The course commences by highlighting existing road safety trends across Australia and where we stand compared to other countries. It presents a broader concept, definition and the primary objectives of road safety auditing, as well as briefly explaining what road safety audits are and their importance in creating a safer road environment for all road users.

Course participants will gain an overview of the Safe System approach, including its key principles and the foundational pillars that establish its focus for action. The course covers the integration of these Safe System principles with the road safety audit process at different stages of the Infrastructure Life Cycle.

The course highlights the key stakeholders involved in the RSA process, with a primary focus on where non-auditors fit in the broader stakeholder structure. A discussion of audit types and the typical RSA process gives a detailed overview of each phase of the audit process and the role of all stakeholders, with information about the role of non-auditors in each phase and their contribution to a successful audit and road safety outcome.

The concepts presented in the course are reinforced by a case study involving role-play and interactive sessions with participants to discuss critical aspects. This also highlights the importance of recording effective responses to the RSA findings, closing the loop and record management.

The course closes by providing useful advice on where to find further practical guidance and learning, including Austroads publications, jurisdiction websites and other practitioner resources.