completion, subject to all assessment, enrolment and payment requirements being met.

The RTO must not issue certification documentation unless the student has been assessed competent in all required units within the skill set. Issuance will also be subject to successful enrolment and payment of fees prior to issue.

The RTO is committed to providing inclusive and supportive training environments for all learners. As part of the enrolment process, we seek to ensure that prospective students have the language, literacy, numeracy and digital (LLND) skills required to successfully participate in their chosen course.

Where appropriate, learners may undertake an LLND assessment prior to enrolment to help determine whether the course is suitable for their current skill level and to identify any support that may assist their learning.

Digital literacy for training delivered by the RTO includes the ability to:

• Operate a computer, tablet, or similar device
• Connect to and use the internet
• Access and navigate our Learning Management System (LMS), aXcelerate
• Communicate using email or online messaging tools
• Upload assessment evidence and participate in online learning activities

If a learner requires additional support to meet these requirements, RTO staff will discuss available support options, reasonable adjustments, or referral pathways to assist the learner to participate successfully in training.

Learners come from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of education and life experience. The RTO aims to provide flexible and culturally responsive learning environments and encourages prospective students to discuss any learning needs during the enquiry or enrolment process.