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, hydrometric monitoring, irrigation water supply, networks, trade waste or treatment.
This qualification also covers the skills and knowledge for those who have supervisory responsibility and require a broad range of skills within operations.
Group A: Specialist Elective - Catchment and Dams
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor and operate catchments, weirs, locks, dams, rivers, reservoirs, bulk water and groundwater management and implement operational and safety plans.
Group B: Specialist Elective - Hydrometric Monitoring
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to measure, collect and analyse hydrometric information and review the accumulated data to develop water management plans for inland water systems including rivers, lakes, stormwater and sewage.
Group C: Specialist Elective - Irrigation Water Supply
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to coordinate and monitor the operation of irrigation systems.
Group D: Specialist Elective - Networks
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to operate, construct, and maintain water and wastewater networks.
Group E: Specialist Elective - Trade Waste
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to coordinate and monitor compliance, licencing and regulations of trade waste management.
Group F: Specialist Elective - Treatment
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to assess and improve treatment processes for wastewater and water treatment plants.
Please note: RTO to insert on the testamur, the specialist elective unit group selected from the group choice below.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
-
Financial help
-
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:
6 months – 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 |
|---|---|
| Coordinate and monitor the application of environmental plans and procedures | Core |
| Develop personal work priorities | Core |
| Implement and monitor WHS policies, procedures and programs | Core |
| Analyse big data | Elective |
| Apply an expanding range of arithmetical calculations for work | Elective |
| Apply communication strategies in the workplace | Elective |
| Apply principles of chemistry to water systems and processes | Elective |
| Assess and improve activated sludge and biological nutrient removal processes | Elective |
| Assess and improve anaerobic digestion processes | Elective |
| Assess and improve coagulation and flocculation processes | Elective |
| Assess and improve desalination processes | Elective |
| Assess and improve granular media filters | Elective |
| Assess and improve membrane bioreactor processes | Elective |
| Assess and improve membrane filters | Elective |
| Assess and improve sedimentation processes | Elective |
| Assess and improve treatment for removal of microorganisms in drinking water and recycled water | Elective |
| Assess and improve wastewater processes to control microbial impacts | Elective |
| Assess and optimise chemical dosing processes in wastewater | Elective |
| Assist with workplace compliance with WHS laws | Elective |
| Contribute to continuous improvement of quality systems | Elective |
| Contribute to implementation and maintenance of WHS consultation and participation processes | Elective |
| Contribute to WHS risk management | Elective |
| Contribute to workplace incident response | Elective |
| Coordinate and manage maintenance and repair of network assets | Elective |
| Coordinate and monitor bulkwater system operations | Elective |
| Coordinate and monitor groundwater system usage | Elective |
| Coordinate and monitor network asset construction | Elective |
| Coordinate and monitor pumped rural irrigation systems | Elective |
| Coordinate and monitor the operation of irrigation delivery systems | Elective |
| Coordinate business operational plans | Elective |
| Develop an operational plan | Elective |
| Develop and implement catchment operational plans | Elective |
| Develop processes and procedures for controlling hazardous chemicals in the workplace | Elective |
| Ensure compliance with water industry standards, guidelines and legislation | Elective |
| Establish connections of water and wastewater systems | Elective |
| Facilitate the use of SCADA systems in a team or work area | Elective |
| Identify and confirm blue-green algae outbreaks | Elective |
| Implement customer service strategies | Elective |
| Implement dam safety plans | Elective |
| Inspect and report river performance | Elective |
| Investigate and report on breaches of water industry legislation | Elective |
| Investigate trade waste incidents and non-compliances | Elective |
| Lead and facilitate a team | Elective |
| Lead team effectiveness | Elective |
| Measure discharge and process discharge data using a range of methods and equipment | Elective |
| Measure discharge using wading method | Elective |
| Monitor and operate pump stations | Elective |
| Monitor trade waste approvals | Elective |
| Operate, maintain and decommission monitoring sites | Elective |
| Optimise network systems | Elective |
| Organise workplace information | Elective |
| Perform laboratory testing | Elective |
| Process and interpret data | Elective |
| Process standard trade waste approvals | Elective |
| Provide work skill instruction | Elective |
| Respond to blue-green algae outbreaks | Elective |
| Sample and test source or drinking water | Elective |
| Sample and test trade wastewater | Elective |
| Supervise and report on conduit inspections | Elective |
| Supervise repair and rehabilitation of underground services using trenchless technology | Elective |
| Supervise the installation of underground services using trenchless technology | Elective |
| Undertake sampling and testing of water | Elective |
| Undertake surveying of monitoring sites | Elective |
| Use big data for operational decision making | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
-
Construction Project Manager
ANZSCO 133111
Construction Project Managers manage civil engineering and building projects.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Environmental Manager
ANZSCO 139912
Environmental Managers manage the development and implementation of environmental management systems within organisations by identifying, solving and alleviating environmental issues, such as pollution and waste treatment, in compliance with environmental legislation and to ensure corporate sustainable development.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Earth Science Technician
ANZSCO 311412
Earth Science Technicians collect and test earth and water samples, record observations and analyse data in support of Geologists or Geophysicists.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Hydrographer
ANZSCO 311415
Hydrographers measure, analyse and maintain the flow and quality of water in rivers, lakes, stormwater and sewage, and survey and map oceans, seas and rivers.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Plumbing Inspector
ANZSCO 312115
Plumbing Inspectors inspect plumbing work to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Landscape Gardener
ANZSCO 362213
Landscape Gardeners plan and construct garden landscapes.
Recommended education level:
Certificate III or IV -
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 -
Nursery Hand (Horticulture)
ANZSCO 841412
Nursery Hands (Horticulture) assist in propagating, cultivating and harvesting plants in horticultural nurseries.
Recommended education level:
Certificate I or secondary education
Training providers delivering Certificate IV 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.
-
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
-
CIVIL CONTRACTORS FEDERATION VICTORIAN BRANCH (RTO code 3704)
Contact this provider
-
FUSION TRAINING SOLUTIONS (RTO code 91812)
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.