Shearers play a key role in the Australian wool industry and training proficient shearers is essential to the success of this industry.
The Shearing Skill Set will deliver practical training and support and provide you with a sound foundation to build a career in this important industry. Participants will gain the skills and knowledge to handle sheep humanely and use machinery and equipment to shear and crutch sheep.
At the completion of this training you will be work-ready for the shearing and wool handling industry and should be shearing a minimum of 40 adult merino sheep or 50 adult cross bred sheep per day to industry standards.
On successful completion of this course, students will receive a statement of attainment for the following units:
AHCLSK217 Apply animal welfare principles to handling and husbandry of livestock
AHCSHG201 Crutch sheep
AHCSHG203 Shear sheep to novice level
AHCSHG205 Grind combs and cutters for machine shearing
AHCSHG206 Prepare handpiece and downtube for machine shearing
AHCSHG210Undertake basic shearing and crutching
Study modes and duration differ depending on your local campus. Please check with your local campus for more information.
This course will be FREE from 1 January 2023. The course fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government.
Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training, and other fees may apply for some courses. Please see the FAQs on our Skills Ready page for further information.
This skill set is related to the Skills Ready program. Other skill sets can be found on our Courses (opens in a new tab) page, using the Refine course results>Study mode filters.
No mandatory entrance requirements.
Course Duration
The course runs over five days and students are expected to attend every day, all day. There is an expectation that students will need to complete work outside of their timetabled class instruction. Regular attendance at all sessions is important to ensure all training is received, and for successful completion of the skillset.
Delivery mode and sites
The course will be delivered face to face on site. i.e. shearing shed, and/or classroom as needed for theory.
Student who meet one or more of the following eligibility requirements will be eligible for fee free (course and resource fee) training.
Eligibility requirements
- Persons aged 15—24 years at the time of enrolment (excluding school students)
- Secondary school-aged persons who are not enrolled at school.
- Persons receiving the JobSeeker or JobKeeper payment.
- Persons and dependents of persons receiving the Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY.
- Persons and dependents of persons holding:
- a Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card; or
- a Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
- Dependents of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution.
Students who do not meet one or more of the criteria listed above are able to enrol in the skill sets and pay the applicable course and resource fees in accordance with the Department of Training and Workforce Development’s current Fees and Charges Policy, available at dtwd.wa.gov.au.
* Indicative Fee Disclaimers
Fees and charges published on our website are indicative only, and are for the entire course for students enrolling on a full-time basis in 2023.
- Fees may differ between courses delivered at different campuses due to the elective units included in the course study plan or adapting courses to meet local industry needs.
- Fees may also differ for each individual student depending on the units of study selected, prior qualifications and recognition of prior learning.
- Fees are payable at time of enrolment.
- Proof of concession must be presented to access concession rates if eligible.
- For secondary school aged persons not enrolled at school (in 2023, students born on or after 1 July 2005 who are at least 15 years old) the maximum course fee chargeable in 2023 is $420 plus the resource fees and discretionary fees.
- Concessions and Secondary School Age cap do not apply to commercial courses (such as short courses), or Foundation Programs (ESL, General Education, etc.).
- Prices quoted include resource fees, but do not include material fees such as the cost of books, uniforms, and students personal equipment.
- The course fee cap applicable to Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas only applies during the current calendar year, so fees might differ for students enrolling in semester 2.
- VET Student Loans Eligible Courses and Caps may be subject to changes implemented by the Australian Government.
- Course information and fees are subject to change without notice.
- Depending on your circumstances, payment options may include paying fees via instalments or applying for assistance because of financial hardship.
- Visit the Fees and Payment Options page for further information.
Study options and next steps
Click on your preferred study mode below to get started with your application or enrolment.