ECG - McMillan Campus

 Distant Education Information Sheet

So… you’ve just finished school, or you’re considering a career change, or up-grading your qualifications? Making life-changing decisions, such as whether or not to undertake further study, is never easy. At ECG we are committed to providing you with all the information you’ll need to enable you to make the right choice. This information sheet is designed to answer some of the common questions that prospective students the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management may ask.

Who would enroll in the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management?

The Diploma of Conservation and Land Management is geared towards providing you with the skills and knowledge needed to embark on, or further, a career in the rapidly expanding environmental industries. Potential employees may include Catchment Management Authorities, Parks Victoria, Landcare, and Shires just to name a few.

The Diploma can be completed flexibly over two and a half years (or 5 semesters), or part-time, over a longer period. Individual units of competency may also be selected, as can some units in the more traditional mode of on-campus. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) may enable eligible students to gain recognition for relevant prior learning and experience allowing the course to be completed in a shorter time.

How does the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management work?

Students enrolled in the Diploma must complete a total of 10 units from the National Conservation and Land Management Training Package. The subjects are delivered flexibly state wide and are coordinated through the Leongatha campus. Flexible learning participants are provided with:

• a Learning Guide;
• a comprehensive Learning Resource Manual, relating to the necessary underpinning knowledge required for each unit of competency; and
• an Assessment Guide, detailing assessment tasks and providing advice on the gathering of evidence for assessment.

At present, the Guides and Manuals are primarily print-based, but increasingly will be made available on CD or on-line.

Participants are offered locally-conducted workshops to supplement the learning process. For some units, attendance at a workshop may be required for practical instruction or completion of some assessment tasks.

 Students usually undertake 2 units each semester completing 10 over the 5 semesters.

What units will I be undertaking in the Diploma?

The course units are presented below. Students must complete all of the Group A & B units and choose two of the Group C units.

* Units may be subject to change   

How do I enroll in the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management?

Enrolments for the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management are through direct enrolment at the McMillan campus in Leongatha. You can call Lyn Butcher at McMillan ECG Leongatha on 56 626 708 for further information and application for admission forms.

Applicants to the Diploma courses must have fulfilled the following criteria;

A pass in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or equivalent or

Mature age entry (at least 21 years of age) and aptitude for the course.

Completed an environmental training program such as Green Corp or similar experience.

Note: Previous formal study in relevant subjects at an appropriate level may be credited to the course. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is also available for those people who have substantial experience in the industry.


What do I do after I graduate?

You have successfully completed your qualification in the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management, but what happens next? Graduates of the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management may:

Enter Full-time Employment: Many exciting careers can open up on graduation from the Diploma of Conservation and Land Management. Most of these careers offer a combination of outdoor and indoor work. Some examples of such careers are: Catchment and land management, community facilitation, ecotourism, ecological research, landcare, parks and wildlife management, and pest animal and plant management.

Undertake further Study: Once graduates have obtained their Diploma, the qualification can be used to enter further study. Many other qualifications can be obtained in a substantially shorter period of time, if students already have a Diploma of Conservation and Land Management.