Arboriculture qualifications and units of competency will be updated to reflect current practice, as part of a new project that also aims to remove significant barriers to training and assessment.

Arborists are on the National Skills Needs List and with falling training enrolment numbers, employers are facing severe challenges in attracting skilled staff. Some of the current qualifications have been identified as having structural barriers to entry. Some of the current units contain prerequisites and content which make them exceptionally difficult to deliver.

Six arboriculture qualifications and 42 units from the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package will be reviewed.

Opportunities for stakeholder input

We invite you to provide your feedback on the existing qualifications and units, which can be viewed on the project webpage (linked above).

The qualifications and units need to reflect real work experience. So if you work in the sector, Skills Impact would appreciate your input and help. We will keep you informed of project updates and consultation opportunities via this newsletter and the project webpage. Your feedback is welcomed at any time. Please feel free to contact the project manager, Tom Vassallo on 03 9321 3526 or [email protected].

Further projects being scoped

Skills Impact are currently in consultation with the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training about the skilled activities that will make up the scope of work for further projects in the agriculture and horticulture industries, including Horticulture Technology. Project webpages with further information will be available once details have been finalised.