Schedule 26 of the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 sets the qualifications and competencies you need to hold a statutory position, such as a statutory supervisor, on a Western Australian mine site. Often written as s26 or section 26, it now applies in full: since 30 March 2026, anyone appointed to these roles must meet the eligibility requirements. If your skills come from years on the job, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can turn that experience into the qualifications you need, without exams or coursework.
If you’re aiming to continue in, or step into, a statutory position on a Western Australian mine site, the rules have changed.
Since 30 March 2026, all individuals appointed to Schedule 26 statutory supervisor roles must meet the mandatory eligibility requirements, including specific WHS qualifications.
The good news? If you’ve already built WHS knowledge and leadership experience on the job, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can help you get qualified, fast.
Apply for a free RPL appraisal
What is Schedule 26? (s26 and section 26 explained)
Schedule 26 is part of the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 in Western Australia. It lists the statutory positions on a mine site and the experience, units of competency and examinations each one requires. You will sometimes see it written as s26, section 26, rule 26 or regulation 26 — they all point to the same schedule, administered by WorkSafe WA.
It applies to anyone appointed to a statutory position on a Western Australian mine. The most common of these is the statutory supervisor, the role most readers of this page are working toward.
Schedule 26 statutory supervisor requirements at a glance
To be eligible as a Schedule 26 statutory supervisor in Western Australia, you now need three things: relevant supervisory experience, the two approved WHS risk management units of competency, and a pass in the DEMIRS legislation examination. The details are below.
The Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 require that statutory positions must be filled by appropriately trained and competent personnel.
Common statutory positions include:
- Statutory Supervisor
- Underground Supervisor (coal and non-coal)
- Restricted Quarry Manager
- Mine Air Quality Officer
- Noise Officer
- Electrical Supervisor
You will find a full list of positions this change affects here.
To meet the statutory eligibility requirements, you must hold two key WHS units of competency:
- BSBWHS414 – Contribute to WHS risk management
- BSBWHS411 – Implement and monitor WHS policies, procedures and programs
Go beyond the minimum: RPL for the full Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
While these two units are the minimum required for statutory supervisor eligibility, they are also units available within the BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, a full, nationally recognised qualification that offers far greater value.
By applying for the full Certificate IV through RPL, you can:
- ✅ Gain a stronger WHS skillset that enhances your leadership and risk management capabilities
- ✅ Stand out for promotions or broader WHS-related roles in mining and beyond
- ✅ Meet future regulatory changes or higher-level roles that may require a full qualification
- ✅ Have a recognised qualification on your resume that reflects your real-world expertise
- ✅ Achieve it without study, based purely on your existing skills and experience
Boost your leadership credentials with the Certificate IV in Leadership and Management
Industry experts also advise that many organisations favour applicants for supervisory roles who hold the BSB40520 Certificate IV in Leadership and Management.
This nationally accredited qualification recognises your ability to lead teams, manage operations, and communicate effectively in high-risk environments.
Through RPL, many experienced supervisors are eligible to achieve both qualifications, maximising your credentials while minimising effort.
By pairing your WHS expertise with proven leadership capabilities, you position yourself as a well-rounded, competitive candidate for supervisory roles across the mining industry and beyond.
How RPL works
RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) is a nationally recognised assessment pathway that evaluates your existing experience, with no need for study or classroom time.
If you’ve been managing WHS responsibilities or leading teams as part of your role, it’s likely you already have what it takes to be awarded one or both qualifications.
With Churchill Education, the process is straightforward:
- Free initial appraisal of your WHS and leadership experience
- One-on-one support from your dedicated Career & Education Advisor
- Churchill Priority Upgrade your qualification — many of our graduates complete the process within 14 days
- Only pay for what you’re eligible to achieve and choose to enrol in
Apply for a zero-cost RPL appraisal here.
What happens after you’re qualified?
Once you’ve completed the necessary WHS units (or the full Certificate IV), your next step is to book the DEMIRS Legislation Examination through the WHS Mines Statutory Positions Portal (MSPP).
This exam confirms your ability to interpret and apply the WHS (Mines) Regulations 2022 and the WHS Act 2020, the final requirement for statutory supervisor eligibility.
The Schedule 26 deadline has now passed
Until 30 March 2026, a competent person could be appointed to a Schedule 26 statutory role without these qualifications. That transition period has now ended, so full compliance is mandatory. If you’re in a statutory position and not yet qualified, getting certified is now the priority.
In practice, industry insiders tell us most companies were already looking for supervisors with these qualifications well before the deadline, and those with both WHS and leadership credentials are often top of the list.
If you’re ready to meet the requirements and strengthen your credentials in the process, RPL for the full Certificate IV in WHS and Leadership and Management is the smart way forward.
Contact Churchill Education to get started with a free RPL appraisal. You bring the experience. We help you turn it into nationally recognised qualifications.
Schedule 26 statutory supervisor: common questions
There isn’t a single “s26 qualification”. Eligibility is made up of the two approved WHS risk management units (BSBWHS414 and BSBWHS411), relevant supervisory experience, and a pass in the DEMIRS legislation examination. Many supervisors gain the two units as part of the full Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety.
“S26 certificate” and “section 26 certificate” are informal names people use for proof that you meet the Schedule 26 eligibility requirements. In practice, that means your statement of attainment or qualification for the required WHS units, plus your DEMIRS legislation exam result. The mine operator confirms your appointment against these.
Relevant supervisory experience, the two approved WHS risk management units of competency (BSBWHS414 and BSBWHS411), and a pass in the DEMIRS legislation examination. Some positions also require a mining practice examination. The requirements have been mandatory since the transition period ended on 30 March 2026.
It’s an examination set by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) that checks you can interpret and apply the WHS (Mines) Regulations 2022 and the WHS Act 2020. You book it through the WHS Mines Statutory Positions Portal (MSPP) after completing the required WHS units.
A statutory supervisor oversees safe work on a mine site within their area of responsibility: managing risk, supervising workers, and making sure WHS policies and procedures are followed. The role carries legal duties under the WHS (Mines) Regulations 2022, which is why formal competency is now required.
Yes. Through Recognition of Prior Learning, your existing WHS and supervisory experience can be assessed against the required units and turned into a nationally recognised qualification, with no exams or coursework. You can apply for a free RPL appraisal to see what you’re eligible for.
