Course Description
This qualification is designed to give you the specialist skills and knowledge to take personal responsibility in undertaking basic and complex irrigation work. Individuals with this qualification perform tasks under supervision involving a broad range of skills that are applied in a wide variety of contexts, which will involve discretion and judgement in selecting and operating equipment, coordinating resources and applying contingency measures during work.
The program is designed to be undertaken as a work-based traineeship for persons that are full-time and part-time employed. Participants will combine self-paced study and individual assessment task completion with on-the-job mentoring from their workplace supervisor and ARO College trainers and Study Coach’s. Participants are provided with printed copies of learning and assessment tasks – Trainers/Assessors conduct 1:1 on-site training and assessment sessions every 4-6 weeks in the workplace, at a time that is most convenient for the participant and employer.
Irrigation Design is identified as a priority occupation and is included on the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List.
The Course is designed primarily for Participants that are eligible for an Apprenticeship Training Contract and currently employed, specifically:
- Persons pursuing a career in commercial irrigation businesses, and/or
- Persons working in roles on farms, landscape construction or horticulture businesses where irrigation is a key skill required, and/or
- Graduates of AHC-related qualifications who are articulating from previous studies
The onus is on the Applicant to arrange their own access to an actual horticulture workplace or enterprise to undertake learning and assessment tasks and activities, if they wish to enrol in the Course where they are not currently employed in a amenity horticulture-type enterprise.
Fee-For-Service
Where Participants are not eligible for an Apprenticeship Training Contract or a Skills SA Training Account they may seek enrolment into the Course under a fee-for-service basis if they are employed in a suitable horticulture workplace or enterprise and only if they and their employer enter into a Workplace Training Agreement (WTA) with ARO College.
Skills SA Funding
Eligible South Australian participants may have this course partially subsidised through Skills South Australia (Skills SA). Check your eligibility here: https://finder.skills.sa.gov.au/get-support-for-training/check-my-eligibility
ARO College is an approved provider of Skills SA funding for this qualification. Eligible Participants who live or work in South Australia may receive subsidised training in this course under if they are enrolled as Trainee with a Training Contract.
What is a Training Contract?
A training contract is a legally binding document that is instigated by an Apprenticeship Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) between the ACAP, an employer, and a trainee which includes a nominated RTO (ARO College) to deliver the program. It must be signed by a parent or legal guardian if the trainee is under 18. It covers:
- the length of the traineeship
- details of the registered training organisation (RTO) delivering the training
- the qualification to be obtained
- employment arrangements and industrial award
The training contract must be lodged with an Apprenticeship Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) who can help with preparing the training contract as well as other paperwork. If you want to become an apprentice or hire one, the ACAP are the first point of contact to get started. They connect apprentices and trainees with employers and support you throughout your apprenticeship. If you’re already an apprentice and don’t know who your ACAP is, call the Skilling Australia hotline on 1800 020 108.
Click here to find a local Apprentice Connect Australia Provider | Australian Apprenticeships
Units of Competency & Tuition Fees
22 units of competency must be satisfactorily completed by participants to achieve a AHC32424 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology. The 22 units of competency are comprised of 9 core units, plus 13 elective units. The elective units selected by ARO College are guided by advice provided by consultation with industry and on the qualifications and expertise of ARO training and assessment staff.
Participants are not provided access to all units of competency (UOC) in the qualification simultaneously. The learning and assessment resources are released at nominal 4-6 week intervals. Each unit is attempted in the order presented in the Delivery Schedule table below, unless altered by prior arrangement.
Fees
Participants are charged Tuition fees in advance for each individual unit as enrolled via the student portal or provided in person as printed workbooks. The Delivery Schedule table below indicates the fees charged per unit. A single Registration Fee will be invoiced upon enrolment. Please refer to the Charges Table in our Fees, Charges and Refunds Policy.
Customised Delivery Schedules
ARO College will liaise with each participant’s employer to align the workplace’s business activities with the most relevant unit of competency.
Delivery Schedule
| Unit # | Code | Title | Participant Fee (fee for service) |
Participant Fee (SA subsidy) |
| Elective | AHCMOM304 | Operate machinery and equipment | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCWRK320 | Apply environmentally sustainable work practices | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCWHS302 | Contribute to work health and safety processes | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCIRG346 | Operate pressurised irrigation systems | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCIRG347 | Maintain pressurised irrigation systems | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCIRG345 | Install pressurised irrigation systems | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCDRG305 | Install drainage systems | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCIRG338 | Troubleshoot irrigation systems | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCLSC311 | Set out sites for construction works | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCINF308 | Install and terminate extra low voltage wiring systems | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCIRG337 | Measure irrigation delivery system performance | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCIRG339 | Monitor soils under irrigation | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCIRG340 | Install irrigation pumps | $1,043 | $450 |
| Core | AHCIRG342 | Interpret irrigation plans and drawings | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCIRG349 | Recommend irrigation products and services | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCIRG344 | Implement an irrigation schedule | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCIRG328 | Operate irrigation controller and sensor technology | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCIRG341 | Operate and maintain irrigation pumping system | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCIRG343 | Operate irrigation injection equipment | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCWRK317 | Coordinate work site activities | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCIRG439 | Interpret and apply irrigation designs | $1,043 | $450 |
| Elective | AHCBUS407 | Cost a project | $1,043 | $450 |
| $22,946 | $9,900 |
Outcomes
Awards
Participants that complete all 22 units of competency satisfactorily will be awarded a Testamur certificate and a statement of results for the Course.
Academic Pathways
Graduates of this Course may articulate to a range of qualifications in the AHC Training Package at the Certificate IV and Diploma levels, such as:
- AHC52021 Diploma of Landscape Construction Management
- AHC50422 Diploma of Horticulture Management
- AHC41124 Certificate IV in Irrigation Technology Management
Occupational pathways
Graduates of this Course are ideally placed to maintain or seek employment in the AHC sector in roles such as:
- Irrigation Technician
- Irrigation Installer
- Irrigation System Operator
- Irrigation Maintenance Worker
- Water Management Technician
- Irrigation Sales and Service Representative
Exit Opportunities
Participants have the opportunity to exit the Course prior to completion at any stage. Participants will be issued a Statement of Attainment certificate for any Unit of Competency completed.
Entry Requirements
Upfront Assessment of Need (UAN)
To ensure Participants receive the support they need to successfully complete the Course, an upfront assessment of need (UAN) process is undertaken before enrolment is confirmed. All individuals who are seeking access to a fee-for-service or subsidised training place, regardless of prior educational attainment, employment experience or employment status, are required to participate in the UAN process. The UAN process includes an assessment of the participant’s suitability, support needs and literacy and numeracy capabilities via a Digital, Literacy and Numeracy assessment (LLN).
Employment
All applicants into this Course must arrange and provide their own access to an actual workplace or enterprise to enable the attempting of practical/performance-based training and assessment activities. Applicants will require a Training Contract or a Workplace Training Agreement (WTA) to be executed prior to an application for enrolment will be offered.
Workplace Training Agreement
Where a Training Contract does not exist, for example under a fee-for-service enrolment, Participants should nominate their current place of employment, if it is an appropriate facility. ARO College will engage with the nominated workplace, prior to enrolment being confirmed, to ensure that the workplace can provide a suitable environment to gather practical experience across all tasks outlined in all Units of Competency. If approved, ARO College will offer a WTA to the employer and the Participant to sign and execute.
Personal
All applicants into this course will need:
- A Unique Student Identifier #
- A mobile phone or other hand-held device that is: web-browser-enabled; can access the Participants personal email account (eg: Outlook / Gmail); has a calendar App or functionality (eg: Google Calendar) and has photo and video recording capabilities
- Government-issued photo identification inclusive of Date of Birth
- Evidence of personal place of residence address such as a Driver Licence or Utilities/Bank Statement
Assessment
There are 3 assessment Tasks that Participants must achieve a satisfactory result for, to be deemed competent in each unit of competency:
TASK 1: Knowledge questions – 20-40 questions which assess the Performance Criteria and Knowledge Evidence requirements of each Unit.
TASK 2: Case study and/or project(s) – requiring self-directed research and medium-long-answer written responses which requires the participant to apply theory and practice such as action research, experiment, impact studies, planning for a complex professional task, field work etc.
TASK 3: Workplace Practical Tasks – which are on-the-job project activities using actual equipment and tools, that the Participants undertake in their workplace or simulated workplace or role-play.
SUPPLEMENTARY: Third Party Report – allows for a Workplace Supervisor to provide feedback on the skills and knowledge of the Participant to capably complete the specific tasks in the workplace on multiple occasions consistently.
