C5418 - Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

Go to Enrolment Program Structures Search

Plan: C5418 - Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Campus: City Campus

Overview

Program details
Purpose of the Program
Articulation and pathways
Entrance requirements
External accreditation and industry links
Student expenses and charges in addition to fees
Library, IT and specialist resources

Program details

Award title: Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Qualification national code: AHC51120
Nominal hours: 1590
Career: TAFE
Duration: 2 years full-time
Location: RMIT University, City Campus
Owning school: Built Environment and Sustainability (530T)
Owning school URL: www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/college-of-vocational-education
CRICOS code: 104848J

*Top of page

Purpose of the Program

This qualification reflects the skills and knowledge required for skilled and paraprofessional work in conservation and ecosystem management.

Workers with this qualification perform in operational managerial and/or technical positions often with specialist skills and knowledge in a range of sectors.

  • Indigenous land management
  • ecosystem restoration, rehabilitation and renewal
  • conservation works
  • parks management and/or administration
  • wildlife management
  • marine and/or coastal management
  • water and catchment management.

RMIT's Conservation and Ecosystem Management program provides you with the skills and knowledge needed to work in the field managing natural resources.
You will spend a large part of your time outdoors learning hands-on skills from industry professionals and carrying out project based work. This will take place in both urban and rural locations and will bring you into contact with other professionals from a range of government and community organisations.

During the course of the program you will:

  • develop an understanding of the identification and surveying of plants and animals
  • engage with the processes of restoration of natural areas, water quality monitoring and the development of management plans 
  • gain an understanding of the importance of the identification and protection of sites of cultural heritage significance.
*Top of page

Articulation and pathways

Successful completion of Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management are guaranteed entry into the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Science) up to 84 credit points of exemptions (equivalent to 0.5 years full-time study).

NOTE: The Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Science) is undergoing review and may change in 2023. This may result in changes to the course structure, content and fees.
You can still apply for this course and you will be supported to transfer into the new qualification once it becomes available.

Graduates of RMIT's Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management who apply to the Bachelor of Landscape Architectural Design must complete the selection task and will be guaranteed a folio presentation. Graduates who successfully gain entry are granted 36 credit points of exemptions.

*Top of page

Entrance requirements

There are no minimum academic entry requirements for this program. 

Entry to this program is competitive. Applicants with current employment, or at least 1 year previous experience, in a related role will be given preference. Applicants may be ranked and selected in order of merit based on their academic achievement, e.g., ATAR, GPA or STAT Multiple Choice (including any adjustments).

Successful completion of the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (Science) guarantees entry to this program.

*Top of page

External accreditation and industry links

In Australia, there are no professional bodies that recognise or accredit programs in Conservation and Land management. However the School of Vocational Engineering, Health & Sciences maintains strong links through its Program Advisory Committee.

Employers and industry professionals are members of the Program Advisory Committee and have contributed to both the initial development and ongoing improvement of this program. Their involvement ensures that the program remains relevant to your needs as a graduate and the needs of graduate employers.

Many of the teaching staff within the program are practising (or have been) industry professionals with extensive industry experience and contact networks. This experience, when integrated into teaching and learning practice, enriches your learning environment.

These networks are further enhanced by the School's Work Integrated Learning courses, which provide you with an opportunity to undertake extensive field work in a range of locations where you will often work alongside industry staff from organisations such as Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, local councils and others.

*Top of page

Student expenses and charges in addition to fees

Once you are enrolled as a student in this program you will need to allow for expenses other than university tuition fees.  Additional expenses may relate to the purchase of lecture notes, textbooks, stationery, consumables such as printer paper, fees levied by commercial internet service providers for internet access outside of the university campus, and other relevant costs.

*Top of page

Library, IT and specialist resources

RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice. As a student enrolled in this RMIT University program you will:

  • undertake and be assessed on structured activities that allow you to learn, apply and demonstrate your
  • professional or vocational practice;
  • interact with industry and community when undertaking these activities;
  • complete these activities in real work contexts or situations;

and in addition:
these interactions and the work contexts provide distinctive sources of feedback to you to assist your learning.

Any or all of these aspects of a WIL experience may be simulated.

This nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualification is competency-based. This means that it is designed to enable you to develop the practical skills and knowledge (competency) needed to perform the duties and tasks in the job you are training for.

Assessment in a competency-based program is about being able to demonstrate that you have developed these practical skills and areas of knowledge, and that you can perform at the standard required in the job.This could involve showing an assessor how you plan and carry out tasks andexplaining to the assessor how you know what you are doing. It could also involve completing a project and presenting a report on the process and outcomes. If you are working, your work supervisor may provide the assessor with a report on
your competency.

If you have already developed areas of skill and knowledge included in this program (e.g. through prior paid or voluntary work experience), you can be assessed and have these skills and knowledge formally recognised at any point during the program. There is information on the RMIT University website about how to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) –refer to https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit

We also offer a friendly and supportive environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. You can find more information at www.rmit.edu.au/student

*Top of page
 
 
[Next: Learning outcomes]