Tocal College aims to increase the skills and capacity of the agricultural workforce, through attracting and training new entrants to agriculture, as well as improving the skills and safety of the existing workforce. The CB Alexander campus at Paterson hosts our full-time youth education programs, but we’re also taking training all over NSW from our other locations: Yanco Campus, Tamworth, and the Central Coast. We also have a range of accredited and non-accredited courses online so that people can study at their own pace to gain qualifications or just learn valuable new skills like managing work health and safety on the farm, soil management, or keeping bees free of pests and diseases.
Tocal College partners with industry and government groups to deliver training on demand. We currently partner with Dairy Australia, Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia, Cotton Australia, the GRDC and more, to deliver relevant training where it is needed.
Traineeships are a great way to get young people started on a career in agriculture. Those employed in dairy, beekeeping and other primary industries can study part time and earn a nationally-recognised
qualification.
Training on campus complements experience gained on the job. It’s a flexible way to learn that benefits both trainees and employers, and there are even financial incentives available to assist
with the costs.
The Aboriginal Rural Training Program (ARTP) has
delivered training to Indigenous people in NSW and other
states since 1989.
The training offered includes forklift licences, chainsaws
and felling trees, First Aid, WHS, and industry specific
skills in Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land
Management and Viticulture such as tractor driving,
tree planting, machinery maintenance, irrigation and
pruning. Training can be run on-site, in communities, on
rural properties, and/or at the Yanco Campus.
Tocal Skills Training, is the training program developed by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) to meet the needs of farmers, primary industries, agribusiness and the community.
Courses are delivered locally by highly skilled and respected Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development staff. Many of the courses are subsidised to reflect the public benefits provided by the adoption of safer or more sustainable farming practices.
Type: Short course
Units: 2
Drones in agriculture
This course will teach you how to use drones to collect farm data to help make informed decisions such as refined fertiliser plans, sowing plans or monitoring water systems.
Type: Short course
Units: 1
Licence for forklift operations
Safe and efficient use of forklifts is just smart work practice. This 3 day course trains and assesses participants for a SafeWork NSW forklift licence.
Type: Short course
Units: 1
Quad bike operations
Quad bikes: convenient, useful and one of the greatest causes of harm on farm. Tocal's one day course will teach even the most experienced rider how to operate them safely.
Type: Short course
Units: 1
Chainsaw – Fell trees manually (intermediate)
You’ve been using a chainsaw for years, but you’ve got a couple of big, old trees on your property that you reckon are a bit above your skill level. Tocal can fix that in two days with this intermediate-level course.
Type: Short course
Units: 1
Rural fencing operations
Ready to build your skills from the ground up? This hands-on fencing course covers everything from planning and constructing conventional fences to installing and maintaining electric fencing systems. Whether you're managing livestock, securing property, or preparing for work in the agricultural sector, you'll gain practical experience and industry-relevant knowledge that sets you apart. Learn the tools, techniques, and safety standards that you need and walk away with the confidence to tackle real-world fencing projects.
Tocal College offers a convenient and flexible way to study through its online and blended programs, including a range of agricultural and environmental subjects.
Tocal College has published close to 100 books on all aspects of agriculture and land management. Our books are high quality, accurate and reliable references on topics such as livestock, pastures, irrigation, weed management, natural resource management, beekeeping, machinery, farming skills and farm management. They are easy to read with useful illustrations and photographs for a practical understanding of the subject matter.
Check out our Agskills series.
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