The North West cattle industry provides a vast area of employment for young stockmen and women from all over WA.
Do you wish to try your hand in the cattle industry? This entry-level course could lead you on an exciting path from stockman to head stockman and eventually, station manager.
Throughout this course, you will undertake a combination of written assignments and hands-on industry tasks including fencing, tractor operations, cattle processing and mustering in teams. You will gain skills in machine operation, maintenance and horse husbandry.
Depending on the elective units you select, you will gain skills in:
- Environmentally sustainable work practices
- Work health and safety processes
- Handling and caring for horses and livestock
- Planting, propagation and plant care
- Treating weeds
- Irrigation operations and monitoring water supplies
- Operating tractors, basic machinery and machinery maintenance
- Installing fencing and maintenance
- You enjoy a practical, hands-on job
- You seek work in the agricultural or beef production industries
- You seek work in rural and regional Australia
The Connecting with Country program is a unique opportunity for students to develop knowledge and skills in horticulture and land management relevant to the local region, while undertaking a Certificate II in Rural Operations. The program runs for three days per week and provides practical skills and experience in:
- Propagating seedlings, striking cuttings, potting up and caring for nursery plants
- Preparing and establishing an organic vegetable patch
- Installing and maintaining irrigation
- Operating machinery and equipment
- Recognising plants
- Growing bush foods
- Maintaining and enhancing natural areas
- Promoting the local natural environment
Training is delivered at the Broome campus nursery, vegetable garden, campus classrooms and the Balu Buru site at 12 Mile. Scholarship opportunities are available periodically for this course. For more information, please click here.
This course is part of the Skills Ready initiative, allowing you to pay just half of the standard course fees for training from now until 2025! In addition, eligible students will have their course fees capped at just $400 per year. Please note that additional resource, material and/or equipment costs may apply. Visit our Skills Ready page for more information.
^ You will pay half price for the course fees on the Lower fees, local skills courses, however other fees may apply such as for resources that are specifically needed for your training.
This qualification prepares you for roles such as:
- Stockman/stockwoman
- Entry-level positions in the conservation, agriculture and/or horticulture industries
Job titles and qualification requirements may vary between organisations.
For more information about job and career pathways, visit JobOutlook(opens in a new tab) or Jobs and Skills WA.(opens in a new tab)
- Certificate III in Rural Operations (external)
Delivery locations and study options
Available all year
Qualification details
| Duration | 6 Months | ||||||||||||
| When | Available all year | ||||||||||||
| Where |
Broome Campus Derby Campus Fitzroy Crossing Campus Halls Creek Campus Kununurra Campus Wyndham Campus |
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| How |
Off campus On campus Still in school Traineeship |
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| Course fee |
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Our estimated fees are based on:
- Full time study in 2022
- A selection of elective units designed to meet local industry demand for skills (different unit selections will attract different fees)
- The government rate for Australian Citizens over the age of 18, permanent visa holders, visa sub-class 309, 444, 820 or a 457 dependent visa
These fees are estimates only and depend on your eligibility for government funding, concession rates, the units you choose to study or seek to be recognised under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Additional resource, material and/or equipment costs may apply. Visit our Fees and Charges page for more information, including on consumer rights.