Certificate III in Rural Operations

AHC32822

This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.

Overview

This qualification describes the skills and knowledge for general job roles in agriculture, conservation land management and other related rural industries.

Depending on the units selected individuals can be employed not only in the agriculture industry but also other rural and regional sectors, and community organisations.

Job roles and titles vary across different industry sectors and may include:

  • Machinery operator
  • Vegetable/orchard worker
  • Station hand
  • Animal care worker
  • Pastoral worker
  • Animal attendant/stockperson
  • Rural services.

Individuals with this qualification perform tasks under broad supervision involving a broad range of skills that are applied in a variety of contexts, which will involve discretion and judgement in selecting and operating equipment, coordinating resources and applying contingency measures during work.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

  • Financial help

    • Government funding is available for this course. Check your eligibility for:

      • Career Start (general)
      Check your eligibility

  • Cost

    Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.

    • VET Student Loans are not available
    • You may need to pay for equipment or materials.

    To see how government funding could help to reduce the cost of your course, check your eligibility for funding.

  • On-the-job training

    • Completing this course through a traineeship can help you to learn the skills you need.

    This traineeship is available:

    • Rural Operations Level 3

  • Entry requirements

    This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.

  • Duration

    You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.

    • Through traineeship:
      2 years
    • Qualification only:
      1–2 years

  • Delivery options

    You may be able to access this training in these ways:

    • Workplace-based
    • Some classroom learning
    • Part-time available
    • Partially online
    • Practical learning

Course content

This course is made up of units.

All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.

For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.

Unit Unit type
Apply biosecurity measures Core
Apply environmentally sustainable work practices Core
Contribute to workplace health and safety processes Core
Administer treatments to livestock Elective
Apply animal trapping techniques Elective
Apply poison baits for vertebrate pest control in rural and environmental landscapes Elective
Assist with capturing, restraining and moving animals Elective
Capture images using drone technology Elective
Castrate livestock Elective
Collect native seed Elective
Collect samples for a rural production or horticulture monitoring program Elective
Comply with industry animal welfare requirements Elective
Comply with industry quality assurance requirements Elective
Conduct an ecological and cultural site inspection prior to works Elective
Conduct backhoe/loader operations Elective
Conduct civil construction excavator operations Elective
Conduct civil construction skid steer loader operations Elective
Conduct civil construction wheeled front end loader operations Elective
Conduct roller operations Elective
Conduct site inspections Elective
Conduct telescopic materials handler operations Elective
Control plant pests, diseases and disorders Elective
Control weeds Elective
Coordinate machinery and equipment maintenance and repair Elective
Coordinate work site activities Elective
Design and produce business documents Elective
Determine pest control techniques Elective
Develop and apply knowledge of fertiliser and soil ameliorant products Elective
Enter and work in confined spaces Elective
Establish agricultural crops Elective
Establish turf Elective
Euthanase livestock Elective
Ground spread fertiliser and soil ameliorant Elective
Identify and draft livestock Elective
Identify and report signs of unusual disease or pest Elective
Identify plant specimens Elective
Implement a crop regulation program Elective
Implement a grassed area maintenance program Elective
Implement a landscape maintenance program Elective
Implement a paving project Elective
Implement a plant establishment program Elective
Implement a plant nutrition program Elective
Implement a propagation plan Elective
Implement animal health control programs Elective
Implement biological reintroduction works Elective
Implement feeding plans for livestock Elective
Implement pest management strategies Elective
Implement property improvement, construction and repair Elective
Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas Elective
Install pressurised irrigation systems Elective
Licence to operate a forklift truck Elective
Maintain livestock water supplies Elective
Maintain native ecosystem areas Elective
Maintain nursery plants Elective
Mate and monitor reproduction of alpacas Elective
Monitor water supplies Elective
Monitor weather conditions Elective
Operate and maintain chainsaws Elective
Operate broadacre and row crop harvest machinery and equipment Elective
Operate broadacre sowing machinery and equipment Elective
Operate chemical application machinery and equipment Elective
Operate fertigation equipment Elective
Operate four wheel drive vehicle on unsealed roads Elective
Operate in isolated and remote situations Elective
Operate land-forming machinery and equipment Elective
Operate machinery and equipment Elective
Operate precision control technology Elective
Operate pressurised irrigation systems Elective
Operate specialised machinery and equipment Elective
Participate in a HACCP team Elective
Perform complex four wheel drive operations Elective
Perform machinery maintenance Elective
Perform microscopic examination Elective
Perform pruning operations Elective
Perform specialist amenity pruning Elective
Plan and construct an electric fence Elective
Plan and construct conventional fencing Elective
Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases Elective
Prepare and present livestock for competition Elective
Prepare animals for parturition Elective
Prepare facilities for shearing and crutching Elective
Prepare growing media Elective
Prepare specialised plants Elective
Prevent injury Elective
Process customer complaints Elective
Provide feed for livestock Elective
Provide First Aid Elective
Provide First Aid in remote or isolated site Elective
Provide information on plants and their culture Elective
Provide nutritional requirements for animals Elective
Provide on-job training support Elective
Rear newborn and young livestock Elective
Respond to emergencies Elective
Respond to wildfire Elective
Respond to wildlife emergencies Elective
Suppress wildfire Elective
Survey pests Elective
Transport and store chemicals Elective
Transport machinery Elective
Trim trees using a pole saw Elective
Troubleshoot irrigation systems Elective
Undertake agricultural crop harvesting activities Elective
Undertake preparation of land for agricultural crop production Elective
Undertake sampling and testing of water Elective
Use digital technologies to communicate in a work environment Elective
Use firearms to humanely destroy animals Elective
Use hand and power tools Elective
Use portable technology in the workplace Elective
Work effectively in a biosecurity emergency response Elective
Work in a team Elective
Work safely at heights Elective
Write simple documents Elective

Job prospects

The Certificate III in Rural Operations sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.

  • Stock and Station Agent

    ANZSCO 611112

    Stock and Station Agents provide advice to clients and act on their behalf in relation to the sale and purchase of rural property, livestock, crops and agricultural products and services.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate III or IV

  • Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator

    ANZSCO 721111

    Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operators operate agricultural and horticultural plants to clear and cultivate land, and sow and harvest crops.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

  • Other Crop Farm Worker

    ANZSCO 841299

    Other Crop Farm Workers includes jobs like Coffee Plantation Worker, Flower Buncher or Picker, Hop Farm Worker, Lavender Farm Worker, Sugar Cane Planter, Tea Plantation Worker, Tea Tree Farm Worker, and Turf Farm Worker.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate I or secondary education

  • Other Livestock Farm Worker

    ANZSCO 841599

    Other Livestock Farm Workers includes jobs like Deer Farm Worker, Emu Farm Worker, Goat Herder, Ostrich Farm Worker, and Piggery Worker.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate I or secondary education

  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Worker

    ANZSCO 841611

    Mixed Crop and Livestock Farm Workers perform routine tasks in crop cultivation and animal production.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate I or secondary education

Training providers delivering Certificate III in Rural Operations

It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.

Showing: 27 providers

How to enrol in this course

To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.

When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.

The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.

Delivery locations can change as students enrol. If you're doing any workplace-based training, like an apprenticeship, this will take place in a different location from your classroom training. Contact your training provider to confirm delivery locations.
Government funding may be available. Contact your training provider to confirm.
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