Teacher professional development


AgPatch - Garden connections

Agpatch logo

This online course is designed to inspire you to plan a school garden program, make connections with the people and primary industries in your school community and to incorporate it into your classroom practice. As part of this course you may decide to write a unit of work to be delivered in the garden or to identify ways that you will deliver specific syllabus outcomes in an engaging, hands on way with your students in the garden.

Successful completion of the course requires the submission of a garden plan and an outline of how it will be incorporated it into your teaching practice.

Completing AgPatch: garden connections will contribute 5 hours of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of Delivery and Assessment of NSW Curriculum/EYLF addressing standard descriptors 2.1.2 & 3.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Cost: $50

Length: 5 hours

Enrol now button


Climate challenge for NSW teachers

Climate challenge

This online course will assist teachers of Agriculture and Primary Industries subjects in NSW to deliver up to date information related to weather and climate change. It specifically addresses the Stage 6 Agriculture elective The Climate Challenge but also provides general information in relation to the main drivers of weather patterns in Australia, impacts of climate change to our agricultural systems and risk management techniques.

The course consists of 6 learning modules and provides a fully resourced HSC student workbook covering all syllabus content for the HSC elective 2, along with a full sample teaching program for the elective.

Cost: $150

Length: 6 hours


Learning modules

Module 1: An overview of weather and climate
This module is provided as background information to strengthen your knowledge of how the weather works and weather forecasting. It describes global circulation, pressure systems and the major weather systems that influence climate across Australia.

Module 2: Climate variability
This module details the main drivers of climate variability in South Eastern Australia, forecasting techniques and using historical data.

Module 3: Climate variability (Understanding climate change)
In this module climate change and the Greenhouse effect are described and causes identified. Observed and projected changes in Australia's climate and the potential impacts of these changes on agriculture generally are also investigated.

Module 4: Managing processes in agricultural systems (Climate risk management)
This module explores the principles of risk management and frames risk management in the context of production related climatic risk (short, medium or long term).

Module 5: Research into climate variability 
This module identifies research into climate variability and related management strategies. Research is essential to Australia's food security now and into the future.

Module 6: Creating your resourced teaching/learning unit and program
This module allows you to use your learning from this course and focus on developing your own resourced teaching and learning unit and program. A sample program and fully resourced student workbook are provided.


NLIS training for teachers

Designed specifically for teachers this National Livestock Identification System course will guide teachers through the reason for the NLIS, its basic components, and provide step by step instructions on how to use the system. A certificate of completion can be downloaded after successfully completing the quiz at the end of the course.

Cost: Free

ENROL NOW


Operate tractors

This workshop is for Agriculture teachers, Primary Industries teachers and School Farm assistants, who carry out tractor operation in school settings. It is mapped to the national unit of competency, AHCMOM202 - Operate tractors.

Cost: $550 GST-free (weekdays), $640 GST-free (weekends)

Length: 2 days

REGISTER NOW


SMARTtrain Chemical application (AQF Level 3)

This online course is for those that apply agricultural or veterinary chemicals in a workplace without supervision. It is mapped to the following national units of competency: AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases, and; AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals.

Cost: $320

Length: 14 hours (indicative)

ENROL NOW


SMARTtrain Chemical application reaccreditation (AQF Level 3)

This online course is for candidates that have previously completed a level 3 chemical accreditation and are seeking to update their qualifications.

Cost: $250

Length: 7 hours (indicative)

ENROL NOW


Face to face workshops

A number of face to face workshops are available where training is delivered by one of our experienced team of professionals.


Tocal Catalogue free online courses

Find a range of free online Tocal courses including titles Irrigation 101, Horticulture, Business planning, Biofuels and Using plant tissue tests to name a few. Certificates attained at the completion of each course can be used to prove self-identified Professional Development learning for teaching accreditation.