Full course listing

NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), and previously NSW Agriculture, have a proud history of offering education and training to the state's rural sector. The department has responded to changes in the nature of agriculture over more than a hundred years. This program of short courses presented by Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre, in conjunction with CB Alexander campus of Tocal College, continues that tradition.

• Courses on training, learning and assessment
• Farm skills
• SMARTtrain® Chemical Accreditation
• Natural resource management
• Agricultural production
• Animal production
• Rural business management
• Aboriginal Rural Training Program

Aboriginal Rural Training Program

The Aboriginal Rural Training Program (ARTP) unit at Yanco has many years of successful experience in providing natural resource skills, rural skills and management skills to Aboriginal communities in remote centres and in larger regional towns and cities. Contact the unit coordinator if you are seeking information on any aspect of rural training for Aboriginal learners. Servicing eastern Australia.

Fees are based on project costs less subsidy where available. Contact the ARTP coordinator on 1800 628 422.

Animal production

• Lamb assessment and marketing
• Wean more lambs
• StockAssess^TM
• Better bull buying
• Beef-N-Omics
• Property-to-property transfer — National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)
• StockSafe^TM - safe responsible livestock handling
• OHS for livestock handlers

Courses on training, learning and assessment

• Design learning programs
• Certificate IV in training and assessment
• Facilitate learning (skill set)
• Elective — Facilitate group-based learning
• Work within the Vocational Education & Training (VET) system (skill set)
• Elective — Coordinate and facilitate distance-based learning
• Skills assessment
• Provide assessment services (skill set)
• Elective — Provide training through instruction and demonstration of work skills

Natural resource management

• Identification and management of native grass pastures for agriculture and conservation
• Prograze^TM
• StockPlan®
• Introduction to irrigation management
• Irrigation, Certificate III
• Soils and fertilisers
• Prograze^TM abridged
• Farmers' guide to managing climate risk
• Environmental management systems (EMS) in agriculture
• TopFodder^TM silage
• Irrigated lucerne for profit
• LANDSCAN^TM
• Rice for profit
• Property management planning (PMP) for natural resource management

SMARTtrain® Chemical Accreditation program

In NSW, people who use pesticides in their business or as part of their job must be trained and accredited in how to use those pesticides. Training is required in the use of all types of pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, baits, lures and rodenticides (rat poison) etc.

Legislation regulated by the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation stipulates that commercial users of pesticides must be trained and accredited in the use of pesticides. In addition, every 5 years pesticide users will need to demonstrate their competence through workplace evidence and/or assessment. Reaccreditation, or further training with SMARTtrain®, must be completed before the expiry date on your current chemical accreditation card. Please note that you can train at the next higher level of SMARTtrain® at any time within the valid period of your card, and your new SMARTtrain® card will last a further 5 years after successful completion of the course.

The SMARTtrain® Chemical Accreditation Program has a range of training options available to suit all types of pesticide users.

• SMARTtrain® weeds and their control
• SMARTtrain® Level 4 reaccreditation
• SMARTtrain® chemical risk management (Level 4)
• SMARTtrain® OHS risk management on farms (Level 4)
• SMARTtrain® chemical application (Level 3)
• SMARTtrain® chemical safety (Level 2)
• SMARTtrain® fumigation on farms
• SMARTtrain® Level 3 reaccreditation
• SMARTtrain® safe use of hazardous substances (Level 2)

Farm skills

• Forklift operation
• Fall trees manually - non-production
• Wood chipper operation
• Trim and cross-cut felled trees (Level II chainsaw operation)
• Conventional fencing (not including electric fencing)
• Bore pump and river pump maintenance
• All-terrain vehicles (ATV) handling
• Safe tractor operation and maintenance
• Electric fencing
• Off-road four wheel drive (4x4) training
• Bore and windmill service and repair for farmers

Agricultural production

• Integrated pest management (IPM) in viticulture
• Wine grape quality management
• Crop forecasting for wine grapes
• Spray applications in viticulture
• Wine berry sensory assessment
• Grapevine nutrition
• Getting started with environmental management in viticulture
• Water management for grapevines — Research to Practice®

Rural business management

Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre presents a series of new workshops for the rural business community. These workshops are designed and delivered by rural business people and are suitable for rural retailers, agribusiness operators, and rural service providers. Designed to assist with growing your business and professional skills, these workshops are held in the Riverina only, providing an excellent opportunity to attend professional development workshops without having to travel too far afield.

Consult the Course calendar for dates and venues, or call MRSC on 1800 628 422 for more information.

• Retirement, estate and succession planning for farmers
• Negotiation skills for farmers
• Managing conflict at work
• Realise your personal and professional potential: taking control
• Business structures, leases and sharefarming agreements
• Effective communication for business owners and managers
• 'Growing your rural business' workshop series
• Promoting your small farming enterprise

Requests for other courses

The courses listed on our website are scheduled as part of a public program of training. Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre conducts courses listed in response to requests from particular enterprises, organisations or communities, and conducts other specialist courses for a range of clients. We have staff specialising in course construction, costing, accreditation and delivery, and we have access to all the department’s research and extension staff. If you believe there exists an area of primary industries or natural resource management which would benefit from training, please contact the Manager, Continuing Education at 1800 628 422.