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 job of people who operate at a production level in a forest operation.
Individuals with this qualification apply specialised skills and knowledge relevant to operational roles in forest operations. This includes applying knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and protecting the environment, including the areas of cultural significance. They are also expected to operate equipment according to workplace procedures and conduct work tasks specific to a forest operation.
At this level, workers complete tasks under limited supervision and collaborate with others to meet productivity requirements.
This qualification enables specialisations in:
- Forest Nursery Production,
- Silviculture, or
- Timber Harvesting and Haulage.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
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Financial help
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Government funding is available for this course. Check your eligibility for:
*To be eligible for this funding, you have to do a traineeship.
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Cost
Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.
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VET Student Loans are not available
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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.
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On-the-job training
- Completing this course through a traineeship can help you to learn the skills you need.
This traineeship is available:
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Entry requirements
This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.
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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
- Through traineeship:
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Delivery options
You may be able to access this training in these ways:
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 |
|---|---|
| Communicate and interact effectively in the forest and wood products industry | Core |
| Work effectively in the forest and wood products industry | Core |
| Access, capture and communicate forestry field data using mobile devices | Elective |
| Apply biodiversity protection principles | Elective |
| Apply biosecurity measures | Elective |
| Apply communication protocols during post-bushfire vegetation clearing and clean-up operations | Elective |
| Apply cultural heritage protection requirements in forest operations | Elective |
| Apply fatigue management strategies | Elective |
| Apply knowledge of tree stock growing in a forest nursery | Elective |
| Apply pest animal control techniques | Elective |
| Apply quality and product care procedures in forest and wood products operations | Elective |
| Apply safety, health and environmental requirements in forest and wood products operations | Elective |
| Apply situational awareness and a safety mindset in operational forestry roles | Elective |
| Apply sustainable silviculture treatments | Elective |
| Apply tree jacking techniques in felling trees | Elective |
| Apply tree seed treatment | Elective |
| Assess fire risk | Elective |
| Assess wood materials visually | Elective |
| Assist with prescribed burning | Elective |
| Collect and record production data | Elective |
| Communicate effectively with general public or stakeholders concerned about forest practices | Elective |
| Comply with soil and water protection | Elective |
| Conduct backhoe/loader operations | Elective |
| Conduct civil construction dozer operations | Elective |
| Conduct civil construction excavator operations | Elective |
| Conduct civil construction grader operations | Elective |
| Conduct civil construction skid steer loader operations | Elective |
| Conduct civil construction tracked front end loader operations | Elective |
| Conduct civil construction wheeled front end loader operations | Elective |
| Conduct initial investigation at incident scene | Elective |
| Conduct mechanical processor operations | Elective |
| Conduct mechanically assisted tree falling operations | Elective |
| Conduct operator level equipment maintenance in forest and wood products industry | Elective |
| Conduct pump operations | Elective |
| Conduct roller operations | Elective |
| Conduct tip truck operations | Elective |
| Conduct tractor operations | Elective |
| Conduct tree hazard assessment post-fire | Elective |
| Construct and maintain forest roads and tracks | Elective |
| Control plant pests, diseases and disorders | Elective |
| Control weeds | Elective |
| Coordinate machinery and equipment maintenance and repair | Elective |
| Erect timber structures and features | Elective |
| Extract, clean, store and despatch tree seeds | Elective |
| Fell trees manually (advanced) | Elective |
| Fell trees manually (intermediate) | Elective |
| Follow environmental protection procedures in forest and wood products operations | Elective |
| Follow fire prevention procedures | Elective |
| Follow workplace health and safety policies and procedures in forest and wood products operations | Elective |
| Grade and mark logs | Elective |
| Graft nursery stock for planting in seed orchard | Elective |
| Ground spread fertiliser and soil ameliorant | Elective |
| Harvest trees manually (advanced) | Elective |
| Harvest trees manually (intermediate) | Elective |
| Identify, evaluate and mark quality seed trees | Elective |
| Implement environmentally sustainable work practices in the work area/work site | Elective |
| Implement erosion and sediment control measures | Elective |
| Implement quality assurance procedures | Elective |
| Interpret road maps and navigate pre-determined routes | Elective |
| Licence to operate a vehicle loading crane (capacity 10 metre tonnes and above) | Elective |
| Load and unload plant | Elective |
| Maintain safety at an incident scene | Elective |
| Maintain seed orchard | Elective |
| Manage mother plants | Elective |
| Monitor and maintain nursery plants | Elective |
| Monitor log recovery (rigging slinger) | Elective |
| Monitor weather conditions | Elective |
| Navigate in forest areas | Elective |
| Navigate to an incident | Elective |
| Operate automated seed sowing line for containerised forest seedling production | Elective |
| Operate automated topping system as part of tree production nursery operations | Elective |
| Operate breathing apparatus open circuit | Elective |
| Operate crawler tractor | Elective |
| Operate excavator with log grapple | Elective |
| Operate feller buncher | Elective |
| Operate fertigation equipment | Elective |
| Operate forwarder | Elective |
| Operate four wheel drive vehicle in a towing situation | Elective |
| Operate four wheel drive vehicle on unsealed roads | Elective |
| Operate harvesting machine with winch-assist system | Elective |
| Operate heavy plant in fire control operations | Elective |
| Operate integrated or split flail and wood chipper with crane | Elective |
| Operate irrigation controller and sensor technology | Elective |
| Operate loader | Elective |
| Operate pressurised irrigation systems | Elective |
| Operate pumps | Elective |
| Operate single grip harvester | Elective |
| Operate skidder | Elective |
| Operate split flail and wood chipper fed by mobile machine | Elective |
| Operate yarder | Elective |
| Perform complex four wheel drive operations | Elective |
| Plan and construct conventional fencing | Elective |
| Plant trees mechanically | Elective |
| Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases | Elective |
| Prepare, maintain and test response equipment | Elective |
| Prevent injury | Elective |
| Protect places of cultural significance | Elective |
| Provide Advanced First Aid | Elective |
| Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation | Elective |
| Provide First Aid | Elective |
| Provide First Aid in remote or isolated site | Elective |
| Prune trees | Elective |
| Push trees with machines in forest fire control operations | Elective |
| Read and interpret digital maps and forest operation plans | Elective |
| Recover four wheel drive vehicle | Elective |
| Rehabilitate tracks, quarries and landings | Elective |
| Respond to aviation incident (specialist) | Elective |
| Respond to isolated structure fire | Elective |
| Respond to urban fire | Elective |
| Respond to wildfire | Elective |
| Support effective workplace relationships | Elective |
| Suppress wildfire | Elective |
| Take local weather observations | Elective |
| Transport and store chemicals | Elective |
| Transport forestry logs using trucks | Elective |
| Transport forestry produce using trucks | Elective |
| Trim trees using a pole saw | Elective |
| Undertake aerial rescue | Elective |
| Undertake propagation activities | Elective |
| Use arborist climbing techniques | Elective |
| Use chainsaw within a tree | Elective |
| Use environmental care procedures to undertake fire salvage operations | Elective |
| Use firearms to humanely destroy animals | Elective |
| Use mechanised equipment for forestry site preparation | Elective |
| Use on-board computer systems for forwarder | Elective |
| Use on-board computer systems for single grip harvester | Elective |
| Work autonomously | Elective |
| Work effectively with others | Elective |
| Work in a team | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate III in Forest Operations sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
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Fruit and Nut Grower
ANZSCO 121213
Plant, cultivate and harvest plants that bear fruits or nuts.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Forester
ANZSCO 234113
Foresters study, develop and manage forest areas to maintain commercial and recreational uses, conserve flora and fauna, and protect against fire, pests and diseases.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Arborist
ANZSCO 362212
Arborists maintain and care for trees and shrubs by lopping limbs and shaping branches, treating trees with fertilisers and insecticides, removing dead or decaying trees, and advising on general tree care.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Nurseryperson
ANZSCO 362411
Nurserypersons propagate and cultivate trees, shrubs, and ornamental and flowering plants in plant nurseries.
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 -
Logging Plant Operator
ANZSCO 721112
Logging Plant Operators operate plants to fell trees and drag, transport and load logs onto trucks.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Truck Driver (General)
ANZSCO 733111
Truck Drivers (General) drive heavy trucks requiring a specially endorsed class of licence, to transport bulky goods.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Forestry Worker
ANZSCO 841311
Forestry Workers assist with cultivating, maintaining and protecting forests.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Logging Assistant
ANZSCO 841312
Logging Assistants assist with logging, felling and sawing of trees in forests.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Tree Faller
ANZSCO 841313
Tree Fallers fell trees in forests, and trim and saw them into logs.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III
Training providers delivering Certificate III in Forest Operations
It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.
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NTHA Training (RTO code 5343)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
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Timber Training Creswick Ltd (RTO code 4168)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
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HS Business School (RTO code 32493)
Contact this provider
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Intrain National Training Academy (RTO code 91759)
Contact this provider
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LITA Training (RTO code 0577)
Contact this provider
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National Workplace Services Group Pty Ltd (RTO code 22148)
Contact this provider
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PROSAW AUSTRALIA (RTO code 45172)
Contact this provider
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RTV Training (RTO code 90674)
Contact this provider
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.
How do apprenticeships and traineeships work?
Apprenticeships and traineeships let you combine hands-on work experience with training. You’ll gain job-ready skills and earn an income while you complete a qualification.
As an apprentice or a trainee, you work with an employer while completing your training. Most of your time is spent learning on the job, with some classroom or online training to support the skills you're developing in the workplace.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Find out more about apprenticeships and traineeships.
See more information about the apprenticeship or traineeship you’re interested in pursuing on the Queensland Training Information Service.
How long will this course take?
This course is competency-based training, which means you progress as you demonstrate your skills and knowledge, rather than in a set amount of time.
The duration shown here is an estimate for full-time study based on how long most people take to complete the course. You may finish earlier than other people, or it may take you a bit longer.
If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get credits or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the time needed for training.
Duration for apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships take longer than doing the qualification on its own, but you learn valuable hands-on skills.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Learn about how courses are delivered
Different courses have different delivery options. Consider your needs when you’re researching courses. Some courses may be delivered entirely online or partially online. Others may be delivered in a classroom.
Some courses, like those delivered through apprenticeships and traineeships, are mostly based in the workplace but with some classroom or online study.
If a certain type of delivery is important to you, talk to your provider before you enrol to make sure they offer that delivery option.
How to reduce the cost of your course
There are lots of ways you can reduce the cost of your course.
- The government could partly or fully cover the cost of your course. See information about financial help and government funding on this page.
- The government also offers funding for some costs related to your course.
- If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get a cost credit or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the cost.
Learn about financial help and government funding
The main cost of training is usually the course fees, which vary depending on things like which course and training provider you choose.
You may be able to get your training for free or at a reduced cost, or you could get help with paying for training-related costs. You can also pay for some courses with a VET Student Loan.
Find out more about getting help paying for your training or check if you're eligible.
What are entry requirements?
Some courses have conditions you need to meet before you can enrol in the course. They help make sure you have the right background or skills for the training.
Entry requirements might include a certain education level, skills or knowledge, work status, or experience.