UQ Skills logoCertificate II in Rural Operations
AHC21216


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Nationally accredited qualification

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12 months

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UQ Gatton

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Government-subsidised places

Kick-start your career in rural operations with the Certificate II in Rural Operations AHC21216.

Designed for senior secondary students (Years 10, 11 and 12) as part of UQ Skills’ High School Program, this entry-level qualification will provide you with foundational skills to work across the agriculture or horticulture industries.

You'll gain the skills and knowledge to:

  • understand industry work health and safety requirements
  • understand and perform livestock health and care
  • perform livestock handling.

Enquire online

How you’ll learn

This program is delivered over 12 months (four high school terms), through a combination of online and face-to-face activity.

During school term you'll attend training at:

  • Gatton-based model: UQ Gatton one day per week
  • School-based model: on site at your school (minimum student numbers required)

Assessment

You will be assessed through written assessments, online quizzes, skills portfolios and practical demonstrations.

Start date

January 2025

You may find employment in a range of rural and regional sectors, including as a:

  • animal attendant
  • stockperson
  • farm worker or labourer
  • station worker or labourer
  • station hand.

Pathways to further study

You can use your Certificate II in Rural Operations AHC21216 qualification as a pathway to further study into:

In order to gain the Certificate II in Rural Operations AHC21216, you’ll need to successfully complete three core units and 12 electives.

Choose your electives from the list below to tailor your studies to specialise within:

  • livestock
  • equine
  • natural area revegetation
  • machinery and mechanisation
  • nursery
  • farm vehicles
  • land management
  • drones.
Core units
CourseCourse code
Participate in work health and safety processesAHCWHS201
Work effectively in the industryAHCWRK204
Participate in environmentally sustainable work practicesAHCWRK209
Elective units
CourseCourse code
Handle livestock using basic techniquesAHCLSK205
Muster and move livestockAHCLSK210
Identify and draft livestockAHCLSK308
Monitor water suppliesAHCLSK209
Provide feed for livestockAHCLSK211
Carry out regular livestock observationAHCLSK204
Identify and mark livestockAHCLSK206
Load and unload livestockAHCLSK207
Handle horses safelyACMEQU212
Prepare to work safely around horsesACMEQU214
Apply chemicals under supervisionAHCCHM201
Treat weedsAHCPMG201
Perform basic ecological restoration worksAHCECR203
Maintain native ecosystem areasAHCECR301
Operate tractorsAHCMOM202
Undertake operational maintenance of machineryAHCMOM204

Operate machinery and equipment, or
Operate basic machinery and equipment

AHCMOM304
AHCMOM203
Undertake propagation activitiesAHCNSY207
Maintain nursery plantsAHCNSY308
Operate side-by-side utility vehiclesAHCMOM216
Operate quad bikesAHCMOM217
Operate and maintain chainsaws (this unit is a prerequisite for AHCPCM205)AHCMOM213
Fell small trees (Operate and maintain chainsaws AHCMOM213 is the prerequisite for this unit)AHCPCM205
Inspect, clean machinery, tools and equipment to preserve biosecurityAHCBIO203
Plan and construct conventional fencingAHCINF307
Prepare livestock for competitionAHCLSK316
Conduct front-end loader operationsAHCMOM207 
Monitor weather conditionsAHCWRK314
Operate multi-rotor remote pilot aircraft systemsAVIY0027

 

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements for this program.

You can apply for this program if you are in Years 10, 11 or 12 at an approved high school and have the approval of your parent/guardian and school. 

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have recent work experience you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning.

Third-party arrangements

UQ Skills has a third-party arrangement with Gympie State High School to deliver training and assessment to their students on behalf of UQ Skills. In this arrangement, UQ Skills is the Principal RTO.

At all times, the Principal RTO is responsible for the quality of the training and assessment you will receive in compliance with Standards for RTOs 2015, and for the issuance of the Australian Qualifications Framework certification documentation.

These standards set out the requirements that an organisation must meet in order to be an RTO and ensure the integrity and quality of nationally recognised training provided by registered training organisations.

Create your USI

You must provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI) before we can accept your enrolment.

Resources

2024 UQ Skills Student Handbook (PDF, 2.7 MB) (includes student support and policy information)

You won't have to pay a student contribution fee for the Certificate II in Rural Operations AHC21216 if you are a high school student and eligible for Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) funding.

  • VETiS-funded: fee free
  • Full fee: $4,150 (discounts may apply - contact us for more information)

High school students: pathway to the Certificate III in Rural Operations AHC32816

Once you've completed your Certificate II in Rural Operations AHC21216, you may wish to continue your studies and complete the Certificate III in Rural Operations AHC32816 during your next school year.

You can transfer credit from your Certificate II into the Certificate III, which means you'll only need to successfully complete two additional core units and at least one elective cluster to gain the higher qualification. You can complete a second elective cluster if you wish. Contact us for details. 

Program structure of the Certificate III in Rural Operations AHC32816

Core units
CourseCourse code
Contribute to work health and safety processesAHCWHS301
Apply environmentally sustainable work practicesAHCWRK309
Elective clusters
CourseCourse code
Level 3 chemicals
Control weedsAHCPMG301
Transport and store chemicalsAHCCHM304
Prepare and apply chemicals to control pests, weeds and diseasesAHCCHM307
Cropping
Undertake preparation of land for agricultural crop productionAHCBAC309
Establish agricultural cropsAHCBAC315
Maintain agricultural cropsAHCBAC316
Livestock
Implement animal health control programsAHCLSK309
Implement feeding plans for livestockAHCLSK311
Comply with industry animal welfare requirementsAHCLSK331
Please note this qualification has been superseded.
 

Fees and funding for the Certificate III in Rural Operations AHC32816

  • 5 units (2 core units + 1 elective cluster): $875
  • 8 units (2 core units + 2 elective clusters): $1,400

Disclaimer


Details are correct at the time of upload and are subject to change. UQ Skills reserves the right to change programs, subjects or costs or to cancel a program based on consideration of student numbers and resource allocation. Ensure that you understand the program, subjects, associated costs and fee liability prior to signing an enrolment form. 

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General enquiries


Telephone: +61 7 5460 1353
Email: uqskills@uq.edu.au

RTO code: #1511

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