Weed management training
Weeds Training Program
Overview
The NSW weeds training program delivers relevant, high quality nationally accredited training in a wide range of weed management subjects.
In January 2013 the following changes to the NSW weeds training program were made;
- The administration of all weed management training courses (except for Legal Stages 1-2-3 and Weed Officer Induction) was transferred to PROfarm. (PROfarm is a training program developed by NSW DPI and offers many other courses that are relevant to weed management, including SMARTtrain, off-road 4wd and quad bike handling.)
- Current weed management training courses will still be available through PROfarm; only the contacts and registration changed.
- Legal stage 1 will be offered as an online course (register)
- Registration for Legal stages 2-3 will need to made with the Australian Centre for Environmental Compliance
- Weed Officer Induction will be offered once per year at Camden (register)
Weed management training courses are suited to local government weeds officers, Catchment Management Authorities and state government agency project officers who are involved with weed management and/or the strategic planning and implementation of weed management programs on a local, regional or catchment wide basis.
The NSW Weeds Training Program provides relevant, high quality, nationally accredited training in a wide range of weed management subjects.
The program offers structured training from operational weed management through to strategic weed management and planning, which in turn gives participants opportunities for career advancement.
The training is suited to people involved in:
- Managing weeds
- Supervising weed management activities
- Advising weed managers
- Planning weed management
- Strategic and regional weed management planning.
Training delivery
The NSW Weeds Training Program is delivered through Tocal College, with either face to face training across NSW, or an expanding number of external study units.
There is an emphasis on practical hands-on sessions with supporting training and reference material covering the theoretical aspects.
Most training offered by the Weeds Training Program addresses the competencies of the Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation training package (previously Conservation and Land Management), aligned to the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF).
Units of training are available at a range of AQF levels as outlined below:
| AQF level | Qualification | Example workplace title |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Certificate II | Operator |
| 3 | Certificate III | Weeds Officer, Field Officer |
| 4 | Certificate IV | Supervisor, Weeds Officer |
| 5 | Diploma | Manager, Senior Weeds Officer, Project Officer |
| 6 | Advanced Diploma | Manager, Senior Weeds Officer, Project Officer with substantial responsibilities |
Course information
1. Legal training for Weeds Officers
Accreditation:
Stage 1: Assessed but not linked to a competency
Stage 2: AQF level 4
Stage 3: AQF level 4
Course Description:
This course is designed for people working with the NSW Noxious Weeds Act 1993. It provides participants with a thorough understanding of the legislative requirements and responsibilities. The course is presented in three stages.
Stage 1 introduces and provides an interpretation of the Act (how the law is made, introduction to the Act and Regulations, powers of inspectors, elements of offences).
Stage 2 studies powers and responsibilities of inspectors and offences under the Act (interpreting legislation, understanding inspectors powers, points of proof, elements of offences, gathering and managing evidence, interview techniques).
Stage 3 brings the Officer and their prepared case into a courtroom to be cross examined (preparation for court proceedings, presentation of evidence, outcomes of proceedings).
A Bridging Course is also available to give Officers who have completed the old Legal Training the opportunity to upgrade. The Bridging Course will be a face to face skills refresher workshop. Participants will have the opportunity of gaining two national competencies. Upon completion of the Bridging Course, Officers can complete the new Stage 3 course and be assessed for a third competency.
Course delivery:
Stage 1: external study (register)
Stage 2: 3 day workshop - only offered once per year at Canberra (more information and registration)
Stage 3: 2 day workshop - only offered once per year at Canberra (more information and registration)
2. Weed Officer Induction
Accreditation: AQF level 2 & 3
Course Description:
The Weeds Officer Induction Program provides recently employed staff with a well rounded appreciation of their roles and responsibilities, as well as familiarising them with the support network available within the weeds industry. The workshop will cover one additional 1- day workshop - typically Biological Control.
Course delivery:
3 day workshop - only offered once per year (register)
3. Weed Movement - Machinery Inspection and Cleaning
Accreditation: AQF Level 2
Course Description:
This course is designed for people working with plant and machinery and provides an understanding of the threat of weeds, identification of weeds, and ways to reduce the risk of spreading weeds. Participants will be required to formally inspect machinery for material that may contribute to the spread of weeds, pests or disease. The course also covers options for the best location and equipment needed for cleaning machinery and plant.
Course Delivery:
One day workshop
4. Weeds and their control
Accreditation: AQF level 3
Course Description:
NEW course in 2012.
The objective of the course is to lift the capacity of weed mangers to effectively control weeds in a sustainable manner. Topics include: herbicide application techniques, adjuvants, spray drift, herbicide resistance, herbicide choices, planning, monitoring, weeds ID and ecology, aquatic and woody weeds.
Course delivery:
2-day workshop
5. Photography for field work
This 1-day non-Certificate workshop is designed for people required to take digital photographs in the undertaking of their work duties. The course will help people understand the functionality of their digital cameras leading to better quality photographs and the type of photos required for plant identification, vegetation assessment and compliance matters.
Course Delivery:
One day workshop
6. Recognising Water Weeds
Accreditation: AQF Level 2
Course Description:
This course is designed for people interested in acquiring practical skills to recognise serious aquatic weeds in Australia. Focusing on distinguishing features of aquatic plants, this workshop briefly covers their impacts on the environment. The practical will include samples of aquatic weeds, along with some of their look-alikes and several native species.
Course Delivery:
One day workshop
7. Recognising Grasses
Accreditation: AQF level 2
Course Description:
This course is designed for people interested in learning how to recognise grasses in the field and introduces key plant parts used to identify them. It focuses on grass weeds and grasses threatening the local region, and includes native and desirable grass species. Basic information on plant classification and plant identification methods is complemented by a practical session.
Course delivery:
1 day workshop.
8. Identifying Grasses
Accreditation: AQF level 5
Course Description:
Designed to extend participants’ knowledge and skills beyond the basic recognition and collection techniques developed in the Recognising Grasses workshop. It is suitable for officers who wish to identify grasses anywhere in NSW using botanical keys and/or be able to develop a professional quality reference herbarium. Recognising Grasses is a pre-requisite for this course.
Course Delivery:
One day workshop - pre-requisite Grass recognition or equivalent experience.
9. Identifying Environmental Weeds
Accreditation: AQF level 5
Course Description:
Plant Identification is a key step in the control of weeds and the protection of valuable native flora. This hands-on workshop aims to develop skills in plant identification by utilising the Environmental Weeds of Australia DVD. This DVD is another tool in the plant identification kitbag and can assist in accessing information on more than 1000 environmental weeds.
Course Delivery:
One day workshop
10. Vegetation survey and assessment
Accreditation: AQF Level 5
Course Description:
This course is designed for land managers looking to accurately define the scale of a weed problem and determine its impact on the surrounding vegetation. Participants are required to submit an individual survey report on a site of personal interest. Topics covered during the workshop include: rapid appraisal techniques; accurate inspection; assessment and monitoring of weed and plant populations; recording data; and writing a vegetation report.
Course Delivery:
Two day workshop
11. Planning for Pest Management
Accreditation: AQF Level 5
Course Description:
This course is designed for people interested in developing a plan to manage weeds or vertebrate pests in their region. It outlines the three step process of developing a regional plan for pest management: define the pest problem; develop a regional plan to manage the pest; and outline a monitoring system for the plan. This course is suitable for officers involved with either weeds or vertebrate pests.
Course Delivery:
Two day workshop or external study.
12. Weed Risk Management
Accreditation: AQF level 4
Course Description:
This course covers the WRM system developed by NSW DPI. The NSW WRM system provides a standard, nationally accepted and transparent process to help make decisions about the introduction, declaration and prioritisation of weed species.
Course Delivery:
One day workshop - only offered once per year.
13. Performance Management and MERI Training
Accreditation: AQF level 5
Course Description:
This workshop is designed to lift understanding of project management and to meet the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement requirements for outcomes based projects. It will provide participants with the skills and knowledge to develop a MERI plan. This course is suited to project managers who submit and manage WAP or CFOC funded projects
Course Delivery:
Two day workshop.
14. Biological Control of Weeds
Accreditation: AQF level 3
This workshop is designed for people interested in biological control of weeds. It covers the history of biological control in Australia and methods used. It concentrates on the practice behind site assessment, maintaining and releasing biological control agents and establishing a nursery site for bio-control agents with a view to harvesting the agent. Workshops includes a field trip.
Course Delivery: One day workshop - only offered on request.
Course dates and locations
For 2013 courses please see the PROfarm site (except Legal stages 1-2-3 and Weed Officer Induction).
Further information
Please contact the Weeds Training Coordinator.
Flexible Traineeship Program for the Weed Control Industry
The Flexible Traineeship for the weeds industry provides high quality training for new or existing employees to gain a nationally recognised qualification, with financial incentives provided by the Australian Government.
Skills Assessment for the Weed Control Industry
The skills recognition program for the New South Wales weed control industry was developed by the New South Wales Weeds Program and Tocal College. It is designed to assist operators in the Weed Control industry and those responsible for the implementation of the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 to access training and recognition of skills.
Studies in Landcare and Natural Resource Management leading to a Diploma of Conservation and Land Management
This course leads to a nationally recognised Diploma of Conservation and Land Management. This course is suitable for farmers, Landcare group members, weeds officers, community facilitators and others involved in land management.
PROfarm courses
PROfarm runs a number of other training courses that may be of interest to those involved with weed management: List of PROfarm courses.
Water Weeds
The Recognising Water Weeds training resources have been developed by staff from NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) through a nationally funded “Defeating the Weeds Menace” project. This resource was an initiative of the National Aquatic Weeds Management Group and has been designed for use throughout Australia.
The RWW resource is a formally accredited training resource to Vocational Education & Training units; AHCPCM201A Recognise Plants and AHCILM202A Observe and report plants and/or animals. The training resources are designed for delivery as a one day ‘train the trainer’ workshop targeting weed professionals and/or community groups working in natural resource management.
The Training Manual details how to deliver the workshop. Participants are provided with skills to recognise water weeds (also called aquatic weeds), a brief background on water weeds, their impacts on our waterways, and relevant legislation. Recognising plant characteristics is the focus of the workshop and live plant specimens are used to outline key features of those weeds which pose a serious threat to our waterways.
The following resources are available for people who have completed the 'train the trainer' workshops for delivery to the community.
Participant workbook
RWW Plant Identification field guide (glossy A5 size)
Survey guidelines for weed professionals & community groups