What is the G189 Mining Supervisor Course?
If you've been told you need a G189 to step into a supervisor role on a mine site, you're probably wondering what it actually is, what it involves, and how to get it. You might have also heard it called the S123, the S1 S2 S3, or the G1 G8 G9 and you're wondering if they're all the same thing. They are. Here's everything you need to know.
What is the G189?
The G189 is the mandatory supervisor qualification for anyone appointed to direct or supervise workers on a Queensland coal or metalliferous mine site. It covers three nationally recognised units of competency focused on risk management, safety investigations, and workplace communication.
The name G189 is shorthand. It combines the three unit code prefixes G1, G8, and G9. Before the unit codes were updated, the same qualification was known as the S123 or S1 S2 S3 (based on the older unit numbering). Some people also call it the G1 G8 G9. They're all the exact same qualification with the same three units and the same Statement of Attainment at the end.
If you see a job ad asking for a G189, S123, S1 S2 S3, or G1 G8 G9 — they're all asking for the same thing.
Why do I need the G189?
Under Queensland mining legislation, the Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee and the Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee require supervisors at mine sites to hold these three competencies. It's not optional — if you're appointed to supervise or direct other workers at a Queensland mine, you need the G189.
This applies to:
Supervisors at mines with more than 10 workers. If your role involves allocating tasks, overseeing crew operations, or managing site activities, you must hold the G189.
Shift bosses and site supervisors. Anyone formally tasked with overseeing a crew, managing hazards, and ensuring compliance on shift.
Site Safety and Health Representatives (SSHRs). If you're appointed as the SSHR at your mine site, the G189 is a formal requirement.
Workers stepping into supervision for the first time. If you're being promoted from an operator, driller, or trade role into a supervisory position, this is the qualification your employer will require before you officially take on the role.
Without it, you can't be formally appointed as a supervisor on a Queensland mine site - even if you've been doing the job informally for years.
What does the G189 cover?
The G189 consists of three units of competency:
RIIRIS301E: Apply risk management processes (G1 / S1)
How to identify, assess, and manage risks at a supervisory level. You'll learn to conduct risk assessments, develop controls, and monitor whether those controls are actually working. As a supervisor, this is your bread and butter. Every decision you make on shift involves risk, and this unit gives you a structured framework to manage it properly.
RIIWHS301E: Conduct safety and health investigations (G8 / S2)
How to investigate incidents, near misses, and safety events on site. You'll learn to gather evidence, interview people involved, identify root causes, develop corrective actions, and write investigation reports that hold up to scrutiny. Good investigation skills stop the same incidents from happening twice.
RIICOM301E: Communicate information (G9 / S3)
How to communicate effectively with your crew, management, and external stakeholders. Pre-start briefings, toolbox talks, written reports, and managing communication in high-pressure situations. Miscommunication underground or in a pit can have serious consequences and this unit makes sure your message lands clearly every time.
Can I do the G189 online?
Yes. Core Crew Training delivers the G189 Mining Supervisor course 100% online. All three units are completed through our online learning platform - no classroom, no travel, no fixed schedule.
The course includes written content, workplace scenarios, case studies, and assessment tasks. You can start, pause, and resume at any time. Most students complete it within a few days to two weeks depending on how much time they put in.
Your Statement of Attainment is issued on completion, typically the same day you finish.
How long does the G189 take?
The course is self-paced, so it depends on you. The coursework typically takes around 16 to 24 hours of study. Most students complete it within:
A few days — if you can dedicate solid blocks of time
One to two weeks — if you're fitting it around shifts or roster
Up to a month — if you're doing it in small chunks between other commitments
There's no time limit and no pressure to finish by a certain date. Study when it suits you.
How much does the G189 cost?
Pricing varies between providers. At Core Crew Training, the G189 Mining Supervisor course is $600. No hidden fees. Afterpay and Klarna are available if you'd prefer to pay in installments.
Do I need mining experience to do the G189?
There are no formal prerequisites beyond being 18 years old with Year 10 level literacy and numeracy. However, the course is designed for people who already work on mine sites. The scenarios, case studies, and assessments assume you understand how mining operations run day to day.
If you're completely new to mining, you'd typically complete your Standard 11 induction first, gain some operational experience, and then do the G189 when you're ready to step into supervision.
What's the difference between the G189 and the Standard 11?
They're different qualifications for different career stages:
The Standard 11 is the entry-level mining induction that every mine worker needs to access a Queensland mine site. It covers six units of basic safety competency. You need it before you can start work on any mine site.
The G189 is a supervisor-level qualification for workers who are stepping into leadership roles. It covers three units focused on risk management, safety investigations, and communication at a supervisory level.
The typical pathway is: Standard 11 first → gain operational experience → G189 when you're ready to supervise.
What's the difference between the G189 and the G2?
The G189 focuses on supervisory competencies: risk management, safety investigations, and communication. It qualifies you to supervise and direct workers on a mine site.
The G2 (Risk Facilitator) is a separate qualification that focuses specifically on facilitating risk assessments. It's about leading the risk assessment process for a crew or work team: running toolbox talks, hazard analyses, and crew-level risk sessions.
Some supervisors hold both, but they serve different purposes. The G189 is about being a supervisor. The G2 is about leading risk assessments. You might need one, the other, or both depending on your role and your site's requirements.
Is the online G189 accepted on mine sites?
Yes. The online course covers the same three units and results in the same nationally recognised Statement of Attainment as the face-to-face course. Your qualification doesn't say "online" or "classroom" it just lists the three units and the RTO that issued them.
Ready to get your G189?
Core Crew Training (RTO 45671) delivers the G189 Mining Supervisor course 100% online. Complete it from anywhere, at your own pace, and get your Statement of Attainment the same day you finish.
$600. Afterpay and Klarna available.
Already a supervisor looking to go further? Check out the Advanced Diploma of Surface Coal Mining Management.
Already have your G189 and looking to get your G2? We offer this course 100% online as well. G2 Enrolment.
Not sure which qualification you need? Get in touch and we'll help.
