At Accreditation Matters 2025, WSU’s Sadegh Niazi discussed NATA-aligned lab quality education, offering hands-on experience and mock accreditation to prepare students for laboratory careers.
WSU’s science programs, including Forensic Science, Chemistry, Environmental Health, Microbiology, and Food Science embed laboratory quality education to prepare students for careers in accredited lab environments.
Several units align with NATA’s guidelines and enable meaningful industry engagement. Many studies offer students hands-on experience and develop essential employability skills. A standout unit is Laboratory Quality Management (LQM), which integrates NATA accreditation principles.
NATA assessors are involved as guest lecturers, mentors, and evaluators. Students undertake a mock accreditation process assessed against ISO/IEC 17025 and NATA’s application document, receiving structured feedback.
Successful students receive a certificate acknowledging completion of a NATA-aligned assessment. This collaboration ensures graduates are job-ready and familiar with industry standards. Looking ahead, there are opportunities to expand co-designed content with NATA, enhance joint outreach, and strengthen visibility of NATA’s contribution.
These initiatives will benefit both students and industry through improved workforce preparedness and stronger professional alignment.
Where does it all happen?
Held at WSU’s Hawkesbury campus, this one-of-a-kind program has helped shape generations of job-ready scientists, giving students a unique edge in the world of accredited laboratory science.
The Hawkesbury campus, home to WSU’s forensic science degree and the immersive Crime Scene House training facility, sets the stage for students to go beyond the classroom. Forensics majors investigate realistic crime scenes, collect evidence, and take part in a mock accreditation process like no other.
Each year, students from Forensic Science, Microbiology, and Chemistry take on the challenge of developing a quality manual to ISO/IEC 17025 standards – designing and performing a test method just like they would in a real lab audit. Forensic Science students complete it as a core subject, while Microbiology and Chemistry students can choose it as a powerful elective.
“The mock assessments not only introduce forensics students to the documentation of a quality manual and test methods,” said Lyndon Thomas, NATA Accreditation Team Leader, “but also give them first-hand exposure to NATA and the value of accreditation.”
For NATA Assessors, the experience is just as rewarding. “It’s a chance to do something different – contributing directly to the expertise of future scientists and helping them understand the real-world impact of ISO/IEC 17025,” said Thomas.
No other university in Australia offers this level of integration between learning and accreditation.
“This course gives students a clear advantage. Listing it on a resume tells future employers that you’re not just prepared – you’re ahead of the pack,” added Thomas.
Learn more by emailing: lyndon.thomas@nata.com.au