Certificate III in Rural Operations

Please note that the fees displayed are for 2025 and may change for 2026 commencements

Overview

This course is available as the full qualification, Certificate III in Rural Operations, as well as the On-Country Rural Operations Program for First Nations students only.

Certificate III in Rural Operations This qualification describes the skills and knowledge for general job roles in agriculture, conservation land management and other related rural industries. Individuals with this qualification perform tasks under broad supervision involving a broad range of skills that are applied in a variety of contexts, which will involve discretion and judgement in selecting and operating equipment, coordinating resources and applying contingency measures during work.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

Training can be delivered at either our Wodonga - McKoy Street site, or our Shepparton - Wanganui Road site.

On-Country Rural Operations Program For First Nations students only, a condensed program where students can undertake key units from the Certificate III in Rural Operations. Gain valuable work experience and learn how to care for Country at Ryan’s Lagoon, under the guidance of Duduroa Elders Uncle Allan Murray and Uncle Phil Murray.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) fit-out, transport to and from Ryan’s Lagoon, and lunch when at Ryan’s Lagoon, is provided by the Koorie Education Unit with Wodonga TAFE.

This program can equip you with entry level skills and knowledge for job tasks in agriculture, conservation land management and other related rural industries.

Delivery Methods

• On-campus – The majority of teaching and assessment is conducted on-campus
• Blended – Teaching and assessment will be conducted on-campus and online.
• Workplace - A Virtual assessment or workplace observation is required to complete the Skill Set

Locations

• Shepparton Vic
• McKoy Street, Wodonga Vic (Main campus)

When You Can Start

Certificate III in Rural Operations:

Shepparton campus: Ongoing applications, intake in October 2025 begins 14 October; intake in February 2026, Tuesdays on campus.

Wodonga campus: Ongoing applications, begins February 2026, Tuesdays on campus.

On-Country Rural Operations Program: To know more, please click the "Enquire Now" button to get in touch with our friendly Customer Experience team.

When You Can Enrol

Certificate III in Rural Operations:

Shepparton campus: Ongoing applications for intakes in October 2025 and February 2026.

Wodonga campus: Ongoing applications, begins February 2026.

On-Country Rural Operations Program: To know more, please click the "Enquire Now" button to get in touch with our friendly Customer Experience team.

Duration

Certificate III in Rural Operations - Full-time: 12-24 months

On-Country Rural Operations Program: 3.5 months

Schedule

Certificate III in Rural Operations: Delivery schedule will be discussed with successful applicant upon acceptance into the course.

On-Country Rural Operations Program: To know more, please click the "Enquire Now" button to get in touch with our friendly Customer Experience team.

Requirements

• Students must be 16 years of age for operating machinery units
• Students must be 17 years of age for Conduct civil construction skid steer loader operations & Conduct civil construction excavator operations.

Assessment

The assessments will enable students to demonstrate the underpinning knowledge, skills and attributes required to meet the course outcomes. A range of assessment strategies to meet different student’s needs will be selected, including tests and projects of both a theoretical and practical nature.

Skills developed

Upon completion of the course, you will gain the skills, knowledge and expertise required to operate as a Rural Operator, including but not limited to:


• WHS


• Environmentally sustainable work practices


• Conduct a range of civil construction operations

Compulsory Units

AHCBIO303 Apply biosecurity measures
AHCWHS302 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
AHCWRK320 Apply environmentally sustainable work practices
AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals
AHCMOM213 Operate and maintain chainsaws
AHCMOM302 Perform machinery maintenance
AHCMOM304 Operate machinery and equipment
AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
FWPCOT3301 Trim trees using a pole saw
RIIMPO318F Conduct civil construction skid steer loader operations
RIIMPO320F Conduct civil construction excavator operations
AHCINF206 Install, maintain and repair farm fencing
AHCMOM202 Operate tractors
AHCMOM207 Conduct front-end loader operations
AHCMOM216 Operate side by side utility vehicles
AHCMOM217 Operate quad bikes

Certification

By successfully completing this course you will receive a nationally recognised AQF Qualification.

Fees

Government Funded $1,980.00 (Tuition $1,980.00, Materials $0.00)
Concession $396.00 (Tuition $396.00, Materials $0.00)
Fee For Service $5,100.00 (Tuition $5,100.00, Materials $0.00)

Fees Additional Information

Please note that the fees displayed are for 2025 and may change for 2026 commencements.

Careers

• Farmhand
• Station Hand
• Agricultural manager
• Livestock Handler
• Rural Operations Technician
• Agricultural Equipment Operator
• Machinery operator
• Rural services

How to apply

Apply online now via the ‘Apply Now’ button. If the course is not available for online application, register your details via the ‘Enquire Now’ form to be notified when future dates are scheduled, or to chat to our friendly Customer Experience team.

Once you submit an application for this course you will receive a separate email from LLN Robot to complete both a Digital Assessment and a Learning, Reading, Writing, Oral and Numeracy Assessment (LLN Assessment) online.

Please check your junk mail if this does not come to your inbox. All students are asked to complete the Digital and LLN assessments to determine any support requirements and to ensure the course and mode of delivery is suitable for the student.

Please allow one hour to complete the Digital and LLN assessments. You will need a computer with speakers or headphones as there is an audio section in the LLN assessment.

Your LLN and Digital assessments will need to be completed one week after receiving it to progress your application to the next stage, or your application may be withdrawn due to inactivity.

If you are unable to access the LLN assessment or the Digital assessment links please contact our Customer Experience team as soon possible.

Note: Completion of the LLN and Digital assessments does not guarantee a place in the course at Wodonga TAFE. Numbers are limited and selected applicants will be contacted to attend an interview. If an applicant is not accepted into their preferred course they will be contacted and provided information on alternate pathways and/or courses.

For traineeship information and enrolments, the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) is your first point of contact for queries about a traineeship or apprenticeship, www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/about-aasn.

Please note: We reserve the right to close course intakes early. Many courses have limited places and high demand. Early applications are recommended. We reserve the right to cancel intakes and courses if there are insufficient student numbers.