The need for skills and knowledge for increasingly complex sports turf management processes was identified as a priority skill area in the 2018-2021 Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (see pages 88 – 90). The Skills Forecast proposed the review of two Sports Turf Management qualifications (Certificate II and Diploma) and the 38 units of competency listed in these qualifications. After consultation with industry and the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation and Land Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC), the project scope has been adjusted to review four sports turf management qualifications (Certificate II, III, IV and Diploma) and 17 turf specific units of competency.

Skills Impact and the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation and Land Management IRC will manage this project, consistent with the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development.

Download the IRC Skills Forecast (see pages 88 – 90)

Project Scope

This project will review and update four existing sports turf management qualifications and 17 related units of competency to reflect current industry practices, and incorporate the latest technologies, equipment and advances in turf agronomy.

The qualifications will be reviewed and updated to include work functions that reflect current job roles in the industry. The units of competency and their related assessment requirements will be updated to reflect the requirements and detail industry has been seeking, to support quality training and assessment in this sector.  The qualifications and units will comply with the Standards for Training Packages 2012 and will be incorporated in the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.

Relevant Occupations

• Assistant green keeper/ Green keeper
• Grounds person
• Sports turf tradesperson
• Assistant turf manager/curator/grounds manager
• Assistant golf course superintendent/ Golf course superintendent
• Bowling greenkeeper/Head bowling greenkeeper
• Assistant track manager /Track manager

Key deliverables

Review of the four existing Sports Turf Management and 17 related units of competency units of competency in the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package. The project may develop up to five new units and five new skill sets.

Timeline

August – September 2018
Initial scoping

September – October 2018
Development of draft qualifications, skill sets and units

October – November 2018
Drafts available for broader consultation

February 2019
Validation of final drafts

April 2019
Finalisation of Training Package components

May – June 2019
Independent Quality Assurance, and Edit and Equity review of Training Package components

June 2019
IRC consideration for sign-off and submission for endorsement

Project Team

The Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation and Land Management Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will oversee this project, as part of their responsibilities to support engagement with the sector, and to ensure projects meets industry stakeholder needs.

Stakeholder Consultation Process

A list of key stakeholder organisations is being developed for this project. Skills Impact will ensure contact is made with each of these organisations during the development of this project to seek their involvement and their views on the draft qualifications and units.

If you are aware of an organisation that you think should be involved, please contact the project team to ensure they are contacted by us.

Of course, all and any interested industry participants are encouraged to engage in the consultation of this project, when the draft qualifications and units are available for feedback via this webpage and workshops that take place around Australia. Consultation is not limited to the organisations on this list. This list simply helps us to identify those organisations that, because of their industry role, size or specialty, are likely to have a key interest in the development and outcomes of this project.

Opportunities for stakeholder input

Stakeholder input is appreciated throughout the duration of this project. The documents will be drafted in consultation with Subject Matter Experts and their networks. Opportunities to provide targeted feedback will occur when the draft materials are made available, which is expected in late October 2018, and again for validation of final drafts which is expected in February 2019. However, your feedback is welcomed at any time, and will help us in drafting the qualifications, skill set and units. It is important that training provides a skilled and flexible workforce for the future. The qualifications, skill sets and units need to reflect real work experience. So if you work in the sector, Skills Impact would appreciate your input and help. Please feel free to register your interest for project updates and consultation opportunities by following the newsletter subscription link below. Alternatively, please feel free to contact the project manager, Tom Vassallo on 03 9321 3526 or [email protected].

Subject Matter Experts

Subject Matter Experts will be drawn on throughout this project to help review and draft the revised units, skill sets and qualifications.

If you are interested in applying to be a subject matter expert and are able to volunteer your time to this project, please email details of your expertise to [email protected].

Work commenced in September 2018 to review and redevelop the four existing sports turf management qualifications and 17 related units of competency in the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package. This work has been assisted by input from a Subject Matter Expert Working Group that includes representatives from various sub-sectors of the sports turf management industry across Australia.

Draft qualifications and units will be available for broad consultation in late October.

Consultation Workshops – Registrations Open!

The revised draft qualifications and units will be made available on this webpage for public consideration and feedback from late October to late November 2018 (under the ‘Drafts Available’ menu above). Face-to-face consultation workshops will also take place, across states and territories, with two webinars planned for those unable to attend in person. Registrations for these workshops are now open. Please feel free to register for a workshop near you or a webinar by clicking the corresponding link.

Face-to-Face Consultation Workshops

Tue 30 Oct 18, 8am to 10am – Melbourne – register here

Wed 31 Oct 18 8am to 10am – Perth – register here

Thu 1 Nov 18, 10am to 12 noon – Adelaide – register here

Fri 2 Nov 18, 10am to 12 noon – Canberra – register here

Mon 5 Nov 18, 11am to 1pm Hobart – Hobart – register here (new time)

Wed 7 Nov 18, 8am to 10am – Sydney – register here

Thu 8 Nov 18, 10am to 12 noon – Brisbane – register here

Consultation Webinars

Thu 15 Nov 18, 10 to 11am – Webinar – register here

Thu 15 Nov 18, 1 to 2pm – Webinar – register here

Thank you to all those who provided feedback on the three revised qualifications, four new skill sets and 18 revised units of competency. The drafts were made available on this webpage for broad stakeholder review from 25 October – 25 November 2018.

Feedback was sought on whether the draft qualifications, skill sets and units reflect the current skills standards and practices of industry, and whether job functions are accurately described. Feedback will inform the work on the final drafts which will be available for industry validation in February 2019.

They have been revised to include work functions that reflect current job roles in the industry and incorporate the latest technologies, equipment and advances in turf agronomy.

Thank you to those who participated in the validation process for the final draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency. The final drafts were made available on the Skills Impact website from 4 – 21 February 2019. They have been revised to include work functions that reflect current job roles in the industry and incorporate the latest technologies, equipment and advances in turf agronomy.

The final drafts will shortly progress through to the Finalisation stage of the project which includes quality assurance of the documents and review and feedback from the State/Territory Training Authorities. They will then be forwarded to the Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management Industry Reference Committee for consideration and sign off, before being submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) to consider and approve for publication on training.gov.au.

Validation means checking and confirming that the documents are logical and factually accurate. 

Download Summary of Feedback, Responses and Actions