TAFE Queensland is closed for the festive season from 4pm, Friday 20 December and will reopen on Monday 6 January, 2025. For enquiries, please contact us and we’ll get back to you in the new year. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

Personalise my view
Personalise my view

😊 Personalise my view

We use cookies, including those from third-party providers, to enhance your online experience and deliver personalised advertisements. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies and our privacy policy

RII30820

Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations

Build your plant operations career with this apprenticeship course. Become a trade-qualified, skilled plant operator in the civil construction sector.

STUDY LOCATIONS Darling Downs and South West North Queensland
WAYS TO STUDY Apprenticeships and traineeships
NEXT INTAKE Starts anytime View all intakes

Course overview

Progress your career in civil construction with this plant operations apprenticeship qualification. Become a recognised skilled plant operator and continue to further your career.

According to the Australian Government's Job Outlook service, there are strong job prospects for earthmoving plant operators in Queensland. This large occupation is likely to create around 30,000 job openings across Australia over the next five years.  

Build your skills or get recognised for your experience with this course in work areas including infrastructure-related projects, subdivisions, bridge works, railways, harbours, sewerage and drainage, electrical infrastructure, and pipeline and recreation works. Work safely with a range of equipment including excavators, front end loaders, water carts and haul trucks to carry our civil works.

Successful completion of this qualification will give you the skills and knowledge to become a trade qualified plant operator and set up you for further study in the civil construction sector.

What can I do?

  • Civil Construction Worker
  • Plant Operators
  • Earthmoving Plant Operator

Course outcome:

RII30820 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations

Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) Funding

TAFE Queensland is a proud provider of Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) funding and is a registered provider of the CSQ Skills Assessment and Gap Training Program. This qualification is subsidised under this Program. Funding for eligible participants is available in select regional areas only and is limited and not guaranteed. Learn more about CSQ funding, eligibility and available courses and enquire to begin your training.

Free apprenticeships for under 25s

The Queensland government is supporting young Queenslanders up to the age of 25 by providing access to fully subsidised training across a range of priority apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications. Learn more>

What you will study

The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all core and 5 elective units from the list below.

  • UNIT CODE
  • UNIT NAME

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIIBEF201E
    Plan and organise work
    UNIT CODE :
    RIIBEF201E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and organise work in the resources and infrastructure industries, including conducting basic workplace maintenance and housekeeping procedures.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Plan and organise work

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIICCM201E
    Carry out measurements and calculations
    UNIT CODE :
    RIICCM201E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to carry out measurements and calculations in the resources and infrastructure industries. It includes using measurements and calculations to estimate quantities for various work activities.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Carry out measurements and calculations

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIICCM202E
    Identify, locate and protect underground services
    UNIT CODE :
    RIICCM202E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify, locate and protect underground services in civil construction.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Identify, locate and protect underground services

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIICCM203E
    Read and interpret plans and job specifications
    UNIT CODE :
    RIICCM203E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to read and interpret plans and job specifications in civil construction, including recognising amendments and commonly used symbols and abbreviations. It involves locating and identifying key features on site plans and reading and interpreting job plan specifications.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Read and interpret plans and job specifications

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIICCM205F
    Carry out manual excavation
    UNIT CODE :
    RIICCM205F
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to carry out manual excavation in civil construction, including confirming the location of underground services, manually excavating, placing barricades and isolating the excavation.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Carry out manual excavation

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIICCM206E
    Support plant operations
    UNIT CODE :
    RIICCM206E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to support plant operations in civil construction, including locating and marking services and assisting and providing guidance to directing operators.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Support plant operations

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIICCM207E
    Spread and compact materials manually
    UNIT CODE :
    RIICCM207E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to spread and compact materials manually in civil construction, including conducting compaction machine operational checks, directing vehicles and materials, directing machine operator to spread materials and operating mechanical compaction equipment.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Spread and compact materials manually

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIICCM208E
    Carry out basic levelling
    UNIT CODE :
    RIICCM208E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to carry out basic levelling in civil construction, including establishing offsets to plans and drawings and setting up and using a levelling device
  • UNIT NAME
  • Carry out basic levelling

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIICOM201E
    Communicate in the workplace
    UNIT CODE :
    RIICOM201E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to communicate in the workplace in the resources and infrastructure industries and other industries with relevant work practices and procedures.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Communicate in the workplace

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIIRIS301E
    Apply risk management processes
    UNIT CODE :
    RIIRIS301E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to apply risk management processes in the mining, drilling and civil infrastructure industry.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Apply risk management processes

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIISAM201E
    Handle resources and infrastructure materials and safely dispose of nontoxic materials
    UNIT CODE :
    RIISAM201E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to handle resources and infrastructure materials and safely dispose of nontoxic materials in the resources and infrastructure industries.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Handle resources and infrastructure materials and safely dispose of nontoxic materials

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIISAM203E
    Use hand and power tools
    UNIT CODE :
    RIISAM203E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use hand and power tools in the resources and infrastructure industries.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Use hand and power tools

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIISAM204E
    Operate small plant and equipment
    UNIT CODE :
    RIISAM204E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to operate small plant and equipment in the resources and infrastructure industries.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Operate small plant and equipment

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIIWHS201E
    Work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures
    UNIT CODE :
    RIIWHS201E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work safely and follow work health and safety (WHS) policies and procedures in the resources and infrastructure industries.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures

  • UNIT CODE
  • RIIWMG203E
    Drain and dewater civil construction sites
    UNIT CODE :
    RIIWMG203E
    Unit description :
    This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to drain and dewater civil construction sites. This includes establishing sedimentation controls, constructing sumps, installing surface or submersible pumps, and draining surface water using surface drains.
  • UNIT NAME
  • Drain and dewater civil construction sites

CAMPUS APPRENTICESHIP / TRAINEESHIPS DELIVERY MODE
Toowoomba
Apprenticeship
  • WORKPLACE

    Workplace

  • DROP IN DAYS

    Drop in days

  • BLOCK TRAINING

    Block training

  • DAY RELEASE

    Day release

  • MOBILE VAN

    Mobile van

  • Online

    Online

CAMPUS APPRENTICESHIP / TRAINEESHIPS DELIVERY MODE
Mount Isa
Apprenticeship
  • WORKPLACE

    Workplace

  • DROP IN DAYS

    Drop in days

  • BLOCK TRAINING

    Block training

  • DAY RELEASE

    Day release

  • MOBILE VAN

    Mobile van

  • Online

    Online

Cairns
Apprenticeship
  • WORKPLACE

    Workplace

  • DROP IN DAYS

    Drop in days

  • BLOCK TRAINING

    Block training

  • DAY RELEASE

    Day release

  • MOBILE VAN

    Mobile van

  • Online

    Online

Townsville - Trade Training Centre Bohle
Apprenticeship
  • WORKPLACE

    Workplace

  • DROP IN DAYS

    Drop in days

  • BLOCK TRAINING

    Block training

  • DAY RELEASE

    Day release

  • MOBILE VAN

    Mobile van

  • Online

    Online

Download Brochure

Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations (RII30820)

Ask a question

Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations

COURSE CODE: RII30820
Payment Options

How can I pay for this course?

No matter what your circumstances, TAFE Queensland has a payment option to suit you. If you are unsure of what’s right for you, get in touch. We’re here to help. 

Payment plan

If you have difficulty paying for the full cost of a course upfront, you may be eligible for a payment plan.

Learn more
Upfront payment

This may be the full fee for the course, or the student contribution amount if you are eligible for a subsidy or concession.

Learn more

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Selection criteria

To study an apprenticeship program you must be indentured as an apprentice with your employer.

Employers need to be able to provide the necessary human and physical resources to qualify for an apprentice.

Find out more on how to become an apprentice or trainee

Resources required

You are responsible for meeting the minimum occupational health and safety requirements in practical classes.
This includes the use of:

  • safety glasses
  • protective footwear with safety toe cap and non-slip soles to AS2210
  • leather gloves to AS2161
  • hair protection
  • You should also wear 100% cotton drill industry-standard clothing.

If you fail to meet these minimum standards of dress, you will not be permitted entry into practical classes.

It is recommended that you have access to a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader. This equipment and software is available for use at all TAFE Queensland locations.

Important information

Existing workers in the Building and Construction Industry, or those returning to the industry, may be eligible for funding under the CSQ Skills Assessment and Gap Training (SAGT) program. For further information about this great funding opportunity, please visit the CSQ Website or contact us.

Assessment methods

Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at TAFE Queensland, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning. Read more about assessment methods.

Pathways

University pathways

If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.

Learn more about University Pathways

  • James Cook University
  • Southern Cross University
  • University of Canberra
  • Griffith University
  • Queensland University of Technology
  • University of Southern Queensland

How to apply

Direct application

If you're ready to get started, simply hit the Apply Now button on your preferred course information page and get your application underway online. 

Course disclaimer

All information was accurate at time of publication, however TAFE policies, tuition fees and course content is subject to change without notice. Course commencement is dependent on sufficient enrolment numbers. Timetable information is subject to change prior to commencement and/or during the duration of your course.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credit transfers

Fast track your way to a formal qualification by earning credit for the things you already know. We can assess your skills, directly apply credits from previous successful study, and give you advanced standing in your course.

Learn more