Warren Jacobson, CEO of Tribeca Learning — which developed the course with Corporate Compliance Partners in consultation with the ASX — said as a former company secretary he is well aware of the “onerous obligations” imposed by the ASX listing rules and best practice recommendations on public companies.

“This course was developed in response to a real and identifiable need in risk management of publicly listed companies,” he said.

“It’s also my view that directors of public companies are stewards of public funding and as a consequence have a responsibility to commit to effective corporate governance in the interests of risk management for the investing public.”

The Corporate Governance of ASX Listed Entities course follows evidence from various surveys that many ASX-listed companies were failing to meet basic disclosure requirements.

Jacobson cites the findings of the BT Governance Advisory Service, which found 60 percent of Australia’s ASX listed companies failed to meet basic disclosure requirements. The Horwath Australia Mid-Cap Corporate Governance report of June last year also suggested a third of mid sized listed companies were “short of the mark” when it came to appropriate corporate governance behaviour.

The course is aimed at company secretaries, senior executives, lawyers as well as company officers and administrators working in and moving to listed companies.

The course includes five modules, each delivered by distance education with a one-day intensive workshop. The modules include continuous and periodic disclosure, corporate governance and reporting, and securities management.

Each module costs $1,495 with the intensive course of all five modules priced at $6,900.

Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree and at least two years’ corporate work experience or four years in a relevant role, to be considered.