The agriculture and horticulture industry will soon have access to new and updated qualifications and skills standards.
Over the past year, industry experts have volunteered their time and expertise to projects covering the following skills areas:
- Sports Turf Management
- Protected Horticulture
- Irrigation
- Viticulture
- Carbon Farming
- Agribusiness
Thanks to the commitment of those involved, qualifications have been reviewed and developed to better match current and emerging job roles. This will support the agriculture and horticulture industry as it adapts to technological advancements, shifting climate conditions and changing markets.
Those involved will be pleased to know the projects have now been submitted to the AISC for endorsement. Once endorsed, the new materials will be published on the training.gov.au website making them available for use by registered training organisations (RTOs).
More information is available on the individual project pages.
Carbon & Agribusiness Management
Carbon farming and Agribusiness are two major skills areas that are helping industry adapt to shifting climate conditions, technological advances and a changing operating environment.
Skills in Carbon Farming can equip farmers to store or reduce carbon emissions. This project has developed new skill sets and units to support a range of Carbon Farming methods including vegetation, agricultural, soil-based and savanna burning.
Skills in Agribusiness support farmers managers and conservation and land management personnel adapt to new technology and shifts in the market. Current qualifications have been revised to encompass the skills required to run a commercial farming enterprise.
Horticulture Technology
Highly precise fields like irrigation and protected horticulture, or protected cropping, are on the forefront of adopting new technology.
As Irrigation techniques are used across the industry, a range of new tools and processes have been implemented to suit the needs of specific sub-sectors. Four qualifications have been reviewed to address irrigation skills relevant across the industry, supporting the quality and sustainability of our crops.
Similarly, the precise methods of Protected Horticulture can help address issues related to food waste and security.
This expanding field has been supported by the development of three new qualifications and six new units specific to the technologies and practices of protected horticulture.
Sports Turf Management
Sports Turf Management is a highly specialised sector, responsible for the upkeep of many types of grassed sports grounds, each requiring unique skills and knowledge. The complexity of this work has been reflected in the recent review of sports turf management qualifications, which have been strengthened to reflect skills needed at all levels – including volunteers, apprentices, tradespeople, managers and consultants.
Viticulture
The Diploma of Viticulture has been revised to meet the needs of all commercial grape producers in Australia, ensuring representation of skills relating to grapes grown for eating as well as for wine. The review has also focused on how to support the planning and implementation of biosecurity measures through skills in leadership and management.
