Skip to main content
You are viewing this website as a Domestic Student You are viewing this website as an International Student

You are viewing this website as a Domestic Student

You are viewing this website as an International Student

Domestic Student

I am an Australian or New Zealand citizen.

I am an Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders).

International Student

I am not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand.

I am not an Australian permanent resident or Humanitarian Visa holders.

Start of main content
Conservation and Ecosystem Management
TAFE

AHC21020 Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management

Not available to international students.

Update your personalisation settings to view information about this course.

This course is only available to Domestic students and your preference is currently set to International.

This course is only available to International students and your preference is currently set to Domestic.

Key details

Duration

0.5 year/s

This qualification is delivered over a period of 6 months to 2 years. The length of time to complete this qualification will depend on the location, study mode and/or units selected and will vary depending upon how long a student takes to reach the required competency level.

Intake

Locations

Casuarina, Remote
Not available to international students.

Course code

AHC21020

Overview



This course is only available to continuing students. The qualification is due to be replaced during 2025, please contact the CDU team for current course details.

This qualification provides the skills and knowledge required for work in a defined context and/or for further study in conservation and ecosystem management. Work would be carried out under general guidance and supervision.

The qualification enables individuals to select and develop basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge in conservation and ecosystem management for Indigenous land management, lands, parks and wildlife services and the restoration and rehabilitation of ecosystems.

Career opportunities

Occupations relevant to this qualification include: 
>Lands >Parks and Wildlife Officer
>Pest Management Assistant (Feral Animals) 
>Landcare Assistant
>Conservation Earthworks Trainee 
>Indigenous Land Management Assistant

 

Credit transfers and advanced standing

Skill recognition

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is the acknowledgement of a person's skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant status or credit in a subject regardless of how and where they were attained, including overseas.This can include skills from:

  • Previous study excluding courses at another VET/TAFE institution, but including courses at school or college, through adult education classes or training programs at work;
  • Work experience (including both work that is paid and unpaid); and/or
  • Life experience (for example leisure pursuits or voluntary work).

RPL is a form of assessment. It is used to determine whether a person has acquired, through formal or informal learning, the skills and experience consistent with the stated competency standards that comprise a qualification. RPL is not time referenced, so there are no parameters on how or when the skills are acquired. However, the skills that have been acquired through life experience etc., must be current and must match the elements and performance criteria contained in the individual unit.

Students seeking RPL need to indicate this on their enrolment form at the time of enrolment.

For further information please refer to the Applicant's Guide to the Recognition of Prior Learning or contact Student Central on 1800 061 963 (free call) or email Student.Central@cdu.edu.au.

Credit Transfer

Charles Darwin University as a Registered Training Organisation recognises the Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statement of Attainments issued by any other Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Students are encouraged to submit any requests for credit from previous studies at the time of enrolment, to ensure they are not enrolling in units they may not need to undertake.

In order to apply for exemption/credit transfer from units completed at another training organisation, you will need to complete an Application for Exemption Form available from any campus, centre, or team, or a copy of the form can be obtained from the web.

Your completed Application for Exemption form together with attached documentary evidence (certified copy of Qualification/Statement of Attainment) to support your request for exemption/credit transfer should be submitted directly to the University either in person or by mail. Requests without documentary evidence will not be processed and will be returned to students. There are no fees attached to Credit Transfers.

Pathways

VET to Higher Education Pathway Mapping for completed Awards in the same field or discipline.

Further training pathways from this qualification include but are not limited to AHC31421 Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management.

Fees

2025 Fees

  Fee Type  2025 Course Fees
  NT Government supported*  TBA
  Full Fee  TBA

*This course is supported by the NT Government for eligible domestic students who are NT residents. A limited number of NT Government supported places are available, so secure your place now.

Fees shown are indicative and subject to change annually. Actual course fees may vary depending on the units chosen. International non-student visa-holders; study eligibility needs to be verified before enrolment. Fees may vary depending on the visa type.

For further clarification and information on fees, payment options, instalment plans, and refunds, contact CDU on 1800 061 963 or refer to TAFE Fees and Payments.

Fee exemptions

Exemptions apply to TAFE tuition fees for NTG supported courses only.

At the time of enrolment, students in these categories will be exempt from paying tuition fees:

  • Recipient of a Centrelink payment
  • Recipient of Department of Veterans Affairs benefits
  • Enrolled Secondary Students
  • Permanent residents with refugee or humanitarian status

Certified copy of the evidence must be provided at the time of enrolment.

If your course is delivered in a location that is listed on the NTG’s Location Categories for VET Funded Programs, with remote as the location category you may be eligible for the Remote 2 Location tuition fee exemption.

Delivery allowance for VET funded programs

International VET Package

CDU Aquaculture students

Why study at CDU?

Study with the Territory's largest training provider and gain industry-ready skills and experience. Whether you're a high school student or a working professional, we've got the courses and qualifications you want plus the support and flexibility you need to succeed. 

  • Learn from expert lecturers and industry professionals
  • Access to first-class facilities
  • Recognition of prior learning to qualify faster
VET-palmerston-cookery-flipped

Why study at CDU?

Study with the Northern Territory's largest training provider and gain industry-ready skills and experience.

  • Access to first-class facilities
  • Recognition of prior learning accepted
  • Packages into higher education available for most courses
CDU Aquaculture students

Why study at CDU?

Study with the Territory's largest training provider and gain industry-ready skills and experience. Whether you're a high school student or a working professional, we've got the courses and qualifications you want plus the support and flexibility you need to succeed. 

  • Learn from expert lecturers and industry professionals
  • Access to first-class facilities
  • Recognition of prior learning to qualify faster
VET-palmerston-cookery-flipped

Why study at CDU?

Study with the Northern Territory's largest training provider and gain industry-ready skills and experience.

  • Access to first-class facilities
  • Recognition of prior learning accepted
  • Packages into higher education available for most courses

What will I study?

To achieve AHC21020 Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management a total of fifteen (15) units of competency must be completed comprising two (2) Core and thirteen (13) Elective units as detailed in the packaging rules and listed below    Elective units:

Course structure

To achieve AHC21020 Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management a total of fifteen (15) units of competency must be completed comprising two (2) Core and thirteen (13) Elective units as detailed in the packaging rules and listed below    

Elective units:

  • at least 4 units must be selected from Group A
  • remaining units may be from Group A or Group B and up to 3 units from any training package or accredited course.


Internal Students


The total nominal hours for the sequence listed below is 480.

CodeModule/Unit of CompetencyHours
Core units of competency
AHCWHS201Participate in work health and safety processes20
AHCWRK209Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices20
 Total nominal hours for core units40
Elective units of competency (Select 13)
Group A (Select at least 4 from Group A)
AHCBIO203Inspect and clean machinery, tools and equipment to preserve biosecurity20
AHCECR203Perform basic ecological restoration works40
AHCFAU202Recognise fauna40
AHCLPW201Operate a handheld GPS device30
AHCPCM204Recognise plants40
AHCPGD206Conduct visual inspection of park facilities20
AHCPMG201Treat weeds40
Group B 
AHCCHM201Apply chemicals under supervision30
AHCMOM202Operate tractors40
AHCMOM203Operate basic machinery and equipment20
AHCMOM204Undertake operational maintenance of machinery30
AHCMOM213Operate and maintain chainsaws40
AHCMOM216Operate side by side utility vehicles50
 Total nominal hours for elective units440
 Total nominal hours for the qualification480

 

Apprentices and Trainees   

To achieve AHC21020 Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management a total of fifteen (15) units of competency must be completed comprising two (2) Core and thirteen (13) Elective units as detailed in the packaging rules and listed below    

Elective units:

  • at least 4 units must be selected from Group A
  • remaining units may be from Group A or Group B and up to 3 units from any training package or accredited course.


The total nominal hours for the sequence listed below is 343 - 660
 

CodeModule/Unit of CompetencyHours
Core units of competency
AHCWHS201Participate in work health and safety processes20
AHCWRK209Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices20
 Total nominal hours for core units40
Elective units of competency (Select 13)
Group A (Select at least 4 from Group A)
AHCBIO203Inspect and clean machinery, tools and equipment to preserve biosecurity20
AHCECR203Perform basic ecological restoration works40
AHCECR305Collect native seed40
AHCFAU202Recognise fauna40
AHCFIR202Assist with planned burning50
AHCILM201Maintain cultural places20
AHCILM202Observe and report plants or animals40
AHCILM203Record information about Country40
AHCPCM204Recognise plants40
AHCPGD206Conduct visual inspection of park facilities20
AHCPMG201Treat weeds40
AHCPMG307Apply animal trapping techniques40
AHCWRK204Work effectively in the industry20
AHCWRK205Participate in workplace communications30
PUAFIR204*Respond to wildfire60
PUAFIR210Prevent injury8
Group B 
AHCCHM201Apply chemicals under supervision30
AHCLSC201Assist with landscape construction work30
AHCMOM202Operate tractors40
AHCMOM203Operate basic machinery and equipment20
AHCMOM204Undertake operational maintenance of machinery30
AHCMOM213Operate and maintain chainsaws40
AHCMOM216Operate side by side utility vehicles50
AHCMOM217Operate quad bikes60
AHCNSY207Undertake propagation activities30
AHCPGD201Plant trees and shrubs20
Unnamed Electives 
FWPCOT3325Operate four wheel drive vehicle on unsealed roads (unnamed elective)40
FWPCOT3326Recover four wheel drive vehicle (unnamed elective)25
FWPCOT3329Perform complex four wheel drive operations (unnamed elective)80
 Total nominal hours for elective units303 - 620
 Total nominal hours for the qualification343 - 660

 

*Prerequisite requirement for PUAFIR204 Respond to wildfire is PUAFIR210 Prevent injury

 

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

There are no entry requirements for this qualification. 

For apprentices only: To gain entry into AHC21020 Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, students:

  • Have an apprenticeship contract in place between themselves, Australian Apprenticeship Support Services (AASN), and their host employer.

To ensure you have the right skills and support to succeed in your course, a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LL&N) evaluation helps identify any areas where you may need additional support to help you achieve your goals.

I wanted to turn my regular job into my dream job, and the Charles Darwin University course offered exactly what I needed: practical skills.

Yulia

CDU student

Yulila Shche writing at a desk / working from home

CDU graduates have the best career and employment prospects. International students have ranked CDU 1st in Australia for learning and living experience

Hema

CDU student

hema giri

I wanted to turn my regular job into my dream job, and the Charles Darwin University course offered exactly what I needed: practical skills.

Yulia

CDU student

Yulila Shche writing at a desk / working from home

CDU graduates have the best career and employment prospects. International students have ranked CDU 1st in Australia for learning and living experience

Hema

CDU student

hema giri

Course details

Accreditation

This is a current, nationally accredited qualification from the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.

Away from base

AFB: This is an approved Away From Base (AFB) 'mixed-mode' course.
For further information about AFB see www.cdu.edu.au/afb

Employability skills

Employability Skills are embedded in the training and assessment of national training package qualifications. Information on the Employability Skills relevant to your qualification can be obtained by visiting this website and keying in the national code for the qualification: training.gov.au

Location and study mode

Delivery at all locations is subject to sufficient demand and resources.



Locations: Casuarina, Remote



Study Mode:On campus, workplace assessment



Subject to demand other locations and modes may become available throughout the year.

Additional information

Sector
TAFE
Industry groups
PRIMARY INDUSTRY
Occupation types
Irrigation Assistant
Area of study
Conservation and Ecosystem Management, Science, Environmental Science and Management

Contact details

VET Environmental Studies
Location: Casuarina & Alice Springs Campuses
Phone: 08 8946 7513
Email: vet.clm@cdu.edu.au

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

You make CDU

Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

You make CDU

Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.

How to apply

How to apply for domestic students

CDU TAFE has several pathways for you to apply.

 

Visit How to apply for CDU TAFE courses for more information.

 

Admission requirements for domestic students

Before applying, you may want to check if you meet the admission requirements for studying with CDU.

 

CDU has many pathways to study, so don't worry if you don't meet the admission requirements right now. There is a study pathway to get you started on your journey.

Not sure if you are a domestic or international student?

That's OK - it can be a little tricky to know the difference.

 

To help you out, we've put together a guide to answer any questions you might have.

How to apply for international students

Applications to CDU must be submitted online.

 

The process is simple, all you need is a valid email address to create your online account.

 

Once you have started the application you will have the option of saving your application and resuming it at a later date.

 

There is no application fee when you apply online.

Find a CDU agent partner

Applicants may seek further information about international education in Australia from the Australian Government Department of Education and Training or from our overseas / external representatives.

 

To help with the process, we've compile a list of authorised representatives.

Not sure if you are a domestic or international student?

That's OK - it can be a little tricky to know the difference.

 

To help you out, we've put together a guide to answer any questions you might have.

 

Things like the difference between domestic and international students or the difference between course types like TAFE and undergraduate.

We are here to help

Submit an enquiry and our friendly team will be in touch.

You can unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy notice.
Back to top