Education and training
From Poultry Hub
The education and training section of Poultry Hub is focussed on making it easier for people, including poultry farmers, industry personnel and researchers to find the courses or training they need. The information in this section should assist you with on-the-job training, help you enter the industry with a suitable qualification or outline funding opportunities.
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[edit] Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
Education and training opportunities relevant to the poultry industries and people supporting them are usually endorsed through the Australian Qualifications Framework, or AQF, and can be divided into three sectors:
- Vocational education and training or VET, including on-the-job training from TAFE or private providers.
- Higher education, mostly by universities.
- The Schools sector, including the VET in Schools initiative.
[edit] AQF qualifications
The AQF is a unified system of national qualifications introduced in 1995. AQF qualifications link with each other in a range of learning pathways between schools, vocational education and training providers and universities. The qualifications that are recognised under the AQF (grouped according to the educational sector which is responsible for their accreditation and in decreasing level of qualification) are:
| Schools Sector Accreditation | VET Sector Accreditation | Higher Education Sector Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | ||
| Masters Degree | ||
| Vocational Graduate Diploma | Graduate Diploma | |
| Vocational Graduate Certificate | Graduate Certificate | |
| Bachelor Degree | ||
| Advanced Diploma | Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma | |
| Diploma | Diploma | |
| Senior Secondary Certificate of Education | Certificate IV | |
| Certificate III | ||
| Certificate II | ||
| Certificate I |
It should be noted that vocational education and training is increasingly provided in the schools sector (VET in Schools) which may be recognised at the appropriate Certificate I - IV level or as credit towards the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Some Certificate I - IV qualifications are also issued in the higher education sector and there is also a vocational education and training pathway to the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma.
[edit] Building a qualification - units of competency
The AQF is based on recognising the ability of an individual to perform specific tasks. The skills and knowledge required to perform a task are defined in a unit of competency (or competency unit). Qualifications under the AQF are built up of the required units of competency that together define the competency standards for that qualification.
A Statement of Attainment is issued by a Registered Training Organisation when an individual has completed one or more units of competency from nationally recognised qualification(s)/courses(s). When a Statement (or Statements) of Attainment are issued to an individual that encompass all of the required units of competency for a qualification under the AQF then that qualification can be awarded to that individual.
[edit] Recognition of prior learning
People involved in poultry production can often be eligible for formal recognition of their life skills and experience without realising it. Central to the whole qualifications system is recognition of prior learning (RPL), which allows a person to receive recognition and credit for the knowledge and skills they have, no matter how and where they were attained, including overseas.
RPL applies to the entire AQF and encourages people to obtain formal recognition of their skills and previous training. It also allows people to move from one sector of training into another by a process known as articulation. For example, a person who has obtained a Bachelor degree at a university may decide to complete a certificate or diploma in the VET sector through TAFE. A person who has completed a TAFE certificate may decide to proceed to study at a university and apply for advanced standing, which is formal accreditation for relevant sections of their certificate towards their degree.
[edit] National Training Information Service (NTIS)
The National Training Information Service (NTIS) houses the database on vocational education and training in Australia. NTIS is the official national register of information on Training Packages, Qualifications, Courses, Units of Competency and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
[edit] State Training Authorities
[edit] Training and career pathways
The following career pathway information for careers in poultry production is provided by Rural Skills Australia.
| Job / Qualification | Possible job / career expectations |
|---|---|
| Assistant Poultry Hand Certificate I in Agriculture (Poultry Production) | Assistant poultry hand positions are usually the beginning of a career in the poultry production industry. Duties may include: caring for poultry; maintaining a hygienic environment; operating machinery and equipment; controlling pests. |
| Poultry Hand Certificate II in Agriculture (Poultry Production) | A poultry hand is likely to be involved in a wide range of tasks, working under limited supervision. The tasks may include: handling and identifying chickens; hatchery maintenance; operating machinery and equipment. |
| Senior Poultry Hand Certificate III in Agriculture (Poultry Production) | A senior poultry hand is a skilled worker and is likely to be involved in co-ordination a wide range of poultry production operations including: supervision of hatchery operations; operating specialised poultry plant, equipment and machinery. |
| Leading Hand Certificate IV in Agriculture (Poultry Production) | A leading hand has responsibility for a number of workers and a range of poultry production activities including: supervision of production activities; staff supervision and training; flock health; budget and stock control; equipment and machinery management. |
| Poultry Production Manager Diploma in Agriculture (Rural Business Management) | A poultry production manager is likely to have significant responsibilities in managing poultry production activities. Duties may include: livestock health and production; physical and natural resource management; staff management; business planning and operations. |
| Poultry Business Manager Advanced Diploma in Agriculture (Rural Business Management) | A poultry business manager has the primary responsibility for ensuring that the poultry production enterprise is successfully managed. These responsibilities may include: whole farm planning and management; managing production systems; marketing of products; strategic planning; business management. |
There are also many other specialist career paths with opportunities in the poultry industries, such as marketing, accounting and business, training, human resources management, veterinary science, nutrition and diet formulation, food safety and quality assurance and environmental management.
[edit] Industry employee awards
The following employee awards are relevant for workers in the poultry industries:
[edit] Industry training materials
A number of training materials are available that have been developed with industry funding and consultation. These are listed in the Resources section.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Australian Government Department of Education Science and Training
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
- National Training Information Services
- Rural Skills Australia
- Australian Apprenticeship Centre Career Pathways
- Australian Apprenticeship Centre Certificate II Description
- Australian Apprenticeship Centre Certificate III Description
- Australian Apprenticeship Centre Certificate IV Description
- Agrifood Skills Council Homepage
- Rural Skills “Ontrack” - Poultry Pages
- Local community partnerships
- ANTA careers pathway
- DEST training and skills publications
- Australian Job Search livestock farmers page
- Australian Apprenticeship Job Pathways
- Industry and Enterprise Skills Program
