Skills Assessment for the Weed Control Industry

The skills recognition program for the New South Wales weed control industry was developed by the New South Wales Agriculture Weeds Program and the C B Alexander Agricultural College, Tocal. Support for the program was provided by the Macquarie Valley Weeds Advisory Committee. This program is based on the Conservation and Land Management Training Package and is designed to assist operators in the Weed Control industry and those responsible for the implementation of the Noxious Weeds Act to access training and recognition of skills. The program can assist those employed in the industry in achieving the following qualifications:

• Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management (Specialising in Weeds)
• Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management (Specialising in Weeds)
• Certificate IV in Conservation and Land Management (Specialising in Weeds)
• Diploma of Conservation and Land Management (Specialising in Weeds)

Why bother?

Going through this Skills Recognition process:

• Identifies the skills and knowledge used in both work and life.
• Enhances self-confidence.
• Highlights opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Shows that many skills are transferable to other roles or careers.
• Establishes a springboard into other areas, such as university courses, consultancy roles, roles on boards and committees, scholarships and grants, etc.
• Assists in demonstrating that you are complying with your Duty of Care.
• Demonstrates professionalism that can assist in applications for promotion or new job applications (either to complement your current role or in a new career).

The aim of the program is to show you how to have your skills formally recognised, to obtain qualifications based on these skills and to consider your future training needs.

Background to the process

In 1999 NSW Agriculture in conjunction with the Macquarie Valley Weeds Advisory Committee developed a program to assist Weeds Officer to achieve the following qualifications accredited by the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board (VETAB):

• Certificate II in Weed Control Operations
• Certificate IV in Weed Control Practice

These qualifications were superseded in January 2003 by the new qualifications listed above under the nationally recognised Conservation and Land Management (CLM) Training Package.

This program of Skills Recognition assessment enabled staff in the weed control industry to receive credit towards a qualification through the CB Alexander Agricultural College. It recognised experience gained while working in the industry as well as any formal training. The process was a combined effort between the person seeking the qualification, their employer and the coordinator of the Skills Recognition process.

To the end of 2003, over 110 Weeds Officers have completed the program of Skills Recognition resulting in the award of either or both the Certificates II and IV. In addition a pilot group of five Weeds Officers completed submissions for Diploma of Conservation and Land Management under the new CLM Training Packages.

The Skills Recognition process allowed all the applicants have received credit for modules within the qualification and where the qualification has not yet been awarded, a clear picture of the training required has been developed. This training is available through NSW Agriculture and a range of other training providers.

More information

For more information on the program you can download the manual (250K) or contact Charlie Bell to have one mailed to you: