AHC31424 Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management

This course is facilitated by the trainer/assessor in a face-to-face environment with specialist subject matter experts to support the content delivery. There are trainer-led theory classes and practical sessions involving small group and individual activities plus work-based learning activities. A large component of the delivery is in the field.

If you are an organisation with a cohort of 12-15 staff, please contact us to discuss how we can tailor this qualification to match your needs

You must complete sixteen (16) units to gain the Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management (Indigenous Land Management), including:

• 2 core units plus 14 elective units
• at least 6 units must be selected from group A
• 4 units may be selected from any currently endorsed Training Package or accredited course.

Any combination of electives that meets the packaging rules can be selected for the award of the Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management.

Possible job roles for this qualification may include:

• Parks and Wildlife Officer
• Indigenous Lands Worker
• Revegetation Worker
• Ranger

Participants must:

• Be aligned with, employed by, or seeking to work with Aboriginal community organizations, Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs), Local Land Services (LLS), ranger teams, or green teams in conservation and land management roles.
• Be physically capable of undertaking outdoor practical tasks across diverse, rugged, and remote terrain, including walking extended distances, carrying land management equipment, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Be comfortable taking part in practical field tasks, including cultural and ecological site assessments, ecosystem restoration, monitoring activities, and controlled cultural burning exercises.
• Supply and wear mandatory protective workwear, including sturdy steel-capped or heavy-duty work boots, broad-brim hat, long-sleeved work shirt, long trousers, and task-specific safety gear (e.g., eye, hand, and hearing protection).
• Respect and strictly adhere to Cultural protocols, Community directions, and Work Health and Safety (WHS) site regulations.

Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital Capability Requirements

To complete this qualification successfully, participants will need:

• Reading: Interpreting ecological site plans, plant and pest identification guides, cultural burn safety plans, local land management guidelines, and workplace safety procedures.
• Writing: Completing field observation logs, recording ecological data gathered while working on Country, logging site health indicators, and filling out workplace incident or safety forms.
• Numeracy: Measuring site areas, mapping fuel loads, tracking plant/weed counts, calculating chemical or water application volumes, and recording spatial or environmental data.
• Oral Communication & Hearing: Engaging effectively in Community consultations, communicating on-site with Elders, trainers, and ranger colleagues, and following clear safety instructions during field operations.
• Digital Literacy: Basic computer, tablet, or handheld device skills.

You will have nine to eigtheen months to complete the course depending on the timetable that is set for the course you are undertaking. To complete the course, you will be required to attend all workshops and complete all assessments during the workshops where possible.

If you are already employed or have experience in natural resource management or CEM, you may be eligible to gain part of this qualification based on skills or experience you already have. See Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for more information.

Your skills and understanding will be assessed for each unit through a variety of tasks. You have four (4) attempts for each task to achieve a competency result.

Support is available via:

• face-to-face at training workshops, and via email and phone
• face-to-face mentoring sessions arranged at the workshop.

If you are a resident of NSW, you may be eligible for a training subsidy under Smart and Skilled.

For information on students' rights and responsibilities, see External/online student policies.

Students can progress to a Certificate IV and/or a Diploma of either Agriculture or Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This can in turn provide a pathway to University programs such as Agricultural Science or Environmental Science degrees.