Arboriculture| Arborist Training in Australia| Where to get it step by step

Eric Frei

Glossary of Terms at bottom of page

Australia has AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) training delivered by RTO's (Registered Training Organisations) controlled by government to be compliant and to a standard. Training records must be retained for 30 years so any ticks and flicks, accidents down the track etc can be investigated. These RTO's function as either govt TAFE schools or private colleges etc. They operate absolutely independent of any industry organisation, you do not and should not have to be a member of anything to get training.

Now, step by step, the government has made this very easy for you (and trainers) about where to get it.

You visit this website NTIS -- view NTIS trainingpackage

Get used to this place, it's the bible for training. Our arb stuff is the RTF03 thing down the page.

Here's where you'll find a list of the units.
NTIS -- view TrainingPackage RTF03
Also in this post you'll find a list of the common units.

For example, here's a list of places that does CertIII Arb
NTIS -- view NTIS qualification RTF30203


Here's the list of places that do Dip Arb.

NTIS -- view NTIS qualification RTF50203

So, what do trainers do? They will try to get on board with those RTO's.

How good is your training?

As good as the trainer, and yes, regardless of what the AQF might actually believe there will be differences. Like the way I will teach felling a side leaning tree is definitely not the way I was shown (which was not quite correct). The scope will say "fell trees" but you may not have a tutor who knows all the techniques.

Look here, this is an example.
NTIS -- view unit RTF3007A

In the training there's two components, the endorsed (which is the competencies in the package as seen in the link above) and the non-endorsed which is the material you learn from.

Your training material (notes, videos, books, overheads etc) is non-endorsed and can vary however the outcome to competencies is supposed to be consistent and the same across the board, however I assure it is not.

From this link I have taken a picture of what is stated and underlines the important news is underlined in red:-





What this means is trainers can and do vary and develop their own material, there's some simply way out there in front with techniques and technology.

Some colleges will train, including material, some wont. Some will only assess ROPL and you have to provide the evidence. The intricate details should be provided by them but they will come back to the Unit elements as seen here. See the elements, see the performance criteria, see the range statement down the bottom, look at the key competencies.

Trainers have to be guided by the same sheet you have right there in front of you. Trainers and RTO's have to have assessment tools, they vary, in fact many have to be created/developed and RTO's can be competative and not share them etc. That means my assessments will differ. How will they assess you? What knots do you need to know? How many knots? How many trees do you have to ID? Are you starting to see the variations here ... so some trainers and colleges will strip the pants off others.

Listen, in my class for doing TAA40104 was a couple of people who paid for and abandoned another course as the material and trainer was a joke. I have even heard rumours of people getting their TAA40104 in two days and having to train some-one to tie one knot as a "proof of competency". Yet, my course was 8 full days in class and around a couple hundred hours of assignments, delivery, making assessment tools, designing training materials and aids. Assessment tools have to vary, you cant just have questions and answers, you cant just watch some-one fell a tree and go tick a box. If that's what you are experiencing out there then you're getting a bung deal. There should be evidence, something that can be referenced in years to come.

Look at the way Billy Goddard trains rigging, he's got that great model thing, that's his tool. He's got log charts and stuff. Go elsewhere you dont get that, you might get something better, worse or nothing at all. It's not like some high school year 12 exam where every single person gets the same questions, just isn't like that.

It's vocational training, meaning work competency based. And each workplace varies too and the training can be moulded around that workplace. So equipment and machinery in one place might be chippers and towers and in another airspade, sidewinder, corer and water cutter. They're skills us trainers learn, to customize the training to your workplace not try and ram square pegs into round holes.

So, they aint all the same eggs folks, there is differences. If you just look at cost or location you might dud yourself. You can do some units with one place and transfer them to another (called RCC or Credit Transfer). The RTO's must credit them and not charge.... but they can charge registration or enrolment fees so ask.

Also watch out on the age of the units/training etc. Generally there's a 5 year expiry. So if you have 17 units making up a cert3 in 2005 you may lose the ability to RCC those units to Dip Arb if you wait to 2011. Then if that did happen you'd possibly have to ROPL them.

Got questions, post away, for some bazaar reason people avoid this topic like the plague and the trainers dont say much at all.


From the attached PDf written 2005, interesting to note that there's a gap between the academics and the practical occurring, and so in real life for arborists. It's part of all our roles to research and stay abreast of new information, seek it and post your findings on the forums here Tree Information and Facts - Tree World
Glossary of Terms

AQF: Australian Qualifications Framework
AQTF: Australian Quality Training Framework
NTIS: National Training Information Service
RCC: Recognition of current competency
ROPL: Recognition of prior learning
RTO: Registered Training Organisation

Attached Thumbnails

 

Attached Files

arborist training australia Dr Moore.pdf (42.9 KB, 542 views)

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Eric Frei

To keep the momentum of this training thread running I will step by step show you why it matters who does your training and how it will differ, so not all peoples trained in aerial rescue will be on the same level I assure you.

Here's the unit RTF3702A: Undertake aerial rescue
NTIS -- view unit RTF3702A

Now take the 5 minutes out to read everything, carefully.

Answer this, what types of rescue do you have to perform?

Oh, see, not clear is it.

There's many and there's many access methods.

The common 3 is

1/ Bring climber down on their own lifeline.
2/ Bring climber down on your lifeline (transfer to your line)
3/ Pole top rescue

But there's also variations and they are mentioned.

Lets focus on Does it mention any of the above 3? Nope. And there's more than 3 anyway.

Lets look closely at the range statement.

Did you read that, you can use a crane! You could set up a lowering line on a figure 8 too, are you starting to see how this works?

Lets back up a little to the Key Competencies, read this.

I bolded the internet part, in fact it is becoming the staple diet for most transactions including training and I'm pouring bucket loads of time into that right here for you ... free.

There's more to training than cost or college. Now imagine some guy might have whizzed up the tree, brought a dummy down on the dummies own lifeline and some trainer gives the big tick. Does happen. So think it out what you want, pieces of paper or skills and knowledge.

Again, they call this the AQF and say it's consistent, it's not, you can see for yourself. It is, for me, wonderfully flexible and suits me, but it would suit a tick and flick operator too. So records are kept for 30 years, if something happens they go back to the training, see the evidence, what was taught, how was it assessed, what evidence is there etc. It's important to know this. Ever hired an arborist who couldn't tie a cow hitch or re-threaded figure 8? I have, and this happens because the unit itself is not exactly specific and definitive in what knots have to be taught.

Changing that is a whole new mission I'll be on, and thankfully it has nothing to do with the arborist associations like the QAA.

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Eric Frei

Now that you have an understanding of training, what do all those codes mean and how do you know what to study?

The unit code, for example, RTF3007A Fell Large Trees ... notice the number 3 I balded. Here's another, RTF5018A ... notice the number 5 I balded. What those numbers mean in the unit is the level, one is a level3 unit the other a level5 unit.

See how great this system is?

Generally there's two goals people shoot for, a level3 then a level5 (Level5 is a Diploma guys). When you look at the packaging rules you'll see you dont need to really go like this:-

level2 > level3 > level4 > level5 etc, whilst that's OK if you want to it's not necessary. You can go Level3 > Level5 no worries.

Attached is 2 PDF's from that site. One is for Cert3 the other cert5. In the Packaging Rules it tells us what units etc you need. You select the units that you know most about and use, remember that this is vocational training and recognition so it's about what you do daily, if you cable a lot then pick the cabling unit etc. In the sample below I balded that, so experience matters.


If you are having any trouble with this then post here and we can run a real live example of your learning path.

Attached Files

	RTF30203_Cert3_Arboricuture.pdf (5.4 KB, 261 views)
	RTF50203_Cert5_Diploma_arboriculture.pdf (4.9 KB, 246 views)

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Eric Frei

There is also "common units".

They can be found here.

NTIS -- view TrainingPackage RTF03_4

But where do they apply and how?

I have loaded a PDF that breaks them down into Group A and Group B units and to the relevant level.

Check the PDF out and make sure you look at the RH RTF column.

Attached Files

Common Units Matrix.pdf (96.6 KB, 252 views)

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Eric Frei

TAS Training & Assessment Services is now open for business.

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BigDamo

Hi Ekka ,
regarding arb training i was told as from next year there wont be a level 4 as such they are going to combine level 4 and 5 in the one year.
This is at Ryde Tafe in sydney.
Do you know anything about this?
And is this going to be Aust wide?

Thanks

Therrin

Wow, nice work Ekka. Very in-depth and specific. You layed it all out very nicely.

I wish there was something like that for us yanks.

JayD

This is interesting, so does that mean the people who have already completed level 4 will they be able to go straight into year two of diploma ? Surely there is going to be some sort of recognition given to those who done it by the steps of the ladder only to have their hard earned qualification dis continued.

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Level 4 Arborist/ FPIFGM 3204A: Fall trees manually (intermediate)

Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others

Eric Frei

I heard there will be level 3 and level 5 ... that's it.

Of course to get a level 5 some of your level 4 units might help, but I have always said go straight from level 3 to level 5 anyway.

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BigDamo

Im doing level 3 at the moment and they are squashing in some level 4 modules at the end of the year.

Eric Frei

Squash more ... all the better, more you know the better it is.

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Wes

Hi all,

I'm kind of new to this but I'll give it a try...

I have been trying to find someone who does local arborist training for the past 18 months, so far with no luck. I work on the west coast of Tas and own my own business as a tree faller/ bushie. I take a large ammount of pride in my work and would love to further my skills by becoming an arborist, however I have been unable to find anything that even hints at this sort of training in Tasmania.

Is this training available locally or should I seek it elsewhere?

Information of any kind on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Josh
W.E.S

derwoodii

Significant changes are about to occur in Arboriculture training

Passing on some info sent to me

"Arboriculture training is industry driven" is the mantra I hear from Agrifood skills Australia. This is the body responsible for producing the training package that provides the framework for our Arboriculture training.
I have provided comment them in the past, but have had it clearly stated to me that the process is "industry driven not training provider driven"
and as a training provider there will be no consultation and we will be told what to deliver.
I am led to believe the consultation with industry process has been quite limited, to the extent that I am unaware of any consultation with industry in this state!
If you have been part of the process or know of anyone that has been part of the process could you please inform me.

Significant changes are about to occur in Arboriculture training.
Certificate 3 Arboriculture constitutes 90% of arboriculture enrollment at NMIT.
While training delivery focuses on practical employability skills (climbing, cutting, rigging & pruning) students are also introduced to the broader aspects of arboriculture that will underpin the competent arborist. These broader aspects also demonstrate that there is more to arboriculture than the climbing and cutting.
These areas include tree ID, soils, transplanting, tree anatomy & function, pests & diseases, tree protection, specialist pruning and cabling.

Under the proposed changes all of those subject areas listed above will not be available except for cabling. Within the new package there be only one pruning subject and that will be an elective! Currently we deliver two specific pruning subjects and include pruning in two other subjects (cabling & tree maintenance) as tree pruning is a difficult subject area to train students to a level of competence.

Below is our current delivery profile for Certificate 3 Arboriculture.

A student has to complete all of the subjects from semester 2 - 5 and can use 3 subjects from semester 1 to complete their certificate 3 qualification.

You will see that many subjects will be deleted from the new training package and we will replace them with other subjects that "industry" has decided are more relevant to what "industry" wants from a Certificate 3 Arborist.

Semester 1 is Cert 2 subjects that provide underpinning knowledge for Cert 3 subjects.

SUBJECT TITLE

Semester 1
LEVEL 2 SUBJECTS THAT PROVIDE UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE FOR LEVEL 3

RTC2005A Fell small trees
RTC2016A Recognise plants THERE IS NO POINT IN DELIVERING AS NO LEVEL 3 SUBJECT WILL EXIST RTC2304A Operate and maintain chainsaws DELETED RTC2701A Follow OH&S procedures RTC2705A Work effectively in the industry RTC2702A Observe environmental work practices RTC2801A Participate in workplace communications RTF2009A Perform above ground pruning THE ONLY PRUNING SUBJECT AT LEVEL 2 RTF2017A Prune shrubs and small trees DELETED RTF2311A Undertake stump removal RTC2301A Undertake operational maintenance of machinery
RTC2307A Operate machinery and equipment DELETED
RTF2027A Undertake standard climbing techniques
VBH020 Electrical system ID


Semester 2 LEVEL 3 SUBJECTS
RTC 2704A Provide basic 1st aid
RTF 3017A Implement a tree pruning program THE ONLY PRUNING SUBJECT AT THIS LEVEL RTF 3702A Undertake aerial rescue RTF 3031A Undertake complex tree climbing RTE 3713A Carry out OHS, environ. & w/place comm.
responsibilities

Semester 3
RTC 3016A Provide info. on plants & their culture DELETED RTF 3503A Sample soils & analyse results DELETED RTF 3018A Implement a tree transplanting program DELETED

Semester 4
RTF 3032A Install cable and bracing
RTF 3028A Perform specialist amenity pruning DELETED RTF 3015A Implement a tree maintenance program RTF 3404A Control plant pests, diseases & disorders DELETED

Semester 5
RTF 3019A Remove trees in confined spaces RTF 3007A Fell large trees RTF 3035A Implement a tree protection program DELETED

Attached is the final draft for Certificate 3 Arboriculture which has been created through consultation with industry.
It offers a very narrow range of subjects focusing on machinery and tree felling!! and there is very little that is concerned with horticulture.
Not a single subject that promotes the idea of planting a tree.

Currently students undertaking training are informed as to some of the other aspects and opportunities that exist within the broader arboriculture industry and many continue training at Certificate 5/Diploma.
They come to the Diploma with a good base of underpinning knowledge to undertake the Diploma subjects. This underpinning base will not be available in Certificate 3 and will have to be delivered within the Diploma.
Is it right that the Diploma level subject should deliver level 2 or 3 competencies? and how much extra time should be allocated?

I won't go on as you may or may not be interested ?

These changes are going to have a significant impact on training delivery and there are certainly some good aspects within the proposed changes.

The changes affect Certificate 2 (who looks to employee Cert 2 qualified people?)please let me know Certificate 3 (the biggest employment area that will be significantly "dumbed" down) Certificate 4 Deleted Certificate 5/Diploma that does become more Arboriculture focused.

limited information here
AHC10 Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package - AgriFood Skills Australia

so it is your industry and you are driving training delivery.

regards,


Arboriculture Programs
Horticulture Department
Fairfield Campus, NMIT
Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield 3078

Attached Files

Microsoft Word - AHC30810 Certificate III inArboriculture_1.pdf (25.0 KB, 6 views)

TrevMcRev

It certainly does look more like a cert3 in Tree Work rather than Arboriculture.

It seems like it would be more suitable IF there were still a cert4 to bridge the expanding gap between cert5 so it was something like:
Cert2: Introduction to tree work
Cert3: Fundamentals of Tree Work
Cert4: Practical Arboriculture
Cert5: Professional Arboriculture

My 2 bob anyway...

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MTS247

Lots of ARB training is a joke! now they are just making it official

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