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 reflects the role of individuals who work in production-related roles in the textile, clothing and footwear industry. Individuals may be self-employed or work in small or large organisations. They use specialised knowledge of apparel or textile production processes and apply discretion, judgement and problem-solving skills to achieve work outcomes and take responsibility for their own work. Individuals may have some limited responsibility for the work of others.
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:
*To be eligible for this funding, you have to do a traineeship.
-
-
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.
These traineeships are available:
-
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
- Through traineeship:
-
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 |
|---|---|
| Apply quality standards | Core |
| Identify and handle fabrics and textiles | Core |
| Interact with others in an apparel and textile design and production environment | Core |
| Sew materials by machine | Core |
| Support sustainable practice in apparel and textile design and production | Core |
| Work safely | Core |
| Advise on products and services | Elective |
| Apply cost factors to work practices | Elective |
| Assemble bras or swimwear | Elective |
| Control production in a section of a TCF enterprise | Elective |
| Coordinate work of team or section | Elective |
| Determine resource requirements for new business ventures | Elective |
| Develop patterns using basic patternmaking principles | Elective |
| Embellish textile products | Elective |
| Estimate and cost jobs | Elective |
| Explore and apply the creative design process to 2D forms | Elective |
| Explore the use of colour | Elective |
| Interpret cost and waste in terms of customer value | Elective |
| Investigate applications and performance outcomes of technical textiles | Elective |
| Investigate business opportunities | Elective |
| Lay up and cut complicated fabrics and lays | Elective |
| Maintain ethical and professional standards when using social media and online platforms | Elective |
| Make markers for complicated fabrics and lays | Elective |
| Manage the impact of change on own work | Elective |
| Market textile products to local outlets | Elective |
| Match fabrics to performance and handling requirements | Elective |
| Operate computing technology in a TCF workplace | Elective |
| Organise and plan own work to achieve planned outcomes | Elective |
| Organise finances for new business ventures | Elective |
| Perform garment repairs and alterations | Elective |
| Perform test or inspection to check product quality | Elective |
| Prepare and communicate design concepts for simple textile products | Elective |
| Press whole garments | Elective |
| Press work | Elective |
| Produce computer-aided drawings | Elective |
| Produce technical drawings of garments | Elective |
| Produce textile work | Elective |
| Provide coaching/mentoring in the workplace | Elective |
| Set and produce digital embroidery | Elective |
| Set up, adjust and maintain industrial sewing machines | Elective |
| Sew garments | Elective |
| Sew stretch knit garments | Elective |
| Undertake root cause analysis | Elective |
| Use social media and online tools | Elective |
| Work in the TCF industry | Elective |
| Work safely with chemicals in TCF operations | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate III in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
-
Fashion Designer
ANZSCO 232311
Fashion Designers plan, design and develop clothing, accessories, footwear or other items of personal apparel considering the form and construction of clothing, historical styles and contexts, contemporary and cultural trends, colour, fabric, and decoration, and the techniques and processes available for manufacture.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Canvas Goods Fabricator
ANZSCO 393111
Canvas Goods Fabricators fabricate and repair canvas and related products such as awnings, tents, tarpaulins, horse rugs and caravan annexes.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Leather Goods Maker
ANZSCO 393112
Leather Goods Makers fabricate and repair leather articles such as wallets, cases, harnesses and saddlery.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Sail Maker
ANZSCO 393113
Sail Makers fabricate and repair sails and other articles from sailcloth.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Shoemaker
ANZSCO 393114
Shoemakers make and repair boots or shoes.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Apparel Cutter
ANZSCO 393211
Apparel Cutters lay out, mark and cut fabric to form parts of garments.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Clothing Patternmaker
ANZSCO 393212
Clothing Patternmakers draw sets of master patterns following sketches, sample articles and design specifications, and cut out patterns for garments.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Dressmaker and Tailor
ANZSCO 393213
Dressmakers or Tailors make, alter and repair women's and men's tailored garments, formal wear, couturier clothing, and special occasion wear such as suits, dresses, coats, evening wear and bridal wear.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Other Clothing Trades Worker
ANZSCO 393299
Other Clothing Trades Workers includes jobs like Milliner.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Upholsterer
ANZSCO 393311
Upholsterers make, rebuild and repair upholstered articles such as chairs, sofas, beds and mattresses.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
Footwear Production Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711711
Footwear Production Machine Operators operate machines to manufacture ready-to-wear footwear.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Hide and Skin Processing Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711712
Hide and Skin Processing Machine Operators operate machines to convert raw hides and skins into finished leather for use in clothing, footwear and upholstery.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Knitting Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711713
Knitting Machine Operators operate machines to knit fabrics, garment parts and other articles from yarns such as cotton, wool, nylon and rayon.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Textile Dyeing and Finishing Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711714
Textile Dyeing and Finishing Machine Operators operate machines to bleach, dye and finish knitted garments, such as hosiery and woollen garments.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Weaving Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711715
Weaving Machine Operators operate looms to weave yarn into cloth, carpet and other fabrics.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Yarn Carding and Spinning Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711716
Yarn Carding and Spinning Machine Operators operate machines to convert raw textile fibres into continuous untwisted and twisted strands of yarn, for use in clothing, carpets, curtains and other fabrics.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Other Textile and Footwear Production Machine Operator
ANZSCO 711799
Other Textile and Footwear Production Machine Operators includes jobs like Feltmaker, Net Maker, Rope Making Machine Operator, and Tufting Machine Operator.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III
Training providers delivering Certificate III in Apparel, Fashion and Textiles
It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.
-
TAFE QUEENSLAND (RTO code 0275)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
-
Tactile Learning (RTO code 30922)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
-
Australia Institute of Business and Technology (RTO code 41138)
Contact this provider
-
Australian Institute of Fashion Design Pty Ltd (RTO code 31301)
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.