Course Details
Tone up your skills and gain a nationally recognised qualification without leaving the farm! This qualification reflects the role of workers who are responsible for the administration and day to day business operations of an agricultural or horticultural production enterprise.
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Course Information
Our Certificate IV course is designed for people who would like to improve their farm skills. There are no prerequisites however some course entry requirements do apply, see below for more details.
You have up to two years to complete this course in a self paced online format. Your learning time includes not only the time you spend working on the course materials, but also your time for reflection and thinking about what you have learned as you go about your normal activities. We estimate the total learning time may be up to 20 hours per week for some students. Of course, this will vary according to your existing skills and knowledge.
Possible job titles relevant to this qualification:
- Agribusiness administrator
At this level, workers may be required to supervise and lead other workers or teams and be involved in some decision-making.
COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
- Be actively engaged in farming/ horticulture, or have ready access to and knowledge of a farm/horticulture business which can be used for completion of assessment tasks. As a guide, your chosen farm should show these characteristics:
- Operated as a business for profit
- Have a commercial scale
- Have agricultural enterprises such as commercial crops or livestock
- Be close to where you live so you can be physically on it regularly (eg weekly)
- Be able to provide you with details of past production, management processes, costs, prices etc. Advanced Diploma units will require access to past financial records.
- If you are not part of the farm business, RuralBiz Training may require you to provide contact details for the owner or manager to confirm your access to the farm.
- Have access to a computer with at least Windows 7, Word 97, Excel 97, Adobe Reader and satellite broadband internet connection or similar. If you have a Mac computer, we suggest you talk to a computer technician about installing the Windows environment.
- Basic computer skills e.g. use of internet, email, basic word processing skills
- Completion of Year 10 or equivalent or be able to demonstrate similar literacy and numeracy levels
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL) & CREDIT TRANSFER
RPL is a process which recognises the experience and skills you have gained through previous work experiences, or prior study. This means you may gain recognition without additional training.
If you have done previous accredited training we may be able to offer you direct credit transfer for units in this course. Contact us if you think this applies to you.
TRAINERS
Your trainers are well qualified, practical people who are managing their own farm businesses or providing services to farmers.
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Units
The Certificate IV in Agribusiness requires the completion of 12 units of competency made up of:
- 3 core units, plus
- 9 elective units.
Elective units must ensure the integrity of the qualification’s Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) alignment and contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome. The electives are to be chosen as follows:
- at least 7 units from the elective list
- up to 2 units from this or any other endorsed Training Package or Accredited Course
Core Units AHCAGB405 Analyse and interpret production data AHCAGB406 Keep financial records for primary production business AHCWHS401 Maintain work health and safety processes Elective Units AHCAGB302 Keep production records for a primary production business AHCBUS406 Administer finance insurance and legal requirements AHCBUS407 Cost a project AHCBUS408 Operate within a budget framework AHCBUS512 Develop and implement family business structures and relationships AHCWRK403 Supervise work routines and staff performance BSBCMM401 Make a presentation BSBLDR403 Lead team effectiveness BSBRSK401 Identify risk and apply risk management processes -
Cost
Your fee for this course will depend on the the availability of a subsidy from your State and your eligibility. To view a summary of all current course fees and subsidies please click here or contact our office for more information.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Payment plan
Want to make smaller, regular payments throughout your course?
The payment plan option consists of establishing a direct debit for payments deducted weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly from your nominated bank account or credit card, across the duration of your enrolment. There is a $13.64 establishment fee and an administration charge (Amex, Debt Collection: 5.5% or Direct Debit: 4.5%) on all payment plans. The establishment fee is paid in your first instalment and the administration fee becomes part of your scheduled deduction. Payment plans are administered by DebitSuccess – www.debitsuccess.com.au
Up front payment
Individual students can pay up to $1,500 of their course fee up-front. An employer or organisation can pay up to 100% of a learners course fee up-front if they are an employee or member of the organisation.
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Delivery
Self-paced online learning
Use resources and information in our online learning site (RuralBiz Online) to work at your own rate, at times that suit you. You will find resources to help you learn including videos, quizzes, print materials and links to other useful websites. This site also has a forum where you can post comments and questions for other participants and your trainer. It will also be the spot to upload your assessments, receive trainer feedback and track your progress.
Interactive online sessions
These are run in our Blackboard Collaborate virtual classroom where you work with a trainer and other participants. You will be able to see a presentation on your computer screen, hear the trainer and other group members, and ask questions or make comments. One of our previous participants described it as being like "two way radio with pictures" but it also has a whiteboard, chat function and many other tools useful for training. Some sessions are also recorded for listening back at a later date. These sessions are usually run on demand when there is a group of at least 10 participants to attend.
Printed Manuals
Many of our units use a printed manual, giving you time to explore the online learning environments while having familiar materials at hand.
ASSESSMENT
Your assessment tasks are designed for you to apply your learning to your own farm. In many cases, you produce a valuable resource for ongoing use in your own business - such as an e-Farm Plan which is easily updated or business, cropping or livestock plans.
Past students have found that they continue to use and adapt these plans well after they have completed their qualification.
You'll attend an AgForum in each unit - an online informal discussion with other students about day to day issues of interest in agriculture.
YOUR PROGRESS
At enrolment, we work with you to design an individual training plan that meets your needs and course rules, so you can complete your course within the 2 year time frame, or earlier if you want to progress more quickly.
We know that farmers have busy periods during the year depending on their district and type of farming. We also recognise that family issues mean some students will need time out during their course.
If you find you are unable to keep to your training plan, you can talk to your guardian angel and amend it as needed.
Remember, we're working with you to make your study possible!
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Benefits
Key Benefits
- Flexible - self paced online or online group delivery, fit study in with your life.
- Everyone with an internet connection has equal access to training
- Training is delivered to you - wherever you have internet access
- No travel time or travel costs
- Access to online materials 24/7
- Access to the best trainers who are farmers themselves, not just trainers who can visit your district
- Your very own Guardian Angel for support
- Work in groups from a wide geographic area
- Training can continue even if you are travelling or cut off by floods or other natural disasters
- Assessments are submitted online - fast turnaround times
- Student Card - purchase some items at discounted prices
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Pathways
Further Education or Training:
Further training pathways from this Qualification include, but are not limited to:
- AHC50116 Diploma of Agriculture
- AHC51422 Diploma of Agribusiness Management
- AHC60319 Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management
Employment:
Employment pathways from this qualification include, but are not limited to:
- Agribusiness administrator
At this level, workers may be required to supervise and lead other workers or teams and be involved in some decision-making. Work may take place in a range of industry sectors and in complex, regularly changing environments.