Vocational and Professional SustainabilityTraining
Qualifications in Permaculture
Accredited Permaculture TrainingTM (APT) provides a mechanism for gaining Nationally Recognised certificate and diploma qualifications in permaculture. It is recognised by the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), the government body responsible for accrediting vocational training throughout Australia.
Competency Based Learning
APT is a ‘competency based’ vocational training course which balances theory with applied practical skills. Competencies are specific fields of work or skills-sets that students learn to do that relate to typical tasks involved permaculture practices at the qualification level. e.g. "Plan an organic garden and orchard system";
"Manage a permaculture seed bank", "Design an integrated permaculture system" In the course these are called 'Units of Competency'. Students demonstrate through their course and project work that they are 'competent' in both the knowledge requirements and practical skills to successfully perform the described task to the course assessor.
A qualification is made up of a series of Units of Competency which students acheive to complete their qualification. e.g. Certificate IV in Permaculture requires 5 Core Units and 7 Elective Units.
Qualification Levels
The different qualification levels focus on different areas of permaculturee application and operation. Students may enter at the level they wish to practice or that provides training in the specific fields fields of knowledge and skills they want to gain. It is not necessary to complete a Certificate III before doing a Certificate IV, however some people choose to complete the certificate III first to have a solid grounding in practical implementation before moving on to learning to design with a Certificate IV.
A unique feature of the integrated training program is that it offers an opportunity for someone entering into Certificate IV to participate in Certificate III modules to gain underpinning knowledge and skills they require for their Cert IV work.
This is a Trade Certificate - focus is on ability to plan and implement permaculture systems on the ground. Ideal for people developing their own property or establishing a permaculture landscaping and gardening service, organic market garden or CSA.
This is equivalent to an advanced trade certificate with a focus on urban and rural systems design, planning and community facilitation. Ideal for becoming a design consultant, program coordinator, project officer and community development work.
The diploma focus is on professional design, consulting and management skills for urban and rural projects and community development programs, transition and energy descent planning and facilitation.
Like to plan ahead? Well, now you can with the new 2010 Permaculture Diary and Calendar. A year of permaculture inspiration with a different design principle featured each month.