Risk managers in the public sector can undertake a new Diploma of Integrated Risk Management tailored to public organisations’ requirements.

The diploma, developed by the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) and Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF), will be open for enrolments this month and commence next month.

VMIA CEO Warren Hutcheon says it is the first such qualification in Australia to target the public sector and its development came after VMIA surveyed risk managers in the Victorian public sector and found 70% had learned on the job rather than through formal education.

“Despite the growing attention to the risk management sector, and the important role of risk management in a business partnership model, there are limited opportunities for professionals to gain accredited qualifications in this field,” he said.

ANZIIF GM Education Clim Pacheco says a formal risk management qualification provides the skills and knowledge that the role requires as well as the recognition the risk profession deserves.

Four modules cover risk management, general insurance, integrated risk management and management of specific risk exposures.