VET Permaculture: Shortages and Opportunities

Did you know:

• There is a shortage of VET (permaculture) teachers and assessors *1
• Several longstanding permaculture VET teachers have retired in recent times and many are happy to provide advice/assistance to new teachers
• Permaculture units and knowledge is included in various other qualifications (mostly agriculture and horticulture) *2 post the reaccreditation process completed in 2022 *3
• The agriculture and horticulture sectors have a shortage of qualified workers *4, 5
• Cert I and II in Permaculture can, and are, taught in various schools *6
• You need a Cert IV TAE to be a VET teacher, but you don’t need the equivalent Permaculture qualification to teach into a course. Now a PDC or other training, relevant industry experience (relevant to the units you teach) is sufficient *7

The Education team has been working with Linda Woodrow this year to develop a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (Cert IV TAE) with a strong focus on accessibility (mostly online), student support and interaction, incorporating permaculture units where possible and face to face teaching practicums within existing permaculture course offerings.

This is a very exciting project as the last time a Cert IV teaching qualification with a focus on permaculture was offered, was in 2010 at Crystal Waters Eco Village with the teachers being Virginia Solomon and Robin Clayfield. I participated in that wonderful course and was exposed to very creative and inspiring teaching practices. The photo accompanying this article, with a background of Virginia’s garden, is a picture of the quilt that was used in that course. Students created an avatar on the first day and placed it/moved it on the quilt each day in accordance with how they felt and where they were at in terms of progress. It was a fabulous way to check-in and have a visual of where everyone was at any point in time.

We have reached the stage in the project of now seeking an interested Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to partner with to offer this permaculture focused Cert IV TAE, developed by a very experienced teacher of this course for many years. Do you think your organisation could be that RTO or do you know of an appropriate RTO that may be interested? 

Interested, need more information?

Also, let us know, if you haven’t already, whether you’re interested in potentially doing this Cert IV TAE for permies. We need evidence of demand, so spread the word. Anyone, with an interest/experience in permaculture who wishes to teach VET in any field would be suitable.
This course will be engaging and very different from current offerings in the market.

We’d dearly love to get his course going from next year so any ideas, relevant contacts, assistance, would be much appreciated.

Please email education@permacultureaustralia.org.au
Wendy Marchment
Convenor, Education Team

Photo supplied by Virginia Solomon
References:

1.  https://theconversation.com/wholl-teach-all-the-students-promised-extra-tafe-places-4-steps-to-end-staff-shortages-1755232
   
2. Egs https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/AHCECR101, https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/AHCPER225, https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/AHCPER514, https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/AHCOCM302, https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/NAT11087021
3. https://permacultureaustralia.org.au/permaculture-training-something-for-everyone/
4. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-05-17/calls-to-revitalise-ag-education-amid-worker-shortage/102347770
5. https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/publications/skills-priority-list-occupations/anzsco-sub-major/skilled-animal-and-horticultural-workers#:~:text=Across%20all%20Skilled%20Animal%20and,with%2019%25%20across%20all%20occupations.
6. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-15/south-australian-agriculture-teachers-needed/102225202
7. https://permacultureaustralia.org.au/great-news-for-trainers-wanting-to-deliver-accredited-permaculture-training/