National Certificates
An ideal introduction to turf care.
This qualification covers turf management basics applicable to all turf areas, with specialised training options for specific industry sectors /sports codes (e.g. cricket pitch and sports field managers, school grounds persons, bowls greenkeepers). In addition to providing an entry level qualification for ‘hands-on’ turf management staff, the program is ideal for commercial representatives, council supervisory staff and contractors seeking a ‘nutshell view’ of turf management essentials. Flexible delivery options include regionally based seminar/workshop style training days, correspondence and ‘on the job’ practical skills assessment.
National Certificate in Sports Turf Management (Level 4)
The “supervisory tradesperson’s” qualification in the sports turf industry.
This qualification is a must for all in a supervisory or sole charge position in sports turf management. The National Certificate in Sports Turf Management (Level 4) delivers the grounding necessary to manage a sports turf facility, ranging from practical skills and turf management theory to supervising staff and managing budgets. Management requirements for all major sports codes are encompassed, making this an excellent basis for employment across all turf industry sectors. Delivery is via a combination of block course, correspondence and on-job learning.
Gain credit for experience.
People with 10 or more years turf industry experience can apply to the ITO to gain credit towards the qualification for what they already know. This provides an opportunity for experienced turf managers to achieve a formal qualification.
Sports Turf Industry Management Development Programme (MDP)
Developing key management skills.
Designed to develop and enhance key management skills, this programme is of vital interest to sports turf facility managers and administrators, turf managers and business in the sports turf industry. The programme is delivered through a series of regionally based, one to two day workshops and workplace applied assessments. Participants may select workshops of greatest relevance, or complete a full qualification package; the National Certificate in Business – Introductory – Level 4, followed by the National Diploma in Business – Level 5.
Topics include;
- Communication and Reporting Skills
- Occupational Health and Safety Planning and Compliance
- Human Resource Management and Employment Relations
- Accounting and Budgeting
- Business Planning and Strategic Management
- Event Management
- Business Law
- Marketing and Customer Relations
- Sports Turf Characteristics and Requirements
Management units are delivered by knowledgeable and experienced facilitators from Unitec Institute of Technology and ‘sports turf characteristics and requirements’ by NZ Sports Turf Institute agronomists.
National Certificate in Amenity Turf Maintenance (Level 3)
Designed for municipal, turf contracting and amenity maintenance sectors.
This is ideal for people involved in maintenance of turf areas which are not specifically intended for sports use (e.g. parks, garden and structure surrounds and other functional and aesthetic turf areas). The programme, developed jointly with Horticulture Industry Training Organisation, encompasses a wide range of skills common to municipal, contracting and other amenity turf maintenance sectors. In addition to essential health and safety and practical turf maintenance, the flexible ‘elective’ structure of the qualification allows selection from a broad spectrum of skills applicable to the sector. These range from basic horticulture, machinery operation and agrichemical management to employment skills and temporary traffic management. This qualification also provides a pathway to the National Certificate in Sports Turf Management (Level 4) and the National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4) (Amenity Horticulture Strand).
Flexible training packages incorporating practical, workplace based assessment and on-site training seminars can be designed to meet enterprise requirements.
A modified format of the National Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 3). Delivered regionally as a series of two-day modules, each supported by on-job assessment of a greenkeeper’s practical skills on the green. Supported by Bowls NZ Greenkeepers Association and delivery co-ordinated with Centre Greenkeeping Associations.
