About this course

Earn while you learn with Tocal's rural traineeships at our Yanco Campus, to elevate your career in agriculture.

Traineeships enable students to gain nationally accredited training and qualifications while being paid to work in the agriculture industry. They are open to paid employees of farms, and the course leads to a nationally accredited Certificate III in Agriculture.

Rural trainees may work in a variety of enterprises, accumulating many valuable farm skills.

Traineeships provided through the NSW Smart and Skilled vocational education and training (VET) system, will be fee-free from 1 January 2020 (more info here).

Eligible traineeships for new trainees attract a 10% wage subsidy capped at $1500.00 per quarter, in the first year and second years of the traineeship (more info here).

At a glance:

Location: Yanco campus
Course duration: Maximum of two (2) years
Start date: Enrol anytime
Number of units: Dependent on entry level
Indicative fees: The NSW Government has expanded its support for trainees and apprentices by waiving the $1000 Smart and Skilled co-contribution fee for traineeships.
Accredited Course: Yes

Details

The training is conducted through multiple study blocks, necessitating attendance for a maximum of 6 weeks per traineeship. This comprehensive approach incorporates a mix of face-to-face and online courses, along with workplace training and assessments featuring practical components and hands-on exercises. Training includes use of the Yanco Agricultural Institute farm and uses the experience of industry professional and mentors whenever possible.

You may be involved in the following subject areas, depending upon your desired qualification and level of training, as well as the units selected:

Chemical Application

Chainsaw Maintenance and Handling

First Aid

Cropping

Motorbike/Quad Operation

Fencing

Pest & Disease Management

Forklift Licence

Work Health & Safety.

Livestock Handling & Husbandry

Drones in Agriculture

Safe Tractor Operation and Maintenance

  
 

Possible job roles (depending on qualification level) include:

  • Assistant animal attendant/stockperson
  • Assistant farm or station hand
  • Assistant farm or station worker
  • Assistant farm or station labourer
  • Farm or station hand
  • Farm or station worker
  • Livestock transport driver
  • Farm team leader
  • Farm supervisor.

Trainees with some previous industry experience or a farming background, or completion of the HSC Primary Industries/Agriculture course, may be eligible to commence the Certificate III program. If you would like more specific information, contact Tocal College or the Australian Apprenticeship Centre.

This traineeship will take up to 24 months to complete. Depending on your experience and skills, you may be able to complete it in a shorter timeframe. This would need to be discussed with your Traineeship Coordinator.

Assessment methods may include:

  • written reports
  • case studies and scenarios
  • oral presentations
  • quizzes
  • observations
  • interviews.

The principles of assessment will be followed and all assessments will be valid, reliable, flexible and fair and carried out by qualified assessors. Students will be advised of the assessment requirements prior to the assessment taking place.

Support is available via email, phone, face-to-face on-campus or in the workplace and (if completing online) through Canvas (the online learner management system).

Fee free traineeships: Traineeships provided through the NSW Smart and Skilled vocational education and training (VET) system, will be fee-free from 1 January 2020 (more info here).

Existing worker course fee (those ineligible for Government funding) is $2950.

Wage subsidy: Eligible traineeships for new trainees attract a 10% wage subsidy capped at $1500.00 per quarter, in the first year and second years of the traineeship (more info here). NSW Government rebates for accommodation and travel are also available. Scholarships are also available.

More information is available in the Traineeship Guidebooks for Employer (PDF, 5748.51 KB) and Trainee (PDF, 6019.79 KB), from the Australian Apprenticeship Centre, or by contacting the Traineeship Coordinator. You can also visit the Smart & Skilled website.



Additional Information

For information on students rights and responsibilities, and the Tocal College Code of Practice see Student policy information.

Student may decide to progress to further study within the College. The AHC50116 Diploma of Agriculture follows on from the Certificate IV in Agriculture and covers farm management, farm planning, marketing, cattle breeding and other units. This qualification is delivered online.

Tocal also has articulation (credit for study at Tocal) arrangements in place with a number of Australian universities.



Related courses