longerenong college | agriculture | conservation | land management

Farm Apprenticeships and School Based New Apprenticeships
(RTE20103, RTE30103 & RTE40103)

About the course

The apprenticeship programs provide practical training in farming operations along with the underlying knowledge necessary for people in broadacre related industries. These integrated programs provide training to skilled operators across a range of agricultural industry sectors.

The School Based New Apprenticeship (SBNA) program allows students to keep their options open by undertaking a farm apprenticeship while still completing years 10, 11 or 12 at school. The SBNA provides students with more challenges than VET in Schools (VETiS) and is ideal for students from family farms. Students select electives specific to their farm and can participate in trade school block releases to accelerate their learning.

All farm apprentices participate in practical and theory based classes. This provides the agricultural knowledge for practical farm work applications. Apprentices will undertake four consecutive days of classes in training blocks with other broadacre apprentices, in a relaxed learning environment and there will be up to six of these training blocks a year. On completion of the required units, students will graduate with Certificates II, III and IV in Agriculture. This involves three years of full time employment and training.

What are the career outcomes?

There are many rewarding careers open to graduates such as:

agricultural contracting business owners
farm machinery sales
farm managers
rural merchandise sales

How do I gain a qualification?

The course has been designed to meet the qualifying requirements of the Advanced Diploma of Agriculture as part of the Rural Production Training Package (RTE03). Students must successfully complete a set number of competencies as prescribed by the Australian Qualifications Framework.

What do I study?

1st Year Apprenticeship/Traineeship

The first year of an apprenticeship and SBNA involves basic skills training. Students will be enrolled in a Certificate II in Agriculture (RTE20103).

A total of 17 units of competency must be successfully completed to be awarded the Certificate II in Agriculture. The actual units of competency undertaken are made up as follows:

4 compulsory units (Group A)
10 additional units (Group B)
3 additional units from Group B and/or Group C

Competency Code	Unit of Competency	Suggested Delivery or Assessment
Group A	Compulsory Units
RTC2701A	Follow OHS procedures	Longerenong
RTC2702A	Observe environmental work practices	Longerenong
RTC2705A	Work effectively in the industry	Longerenong
RTC2801A	Participate in workplace communications	On-Farm
Group B	Core Units- Trade School
RTE1103A	Support woolshed activities	Longerenong
RTE1105A	Undertake basic shearing and crutching	Longerenong
RTE2002A	Assist with prescribed burning	Longerenong
RTE2011A	Assist agricultural crop establishment	Longerenong
RTE2029A	Assist agricultural crop maintenance	Longerenong
RTE2205A	Fabricate and repair metal or plastic structures	Longerenong
RTE2302A	Grind combs and cutters for machine shearing	Longerenong
Group C	Core Units- Trade School
RTC3704A	Prepare and apply chemicals	Longerenong
RTC2706A	Apply chemicals under supervision	Longerenong
RTC2704A	Provide basic first aid	Longerenong
Group B	Electives
RTE2308A	Operate ride-on vehicles	On-Farm
RTE2115A	Muster and move livestock	On-Farm
RTE2118A	Handle livestock using basic techniques	On-Farm
RTE1001A	Support agricultural work	On-Farm
RTE2111A	Identify and mark livestock	On-Farm
RTE2113A	Monitor livestock to parturition	On-Farm
RTE2114A	Monitor water supplies	On-Farm
RTE2124A	Carry out birthing duties	On-Farm
RTE2127A	Castrate livestock	On-Farm
RTE2128A	Provide feed for livestock	On-Farm
RTE2129A	Move and handle pigs	On-Farm
RTE2140A	Maintain health and welfare of poultry	On-Farm
RTE2141A	Set up shed for placement of day-old chickens	On-Farm
RTE2142A	Collect and pack eggs for human consumption	On-Farm
RTE2145A	Care for weaner and grower pigs	On-Farm
RTE2146A	Mix and mill standard stock feed	On-Farm
RTE2147A	Beak trim chickens	On-Farm
RTE2151A	Care for health and welfare of pigs	On-Farm
Group C	Electives
RTC3705A	Transport, handle & store chemicals	On-Farm
RTC2306A	Operate vehicles	On-Farm
RTC2309A	Operate tractors	On-Farm
RTC2209A	Install, maintain and repair fencing	On-Farm
RTC2210A	Maintain properties and structures	On-Farm
RTC2301A	Undertake operational maintenance of machinery	On-Farm

2nd Year Apprenticeship

Second year apprentices will have the opportunity to specialize in a chosen agricultural field and will be expected to undertake most farming tasks in a safe and efficient manner with limited supervision. Students will be enrolled in a Certificate II in Agriculture (RTE30103).

A total of 16 units of competency must be successfully completed to be awarded the Certificate III in Agriculture. The actual units of competency undertaken are made up as follows:

1 compulsory unit (Group A)
12 additional units (Group B)
3 additional units from Group B and/or Group C

Competency Code	Unit of Competency	Suggested Delivery or Assessment
Group A	Compulsory
RTE3713A	Carry out workplace OHS procedures	Longerenong
Group B	Core Units- Trade School
RTE3006A	Establish pastures for livestock production	Longerenong
RTE3402A	Implement animal health control programs	Longerenong
RTE3406A	Implement vertebrate pest control	Longerenong
RTE3037A	Save, prepare and store agricultural seed	Longerenong
RTE3024A	Undertake preparation of land for agricultural crop production	Longerenong
RTE3008A	Handle bulk materials in storage area	Longerenong
RTE3506A	Monitor weather conditions	Longerenong
RTE3307A	Coordinate machinery and equipment maintenance and repair	Longerenong
RTE3213A	Implement property improvement, construction or repair	Assignment task
RTE3904A	Keep records for primary production business	Longerenong
Elective Units (recommended to select one area to specialise)
Group B	Cropping
RTE3009A	Undertake agricultural crop harvesting activities	On Farm
RTE3029A	Establish agricultural crops	On Farm
RTE3022A	Undertake agricultural crop maintenance activities	On Farm
Group B	Sheep & Wool Production
RTE3107A	Carry out post shearing procedures	On Farm
RTE3122A	Prepare livestock for shearing	On Farm
RTE3406A	Implement vertebrate pest control	On Farm
RTE3120A	Prepare facilities for shearing and crutching	On Farm
RTE3121A	Prepare animals for parturition	On Farm
RTE3130A	Supervise clip preparation	On Farm
Group B	Livestock
RTE3131A	Transport livestock	On Farm
RTE3121A	Prepare animals for parturition	On Farm
RTE3115A	Implement livestock husbandry practices	On Farm
RTE3114A	Implement feeding plans for livestock	On Farm
RTE3113A	Identify and draft livestock	L.C or on Farm
Group B	Farm Maintenance
RTE3213A	Implement property improvement, construction or repair	Assignment (On Farm)
RTE3312A	Service and repair bores and windmills	On Farm
Group C	Farm Maintenance
RTC3209A	Plan and construct conventional fencing	On Farm
Group C	AgVet Chemical Users Course
RTC3704	Prepare and Apply Chemicals	Longerenong
RTC2706	Apply chemicals under supervision	Longerenong

3rd Year Apprenticeship

Third year apprentices should have sufficient training to be able to manage the farm and explain how decisions are made for the farming business. Students will be enrolled in a Certificate IV in Agriculture (RTE40103).

A total of 12 units of competency must be successfully completed to be awarded the Certificate IV in Agriculture. The actual units of competency undertaken are made up as follows:

10 units (Group B)
2 additional units from Group B and/or Group C

Competency Code	Unit of Competency	Suggested Delivery or Assessment
Group B	Core Units- Trade School
RTC4701A	Implement and monitor the enterprise OHS program	Longerenong
RTE4301A	Conduct major repair and overhaul of machinery and equipment	Longerenong
RTE4903A	Arrange transport for grain or livestock	Longerenong
RTD4406A	Implement pest management action plans	Longerenong
ICAITU211A	Operate accounting applications	Longerenong
ICAITU204A	Locate and evaluate online information	Longerenong
RTE5916A	Prepare and monitor budgets and financial reports	Longerenong
RTE4401A	Control weeds, pests and diseases in crops	Longerenong
RTE4011A	Manage pastures for livestock production	Longerenong
Group B	Cropping Electives
RTE4008A	Maintain grain quality in storage	Longerenong
RTE4018A	Supervise agricultural crop establishment	On Farm
RTE4026A	Supervise agricultural crop harvesting	On Farm
Group B	Livestock Electives
RTE4009A	Plan a pasture establishment program	On Farm
RTE4104A	Develop livestock feeding plans	On Farm
RTE4109A	Oversee animal marking operations	Longerenong
RTE4115A	Plan to exhibit livestock or fleece	On Farm
RTE4111A	Manage shearing and crutching operations	On Farm
RTE4202A	Design livestock handling/accommodation facilities	On Farm
RTE5104A	Develop livestock health and welfare strategies	On Farm

How do I study?

A farm apprenticeship combines full time paid work on the farm with ‘off the job’ training at Longerenong College.

What you learn from your employer as you work will be assessed by the College at your farm. One of our expert staff will visit you at your workplace to help you and your employer select the subjects that you will be assessed in on the farm during the year.

The ‘off the job’ training component comprises a number of trade school training blocks conducted at Longerenong College throughout the year. Farm apprentices from across Victoria attend this training and are organised into classes according to their year group i.e. 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year for the trade school training blocks. This allows apprentices to develop a peer group as they undertake their apprenticeship.

The trade school training blocks include a significant amount of practical work much of which is done on the Longerenong farm which comprises 1070 hectares and is run as a commercial enterprise. The majority of apprentices choose to live in the student residences while they attend their trade school blocks.

Gaining admission to the program

School Based New Apprenticeships are open to students aged 15 years or older who are permanent residents of Australia. To be able to undertake a SBNA at Longerenong you must:

be enrolled at a school
be undertaking VCE/VCAL studies
undertake paid employment on a farm for a minimum of 15 hours per week (this may be averaged over a 1, 2 or 4 week cycle)

The full time Farm Apprenticeship is open to any person aged 15 years or older who is employed full time on a farm or related business.

Special consideration may be given to participants who do not meet any of these criteria. Please contact the Student Administration Officer for more information.

Can I get credit for previous study/experience?

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the acknowledgement of skills and knowledge obtained through formal training, work experience and/or life experience. If you believe you are able to demonstrate the required level of competence in a unit you can apply for RPL by contacting the Student Administration Officer.

Credit Transfer (CT) is when the same unit of competency is completed within another program or within the same program but with another institution. No fees apply for CT.

When can I start?

The structure of the course allows apprentices to be enrolled throughout the year. Please contact the Student Administration Officer for more information.

How do I apply?

To arrange to start a SBNA, ask about it at your school or contact our Student Administration Officer for more information.

To arrange to start a full time Farm Apprenticeship, enquire at a New Apprenticeship Centre or contact our Student Administration Officer for more information.

Applicants with physical and/ or intellectual disabilities will be assessed for suitability for the program as part of the selection process.

Fees and charges

Tuition fees for government funded courses are in accordance with the Ministerial Direction on Fees and Charges.

The Student Administration Officer can provide information regarding the course fees.

Need further information?

Contact the Student Administration Officer:
Email:         info@longy.com.au
Phone:        (03) 5362 2222
Toll Free:    1800 814 294
Fax:             (03) 5362 2213

This training is delivered with Victorian Government funding.

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