Western Sydney University and NATA are celebrating an impressive milestone—35 years of hands-on, future-focused training through annual mock assessments. 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,” Thomas said.
No other university in Australia offers this level of integration between learning and accreditation.
As Thomas put it: “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.”
The mock assessment program runs in the second half of each year.
Want to get involved or learn more? WSU will be speaking about the clear benefits of the program at NATA’s Accreditation Matters 2025 event on July 30 and July 31 – register today