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 as aquaculture attendants or technicians for the care of aquatic stock in the aquaculture sector of the seafood industry. In this role, these individuals have responsibilities for the handling of stock, and maintaining water quality and monitoring environmental conditions. They may perform dives or vessel operations as part of their role.
The environments in which these individuals work include:
- aquaculture farms
- aquarium wholesalers and retailers
- hatcheries and nurseries
- live post-harvest holding facilities.
All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures, according to state/territory health and safety, food safety, biosecurity and environmental regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.
Some SFI and imported units in the elective bank are subject to licencing, legislative or certification requirements, including:
- occupational diving is regulated independently by each state and territory workplace health and safety authority. Users are advised to check with the relevant authority to confirm current requirements.
- the MAR units that appear in the elective bank are subject to licencing and regulatory requirements. These units must be implemented in line with the MAR Maritime Training Package and Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) requirements.
- the TLI licencing units must be implemented in line with the TLI Transport and Logistics Training Package.
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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 |
|---|---|
| Contribute to workplace health and safety processes | Core |
| Identify and report signs of aquatic disease or pests | Core |
| Work effectively in the seafood industry | Core |
| Act to prevent interaction with protected species | Elective |
| Apply aquaculture biosecurity measures | Elective |
| Apply basic seafood handling and safety practices | Elective |
| Apply basic survival skills in the event of vessel abandonment | Elective |
| Apply control measures for diseases | Elective |
| Apply control measures for predators and pests | Elective |
| Apply sampling procedures | Elective |
| Apply seamanship skills aboard a vessel up to 12 metres | Elective |
| Carry out emergency procedures | Elective |
| Clean fish | Elective |
| Collect and preserve biological samples | Elective |
| Collect routine fishery management data | Elective |
| Communicate in the seafood industry | Elective |
| Comply with regulations to ensure safe operation of a vessel up to 12 metres | Elective |
| Construct or install stock culture, holding and farm structures | Elective |
| Coordinate sustainable aquacultural practices | Elective |
| Fillet fish and prepare portions | Elective |
| Follow environmental work practices | Elective |
| Follow procedures to minimise and fight fires on board a vessel | Elective |
| Follow site quarantine procedures | Elective |
| Handle a vessel up to 12 metres | Elective |
| Interpret aquatic digital information | Elective |
| Licence to operate a forklift truck | Elective |
| Licence to operate a non-slewing mobile crane (greater than 3 tonnes capacity) | Elective |
| Licence to operate a slewing mobile crane (up to 20 tonnes) | Elective |
| Licence to operate a vehicle loading crane (capacity 10 metre tonnes and above) | Elective |
| Maintain aquascapes and aquatic animals | Elective |
| Maintain the temperature of seafood | Elective |
| Maintain water quality and environmental monitoring | Elective |
| Meet work health and safety requirements | Elective |
| Monitor feed activities | Elective |
| Monitor harvest and post-harvest activities | Elective |
| Monitor production and maintain algal or live-feed cultures | Elective |
| Monitor stock handling activities | Elective |
| Monitor the operations of a recirculating aquaculture system | Elective |
| Operate hi-tech and real time aquatic technology | Elective |
| Operate inboard and outboard motors | Elective |
| Operate main propulsion unit and auxiliary systems | Elective |
| Operate vessel deck machinery and lifting appliance | Elective |
| Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices | Elective |
| Perform basic servicing and maintenance of main propulsion unit and auxiliary systems | Elective |
| Perform diving operations using SCUBA | Elective |
| Perform diving operations using SSBA | Elective |
| Perform underwater work in the aquaculture sector | Elective |
| Plan and navigate a passage for a vessel up to 12 metres | Elective |
| Plan for minimal environmental impact | Elective |
| Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases | Elective |
| Produce visual merchandise displays | Elective |
| Provide advice on selection and care of aquatic animals | Elective |
| Provide First Aid | Elective |
| SCUBA dive in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres | Elective |
| SCUBA dive to depths between 18 and 40 metres | Elective |
| SCUBA dive using Enriched Air Nitrox | Elective |
| Shuck molluscs | Elective |
| Supervise harvest and post-harvest activities | Elective |
| Supervise storage of temperature controlled stock | Elective |
| Support hatchery operations | Elective |
| Survive at sea using survival craft | Elective |
| Transmit and receive information by marine radio | Elective |
| Transmit and receive information by marine VHF radio | Elective |
| Transport and store chemicals | Elective |
| Undertake effluent treatment and waste disposal | Elective |
| Undertake emergency procedures in diving operations using SSBA | Elective |
| Undertake emergency procedures in SCUBA diving operations | Elective |
| Use waders safely in aquatic environments | Elective |
| Work effectively as a diver in the seafood industry | Elective |
| Work with knives | Elective |
Job prospects
The Certificate III in Aquaculture sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
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Aquaculture Farmer
ANZSCO 121111
Aquaculture Farmers plan, organise, control, coordinate and perform farming operations to breed and raise fish and other aquatic stock.
Recommended education level:
Bachelor degree or higher -
Agricultural Technician
ANZSCO 311111
Agricultural Technicians perform tests and experiments, and provide technical support to assist Agricultural Scientists in areas such as research, production, servicing and marketing.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Aquaculture Worker
ANZSCO 841111
Aquaculture Workers perform routine tasks in breeding and raising fish and other aquatic stock.
Recommended education level:
Certificate I or secondary education -
Fishing Hand
ANZSCO 899212
Fishing Hands catch fish, crustacea and molluscs using nets, pots, lines and traps in ocean and inland waters.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III
Training providers delivering Certificate III in Aquaculture
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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Seafood Training Tas (RTO code 7074)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
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CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY (RTO code 0373)
Contact this provider
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Envirotech Education (RTO code 31871)
Contact this provider
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Professional and Technical Training Australia (RTO code 30270)
Contact this provider
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Rail Ready (RTO code 90440)
Contact this provider
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Stratus Training (RTO code 40770)
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.