Certificate III in Dairy Production

If you’re looking to start a career in the dairy industry or you’d simply like to improve your existing skills, our Certificate III in Dairy Production will get you where you want to be.
With a focus on hands-on learning as you work your way through simulated workplaces and on-the-job experience, you’ll gain valuable experience working on farms as you gain confidence and begin working independently – learning how to establish pastures and crops for livestock, transport and prepare chemicals, coordinate milking operations, construct fencing, create feeding plans, respond to emergencies and more.

Maximise your career in in the dairy industry where qualified people are in high demand.
On successful completion of the Certificate III in Dairy Production you’ll will be able to work as a farm hand in the dairy production industry, undertaking a wide range of skilled work on a dairy farm, caring and monitoring health of livestock, overseeing the harvesting of livestock milk and maintaining milking equipment and facilities to ensure maximum and high-quality production.

Enhance your skillset and increase your employment opportunities by going on to study a Certificate IV in Agriculture or a Certificate IV in Agribusiness. Whatever you decide, we’ll be here to help with all of those decisions when the time comes.

This Kim, one of our Agriculture teachers

Local farmer and student Jake shares his experience

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

This qualification provides an occupational outcome in the dairy industry. The dairy industry expects that graduates from this qualification will be able to preform a range of tasks associated with a person preforming the job of a dairy farmhand.

Possible pathways may include but are not limited to:
AHC40116 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC50116 Diploma of Agriculture
Both of these qualifications are offered at TAFE Gippsland.

The participants will be involved in a range of different roles on the farm, performing various tasks while working under limited supervision. Through the duration of the course and work on farms, individuals will build their capability to work independently in some situations and where some decision making maybe required.

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

Mandatory entry requirements:

Students MUST be working on a Commercial Dairy Farm
Profile / Fulltime Trainee Students: Minimum age of 17 years (this is not a training package requirement). Profile students in Victoria must be 17 years of age or older and not enrolled at secondary school to be eligible to enrol in this qualification.
School Based Apprentice / Trainee (SBAT): Must be 15 years or older to undertake a SBAT. SBATs must be 16 years of age or older to be operate machinery such as Tractors, according to manufacturer specifications.

Recommended entry Requirements:

To enter this course individuals must be employed to work on a Commercial dairy farm.
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry, often as a part time or full time traineeship, including School Based Trainee.
Applicants wishing to undertake the qualification are required to complete a full Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment, as well as a Pre training Review
Applicants are also required to complete a interview with one of the trainers before enrolment can proceed into this course

Limitations to course Entry:

Some units of competency included in this qualification may require the ability to operate machinery such as tractors , agricultural front end loaders some manufacturer's specifications require that require operators / students to be a minimum of 16 years of age to operate.
Students must have access to a reliable internet connection.
Students must have access to a computer or tablet that will support course work to be completed in our Learning Management System Moodle. We recommend that this also includes a headset (integrated microphone and earphones).
Students working within the agricultural industry must be physically fit, this includes the ability to bend and lift. Students must be able to spend considerable time on their feet throughout their working day.

Not applicable.

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: true

An ACUP (agricultural chemical users permit) is a permit issued to a person, which provides authority to purchase specified 'restricted supply' chemicals and use specified 'restricted use' chemicals in Victoria.
You are required to undertake relevant training before you can apply for and hold an ACUP.
ACUPs do not authorise a person to use agricultural chemicals on another person’s property, crop or commodity for a fee or reward (i.e. contractors).
To be eligible to apply for a "STANDARD ACUP" the minimum Training requirement is the successful completion of a course in AgVet chemical use (or equivalent) that includes the units of competency:
AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases (previously AHCCHM303); and
AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals.
On successful completion of these units of competency individuals can use their statement of results / attainment to apply for a Standard ACUP through Agriculture Victoria online at https://chemical.agriculture.vic.gov.au/ (additional fees are payable to apply for this permit)

If you’re looking to start a career in the dairy industry or you’d simply like to improve your existing skills, our Certificate III in Dairy Production will get you where you want to be.
With a focus on hands-on learning as you work your way through simulated workplaces and on-the-job experience, you’ll gain valuable experience working on farms as you gain confidence and begin working independently – learning how to establish pastures and crops for livestock, transport and prepare chemicals, coordinate milking operations, construct fencing, create feeding plans, respond to emergencies and more.

Maximise your career in in the dairy industry where qualified people are in high demand.
On successful completion of the Certificate III in Dairy Production you’ll will be able to work as a farm hand in the dairy production industry, undertaking a wide range of skilled work on a dairy farm, caring and monitoring health of livestock, overseeing the harvesting of livestock milk and maintaining milking equipment and facilities to ensure maximum and high-quality production.

Enhance your skillset and increase your employment opportunities by going on to study a Certificate IV in Agriculture or a Certificate IV in Agribusiness. Whatever you decide, we’ll be here to help with all of those decisions when the time comes.

This Kim, one of our Agriculture teachers

Local farmer and student Jake shares his experience

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

This qualification provides an occupational outcome in the dairy industry. The dairy industry expects that graduates from this qualification will be able to preform a range of tasks associated with a person preforming the job of a dairy farmhand.

Possible pathways may include but are not limited to:
AHC40116 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC50116 Diploma of Agriculture
Both of these qualifications are offered at TAFE Gippsland.

The participants will be involved in a range of different roles on the farm, performing various tasks while working under limited supervision. Through the duration of the course and work on farms, individuals will build their capability to work independently in some situations and where some decision making maybe required.

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

Mandatory entry requirements:

Students MUST be working on a Commercial Dairy Farm
Profile / Fulltime Trainee Students: Minimum age of 17 years (this is not a training package requirement). Profile students in Victoria must be 17 years of age or older and not enrolled at secondary school to be eligible to enrol in this qualification.
School Based Apprentice / Trainee (SBAT): Must be 15 years or older to undertake a SBAT. SBATs must be 16 years of age or older to be operate machinery such as Tractors, according to manufacturer specifications.

Recommended entry Requirements:

To enter this course individuals must be employed to work on a Commercial dairy farm.
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry, often as a part time or full time traineeship, including School Based Trainee.
Applicants wishing to undertake the qualification are required to complete a full Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment, as well as a Pre training Review
Applicants are also required to complete a interview with one of the trainers before enrolment can proceed into this course

Limitations to course Entry:

Some units of competency included in this qualification may require the ability to operate machinery such as tractors , agricultural front end loaders some manufacturer's specifications require that require operators / students to be a minimum of 16 years of age to operate.
Students must have access to a reliable internet connection.
Students must have access to a computer or tablet that will support course work to be completed in our Learning Management System Moodle. We recommend that this also includes a headset (integrated microphone and earphones).
Students working within the agricultural industry must be physically fit, this includes the ability to bend and lift. Students must be able to spend considerable time on their feet throughout their working day.

Not applicable.

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: true

An ACUP (agricultural chemical users permit) is a permit issued to a person, which provides authority to purchase specified 'restricted supply' chemicals and use specified 'restricted use' chemicals in Victoria.
You are required to undertake relevant training before you can apply for and hold an ACUP.
ACUPs do not authorise a person to use agricultural chemicals on another person’s property, crop or commodity for a fee or reward (i.e. contractors).
To be eligible to apply for a "STANDARD ACUP" the minimum Training requirement is the successful completion of a course in AgVet chemical use (or equivalent) that includes the units of competency:
AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases (previously AHCCHM303); and
AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals.
On successful completion of these units of competency individuals can use their statement of results / attainment to apply for a Standard ACUP through Agriculture Victoria online at https://chemical.agriculture.vic.gov.au/ (additional fees are payable to apply for this permit)