Short Courses

Climate Risk Management

This 2 day workshop will take you through the process of developing climate risk management strategies for an agricultural enterprise. It covers researching climate and enterprise data, analysing and interpreting climate and enterprise data, preparing risk management strategies, and integrating climate risk and opportunities for management strategies at a business management level.

You will gain an understanding of
- current forecasting techniques
- the impact of weather and climate phenomena on rainfall, plant growth and yields, and livestock production
- the causes of general patterns of weather and climate over Australia
- the causes of climate variability and climate change
- direct and indirect impacts of climate variability on land management and sustainability.

The cost of this workshop is $500 and it has been approved for Farm Ready funding (www.farmready.gov.au), but it depends on sufficient numbers to run. People interested in participating in this course should contact the Short Course Officer at PIC before applying for Farm Ready funding.

Proposed dates: Friday, 19 March 2010 & Friday, 26 March 2010 (8:30am - 4:30pm)

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Improver Shearing School

The Improver Shearer school is for graduates of the Beginner Shearer course who have worked in the industry until they are capable of shearing approximately 80 sheep per day. Students will enrol in Certificate II in Shearing (RTE20403) and graduates are expected to be able to shear approximately 130 sheep per day. This course runs for 1 week, Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.30pm.

Proposed date: 8 March 2010 - 12 March 2010

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Chemical Application

This course provides accreditation for people who wish to apply agricultural and veterinary chemicals.

The 2 day course for initial registration covers legislation, reading and understanding labels, chemical safety and calibration of powered and hand-held equipment. People requiring re-accreditation can attend a 1 day update which requres the completion of some parts of the course work prior to the workshop. Book and lunch are provided.

Successful students will be issued with a SMARTtrain AQF3 card that meets all legislative requirements. The card is valid for 5 years.

Proposed date: Refresher (1 day course) $250 (GST Free)

Friday, 19 February 2010 (8:30am - 4:30pm)

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 (8.30am - 4.30pm)

Proposed date: Two day course $350 (GST Free)

Friday. 12 March 2010 & Friday, 19 March 2010 (8:30am - 4:30pm)

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Registration Form

Chemical Risk Management

This course provides accreditation for people who are managing the application of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.

The two and a half day course covers managing the risks associated with the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals, legislation, reading and understanding labels, chemical safety and calibration of powered and hand-held equipment. Successful students will be issued with a SMARTtrain AQF4 card that meets all legislative requirements.

Proposed date: (2 day course $500)

Friday, 19 March 2010 & Friday, 26 March 2010 (8:30am - 5:00pm)

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Chainsaw - Level 1 Cross-cutting

This course provides training for people in the safe use of chainsaws for cross-cutting timber. Those who complete this course will be able to use a chainsaw in a safe and effective way to cross-cut, rip, delimb, and trim logs and felled trees.

The 2 day course provides basic training in Chainsaw Operation for the Forestry industry, but the skills can be used in conservation and land management, agriculture, horticulture, and public services and utilities.

These skills underpin the competencies of the Chainsaw - Level 2 Felling and Chainsaw - Level 3 Felling courses.

Proposed date:

Thursday, 4 February 2010 & Friday 5 February 2010 (8:30am - 4:30pm)

Friday, 5 March 2010 & Friday, 12 March 2010 (8:30am - 4:30pm)

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or emailPrimary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Course brochure

OH&S Risk Management on Farms

This course enables farm owners and managers to comply with the current NSW OH&S Act (2000) and OH&S Regulation (2001).

It provides a step-by-step approach to assessing hazards and risks, and the identification of effective control strategies for all farm activities. It also looks at safe work practices to implement control strategies, as well as providing the necessary documentation required by the legislation.

The 2 day workshop includes a farm visit at the commencement of the 2nd day to put the theory covered in the 1st day into perspective.

The workshops are delivered at local venues determined in consultation with participants.

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

OH&S Certification on Farms

This course allows farm owners and managers to ensure their employees are certified as being competent in the safe operations of a range of equipment.

The program is delivered on-site by qualified instructors and assessors using equipment owned by the business to ensure the certification is relevant to the needs of the business. Equipment covered includes tractors, front-end loaders, ATV's, and chainsaws. Other equipment may be included on request.

On-site delivery charged at an hourly rate allows the program to exactly meet the needs of your business.

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Budgeting & Financial Analysis - Farm Ready

Operate within a Budget Framework RTC4911A

This course allows farm owners and managers to refine their budgeting and financial analysis skills.

This one day workshop covers a range of topics including sourcing information, timing of cash-flow, "what-if" analysis, and cost structure evaluation. Special focus will apply to recording actual transactions through the budget period, and assessing their impact on the original budget.

The cost of this workshop is $300 and it has been approved for Farm Ready funding (www.farmready.gov.au), however it depends on sufficient numbers to run. People interested in participating in this course should contact the Short Course Officer at PIC before applying for Farm Ready funding.

Proposed Dates:

Cash Manager Software -

Friday, 12 February 2010 8:30am - 5:00pm

Agrimaster Software -

Friday, 26 February 2010 8:30am - 5:00pm

Phoenix Software -

Friday, 12 March 2010 8:30am - 5:00pm

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Animal Care and Management Studies - Microchip Implantation

This module provides competency based education in the implantation of microchip identification devices in dogs and cats.

Potential identifiers of companion animals who complete this module satisfactorily will be able to implant a microchip for a dog or cat. They will be able to do so competently and confidently, securing the confidence of the animal’s owner and ensuring that the procedure complies with legislative requirements and is carried out aseptically, with minimum discomfort to the animal.

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Proposed date: June/July 2010

Operate Tractors

By achieving this unit of competency (RTC2309A Operate Tractors) you will gain knowledge and skills related to operation of tractors with or without attached equipment. You will learn the skills to safely utilise the various components and controls of tractors, check and confirm operational status, and set and secure equipment for operation. As well, you will become aware of the distinguishing characteristics of individual tractors including rated power, steering systems, and operational complexities. Competence in tractor operation requires you to achieve an awareness of licensing and legislative requirements, duty of care to yourself, others and the environment. The work in this standard is likely to be carried out by you under some supervision with regular checking within enterprise guidelines.

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Soil Carbon Management - Farm Ready

Monitor & Manage Soils RTF5521A

This one day workshop covers the process of monitoring and managing soils. It requires the ability to research information, prepare plans for crops/plants, collect soil and/or media samples, perform basic soil tests, interpret results from own or laboratory tests, and record and store information. It requires knowledge of soil types, soil physical properties, soil chemical properties, plant nutrition through soil management, soil conservation strategies and sustainable production techniques, basic soil field tests, soil sampling techniques, interpreting laboratory results, techniques to ameliorate soil properties, and record keeping.

Proposed Dates:

Friday. 5 March 2010 8:30am - 4:30pm

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Tractor & Front End Loader Operation & Safety

By achieving the units of competency RTC2309A (Operate Tractors) and MNMOCC207A (Conduct front end loader operations) - participants will develop the skills and knowledge to safely and efficiently move and tip material through the operation of a front end loader fitted to an agricultural tractor. Participants will gain knowledge and skills related to operation of tractors with or without attached equipment. You will learn the skills to safely utilise the various components and controls of tractors, check and confirm operational status, and set and secure equipment for operation. As well, you will become aware of the distinguishing characteristics of individual tractors including rated power, steering systems, and operational complexities. Competence in tractor operation requires you to achieve an awareness of licensing and legislative requirements, duty of care to yourself, others and the environment. The work in this standard is likely to be carried out by you under some supervision with regular checking within enterprise guidelines.

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator

Working Dog Stock Handling

By achieving the units of competency - Care for and train working dogs (RTE2106A) and Handle livestock using basic techniques (RTE2118A) participants will develop the skills and knowledge to select, train and care for working dogs as well as carrying out livestock handling operations safely and humanely, in prepared handling areas, using appropriate equipment and techniques . Competency requires an awareness of animal welfare legislative requirements and enterprise workplace safe practices. The work is likely to be carried out under routine supervision within enterprise guidelines.

Contact: Short Course Officer - 1800 441 244 or 02 6939 5000

or email Primary Industries Centre Short Course Coordinator