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 is a qualification for those engaged in generalist water industry operations or specialisations in catchment and dams, civil construction, irrigation water supply, networks, and treatment: water and wastewater, wastewater treatment or water treatment.
The general qualification covers skills and knowledge to obtain a broad range of skills in the water industry. It allows staff to apply operational and procedural practices under the appropriate level of supervision.
Group A: Specialist Elective - Catchment and Dams
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor, operate and maintain water catchment and dam operations.
Group B: Specialist Elective - Civil Construction
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor, operate and maintain civil construction operations.
Group C: Specialist Elective - Irrigation Water Supply
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor, operate and maintain irrigation water supply operations.
Group D: Specialist Elective - Networks
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor, operate and maintain network operations.
Group E: Specialist Elective - Treatment: Water and Wastewater
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor, operate and maintain treatment operations for both water and wastewater.
Group F: Specialist Elective - Wastewater Treatment
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor, operate and maintain wastewater treatment operations.
Group G: Specialist Elective - Water Treatment
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor, operate and maintain drinking water treatment operations.
Please note: RTO to insert on the testamur, the specialist elective unit group selected from the group choice above.
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.
This traineeship is 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 |
|---|---|
| Assess, implement and report environmental procedures | Core |
| Participate in WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control processes | Core |
| Apply an expanding range of arithmetical calculations for work | Elective |
| Apply knowledge of WHS laws in the workplace | Elective |
| Apply principles of chemistry to water systems and processes | Elective |
| Apply the risk management principles of the water industry standards, guidelines and legislation | Elective |
| Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry | Elective |
| Assess household water use and efficiency improvements | Elective |
| Assist with maintaining workplace safety | Elective |
| Calculate costs of construction work | Elective |
| Carry out basic levelling | Elective |
| Carry out concrete work | Elective |
| Carry out manual excavation | Elective |
| Carry out measurements and calculations | Elective |
| Clean networks using air scouring, chemical or swabbing techniques | Elective |
| Conduct a water audit and identify water-saving initiatives | Elective |
| Conduct and report dam safety instrumentation monitoring | Elective |
| Conduct basic scaffolding operations | Elective |
| Conduct patching operations | Elective |
| Conduct pipe layer operations | Elective |
| Construct and dismantle fences and gates | Elective |
| Contribute effectively to WHS communication and consultation processes | Elective |
| Control electrical risk on network pipes | Elective |
| Control vegetation on a site | Elective |
| Coordinate business operational plans | Elective |
| Deliver and monitor a service to customers | Elective |
| Detect and rectify faults with automated channel regulators | Elective |
| Disinfect network assets | Elective |
| Drain and dewater civil construction sites | Elective |
| Enter and work in confined spaces | Elective |
| Facilitate the use of SCADA systems in a team or work area | Elective |
| Follow basic chemical safety rules | Elective |
| Handle concrete materials | Elective |
| Handle construction materials | Elective |
| Identify and confirm blue-green algae outbreaks | Elective |
| Identify and respond to water quality problems | Elective |
| Identify the role and functions of the water industry | Elective |
| Implement civil construction plans | Elective |
| Implement erosion and sediment control measures | Elective |
| Implement traffic management plans | Elective |
| Inspect and operate groundwater regulation | Elective |
| Inspect and operate water diversion systems | Elective |
| Inspect and report on concrete dam safety | Elective |
| Inspect and report on embankment dam safety | Elective |
| Inspect and report river performance | Elective |
| Inspect sewer or stormwater assets | Elective |
| Install meters for rural water supplies | Elective |
| Install polyethylene plastic pipelines for pressurised applications | Elective |
| Install pre-cast access chambers | Elective |
| Install pre-cast gully pits | Elective |
| Install PVC plastic pipelines for pressurised applications | Elective |
| Install signs | Elective |
| Install stormwater systems | Elective |
| Install trench support | Elective |
| Install, maintain and repair hydrants | Elective |
| Investigate and report on breaches of water industry legislation | Elective |
| Join polyethylene plastic pipelines using butt welding | Elective |
| Join polyethylene plastic pipelines using electrofusion welding | Elective |
| Lay pavers | Elective |
| Licence to operate a slewing mobile crane (up to 60 tonnes) | Elective |
| Licence to perform dogging | Elective |
| Load and unload plant | Elective |
| Maintain and repair network assets for drinking water | Elective |
| Maintain and repair network assets for wastewater | Elective |
| Maintain drainage systems | Elective |
| Maintain meters for rural water supplies | Elective |
| Maintain network assets using high pressure water systems | Elective |
| Monitor and conduct maintenance on rural irrigation assets | Elective |
| Monitor and control dam operations | Elective |
| Monitor and control drainage operations | Elective |
| Monitor and control rural water distribution operations | Elective |
| Monitor and control vacuum sewer systems | Elective |
| Monitor and coordinate catchment operations | Elective |
| Monitor and implement dam maintenance | Elective |
| Monitor and operate bulkwater transfer systems | Elective |
| Monitor and operate fluoride addition processes | Elective |
| Monitor and operate groundwater extraction | Elective |
| Monitor and operate hypochlorite disinfection processes | Elective |
| Monitor and operate liquefied chlorine gas disinfection processes | Elective |
| Monitor and operate network systems | Elective |
| Monitor and operate ozone processes | Elective |
| Monitor and operate pump stations | Elective |
| Monitor and operate rural irrigation and domestic delivery systems | Elective |
| Monitor and operate ultraviolet processes | Elective |
| Monitor and operate wastewater collection and transfer systems | Elective |
| Monitor and operate wastewater treatment processes | Elective |
| Monitor and operate water distribution systems | Elective |
| Monitor and operate water treatment processes | Elective |
| Monitor and schedule water deliveries | Elective |
| Monitor, operate and control lagoon processes | Elective |
| Operate and control activated carbon processes | Elective |
| Operate and control activated sludge processes | Elective |
| Operate and control chloramination processes | Elective |
| Operate and control coagulation and flocculation processes | Elective |
| Operate and control desalination processes | Elective |
| Operate and control digestion processes | Elective |
| Operate and control dissolved air flotation processes | Elective |
| Operate and control fixed film processes | Elective |
| Operate and control granular media filters | Elective |
| Operate and control incineration processes | Elective |
| Operate and control ion exchange and softening processes | Elective |
| Operate and control iron and manganese removal processes | Elective |
| Operate and control membrane filters | Elective |
| Operate and control nutrient removal processes | Elective |
| Operate and control odour removal processes | Elective |
| Operate and control reclaimed water irrigation | Elective |
| Operate and control sedimentation and clarification processes | Elective |
| Operate and control solids handling processes | Elective |
| Operate and maintain fishways | Elective |
| Operate and maintain flood warning sites | Elective |
| Operate and maintain locks and weirs | Elective |
| Operate and maintain salt interception works | Elective |
| Operate breathing apparatus | Elective |
| Operate small plant and equipment | Elective |
| Organise personal work priorities | Elective |
| Organise workplace information | Elective |
| Perform laboratory testing | Elective |
| Perform leak detection | Elective |
| Perform odour and infiltration investigations | Elective |
| Perform standard calibrations | Elective |
| Prepare and restore worksite | Elective |
| Prepare to work safely in the construction industry | Elective |
| Process customer complaints | Elective |
| Provide and promote customer service | Elective |
| Record and present data | Elective |
| Remove friable asbestos | Elective |
| Remove non-friable asbestos | Elective |
| Respond to blue-green algae outbreaks | Elective |
| Respond to site based spills | Elective |
| Route floods through storages | Elective |
| Sample and test source or drinking water | Elective |
| Sample and test wastewater | Elective |
| Spread and compact materials manually | Elective |
| Store and handle dangerous goods and hazardous substances | Elective |
| Supervise asbestos removal | Elective |
| Test and commission wastewater collection systems | Elective |
| Test and commission water distribution systems | Elective |
| Trim and cut felled trees | Elective |
| Use concreting materials and equipment | Elective |
| Use digital imaging equipment in the field | Elective |
| Use hand and power tools | Elective |
| Use maps, plans, drawings and details | Elective |
| Use SCADA systems in operations | Elective |
| Work effectively with others | Elective |
| Work safely at heights | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate III in Water Industry Operations sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
-
Conservation Officer
ANZSCO 234311
Conservation Officers develop and implement programs and regulations for the protection of fish, wildlife and other natural resources.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Water Inspector
ANZSCO 599521
Water Inspectors monitor the allocation and use of water from water resources such as streams, rivers and underground sources.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III -
Waste Water and Water Plant Operator
ANZSCO 712921
Waste Water or Water Plant Operators operate plants to store, distribute and treat water, including purifying water for human consumption and removing waste from sewage.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III
Training providers delivering Certificate III in Water Industry Operations
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)
Contact this provider
-
EnviroCheck Australia Pty Ltd (RTO code 45877)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
-
SIMMONDS AND BRISTOW PTY LTD (RTO code 1735)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
-
TRILITY Services Pty Ltd (RTO code 46056)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
-
WATER TRAINING AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (RTO code 21747)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
-
CHISHOLM INSTITUTE OF TAFE (RTO code 0260)
Contact this provider
-
CIVIL CONTRACTORS FEDERATION VICTORIAN BRANCH (RTO code 3704)
Contact this provider
-
Entura clean energy and water institute (RTO code 40680)
Contact this provider
-
FUSION TRAINING SOLUTIONS (RTO code 91812)
Contact this provider
-
MinRes Training Institute Pty Ltd (RTO code 40727)
Contact this provider
-
TAFE NSW (RTO code 90003)
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.