Modification History
Not applicable.
Description
This qualification covers the skills and knowledge required to apply a range of methods and technologies to conduct environmental sampling, testing and monitoring in most industry sectors and to assist environmental scientists, engineers and planners with site assessment, minimising environmental impacts of processes and remediation/rehabilitation of sites.
Job roles/employment outcomes
The MSS50211 Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology provides technical training across a range of industry sectors, such as:
- environmental monitoring, sampling and field testing (e.g. air, odour, water, soil and noise)
- geotechnical services
- natural resource management
- occupational hygiene monitoring (e.g. air, noise and radiation)
- water supply and treatment, storm and wastewater management
- solid and hazardous waste management
- site remediation and rehabilitation
- resource efficiency (e.g. energy, water and waste auditing).
Job roles targeted by this qualification include environmental officers, environmental protection officers, environmental compliance officers, environmental technicians and similar personnel employed by enterprises and Commonwealth, state/territory/local governments in the sectors listed above. These personnel often work with environmental scientists, engineers, planners and community groups to manage and conserve natural systems and resources, minimise pollution, remediate/rehabilitate sites and trial practical strategies to protect and improve ecosystems. Their work often involves environmental monitoring and technology, internal auditing and continuous improvements to enhance compliance and minimise the environmental impacts of processes. Government employees may be more involved with external inspection and auditing of enterprises and negotiating appropriate responses to instances of non-compliance.
In broad terms, they may:
- plan and schedule work and project activities (e.g. inspections and field surveys) and determine equipment, materials and consumable requirements
- develop site or field plans/instructions for specific environmental management activities
- assist with the design of environmental monitoring programs for sites/areas
- contribute to the assessment of environmental impacts of development and human activities
- undertake part or total ecological studies for a site
- conduct site inspections and full or part environmental audits of processes
- conduct field surveys of flora, fauna, water and soils
- collect samples/specimens, such as air, odour, water, groundwater, waste, soil residues, noise, biological, microbiological and geological
- set up, test, conduct calibration checks and operate a wide range of environmental monitoring equipment, field test instruments, data loggers, and/or remote sensing stations
- troubleshoot, repair, maintain and/or adapt instrumentation
- conduct tests/measurements involving air, odour, water, groundwater, waste, soil residues, noise, microbiological, geological and meteorological samples
- collect, process and present spatial/attribute data using global positioning systems (GPS) and geographical information systems (GIS)
- analyse data to identify trends, unexpected results and report conclusions
- provide environmental management information to site personnel, enterprises, industry organisations and communities
- provide environmental management information to site personnel and community members
- conduct technical training and work skill instruction
- suggest strategies to minimise environmental impacts and for the remediation or rehabilitation of sites/areas
- explain inspection/audit findings, negotiate outcomes with enterprise representatives, and issue notices, as necessary
- prepare costings and proposals, manage the finances for small projects, and report and present project progress and outcomes.
Application
This qualification is typically used to prepare new employees or develop the skills of existing workers performing an environmental officer role in most industry sectors.
Training programs for this qualification are suitable to be undertaken as part of a formal training contract with an employer under an Australian Traineeship or Apprenticeship arrangement.
Pathways Information
Pathways into the qualification
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry. Credit may be granted towards this qualification by those who have completed the MSL20109 Certificate II in Sampling and Measurement or the MSS40211 Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology. Credit for this qualification may include units contained within relevant Skill Sets.
Pathways from the qualification
Further training pathways from this qualification include qualifications in the higher education sector and the MSS70211 Vocational Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management.
Career paths for environmental technicians are becoming increasingly constrained unless they undertake university study. With this in mind, particular attention has been given to stating the critical aspects of competency and essential knowledge required for each unit of competency in sufficient detail to maximise articulation and credit transfer arrangements between the vocational education and training (VET) and higher education sectors.
Additional qualification advice
Because specialisation is a requirement in some industry sectors for the Diploma, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) may choose to issue a generic:
- Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology
or, where elective units of competency are packaged to suit a particular industry sector or specialisation, RTOs may choose to issue a:
- Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology (specialising in xxxxxxx)
Industry sector/specialisations could include, but are not limited to:
- water
- air
- odour
- soil
- noise.
Licensing/Regulatory Information
There are no specific licences that relate to this qualification.
Entry Requirements
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry.
Employability Skills Summary
The following table contains a summary of the employability skills as identified by industry for this qualification. This table should be interpreted in conjunction with the detailed requirements of each unit of competency packaged in this qualification. The outcomes described here are broad industry requirements that reflect skill requirements for this level. |
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Communication |
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Teamwork |
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Problem solving |
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Initiative and enterprise |
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Planning and organising |
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Self-management |
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Learning |
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Technology |
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Packaging Rules
To be awarded the MSS50211 Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology, competency must be achieved in a total of twenty (20) units of competency.
- eleven (11) core units of competency
- nine (9) elective units of competency, as specified below.
Units listed under core are considered essential for all environmental officers. The units listed as electives may only apply to some personnel according to the size and scope of the particular enterprise and industry sector.
Note : Units with prerequisites are marked with an asterisk. Refer to the unit for details.
Core units of competency
- Complete the following eleven (11) units of competency.
Unit code |
Unit title |
P |
MSS024002A |
Implement environmental management plans and procedures |
|
MSS024003A |
Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site |
|
MSS024004A |
Process and present environmental data |
|
MSS025001A |
Assist with assessing site environmental indicators |
* |
MSS025002A |
Assess the environmental risk or impact of a project activity or process |
* |
MSS025003A |
Report environmental data |
* |
MSS025004A |
Provide environmental information to customers |
|
MSAENV472B |
Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices |
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MSL943002A |
Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety |
|
MSL952001A |
Collect routine site samples |
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MSL974007A |
Undertake environmental field-based monitoring |
Elective units of competency
- Complete nine (9) elective units of competency, made up of:
- a minimum of five (5) units from Group A
- the balance of units, to a maximum of four (4) , may be selected from:
- Group A units, not previously selected
- Group B and C units, listed below, with a maximum of three (3) units from Group C.
A maximum of four (4) Group B and C electives may be selected from this Training Package, other endorsed Training Packages and accredited courses, where those units are relevant and available at Diploma level and above. This could include relevant units available in AHC10 Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.
Group A: Specialist elective units
Unit code |
Unit title |
P |
MSS015001A |
Measure and report carbon footprint |
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MSS015010A |
Conduct a sustainability water use audit |
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MSS015011A |
Conduct a sustainability energy audit |
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MSS015012A |
Conduct an emissions audit |
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MSS015018A |
Inform and advise organisation and community representatives on sustainability issues |
|
MSS025005A |
Produce site maps |
* |
MSS025006A |
Collect and evaluate groundwater data |
|
MSS025007A |
Perform sampling and testing of soils |
* |
MSS025008A |
Monitor and evaluate noise |
|
MSS025009A |
Perform sampling and testing of air |
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MSS025010A |
Assist with odour source assessment |
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MSS025011A |
Assist with odour field assessment |
|
MSS025012A |
Perform environmental microbiological tests |
* |
MSS025013A |
Assist with assessing and monitoring wetlands |
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MSS025014A |
Perform sampling and testing of contaminated sites |
* |
MSS025015A |
Plan and conduct environmental project work |
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MSS025016A |
Perform sampling and testing of stationary emissions |
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MSL975011A |
Design and supervise complex environmental field surveys |
* |
MSL975017A |
Perform laboratory-based ecological techniques |
* |
MSL975023A |
Supervise geotechnical site investigations |
* |
PRMWM01B |
Plan waste audit |
|
PRMWM02B |
Carry out waste audit |
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PSPRAD707A |
Monitor radiation |
Group B: Elective units
Unit code |
Unit title |
P |
MSS014006A |
Contribute to sustainability related audits |
|
MSS024001A |
Work and communicate effectively as an environmental technician |
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MSS024005A |
Collect spatial and discrete environmental data |
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MSS024006A |
Perform sampling and testing of water |
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MSS024007A |
Collect and evaluate meteorological data |
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MSS024008A |
Recognise common geological landforms and samples |
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MSS024009A |
Assist with assessing and monitoring stormwater systems |
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MSS024010A |
Perform environmental biological techniques |
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MSS024011A |
Navigate in urban, regional and remote areas |
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MSS024012A |
Undertake simple environmental project activities |
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BSBOHS406C |
Use equipment to conduct workplace monitoring |
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MSL904001A |
Perform standard calibrations |
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MSL924002A |
Use laboratory application software |
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MSL954001A |
Obtain representative samples in accordance with sampling plan |
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MSL974002A |
Conduct geotechnical site investigations |
* |
MSL974003A |
Perform chemical tests and procedures |
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MSL974006A |
Perform biological procedures |
* |
MSL974009A |
Undertake field-based, remote sensing monitoring |
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PSPRAD703A |
Perform basic radiation measurements |
Group C: Elective units
Unit code |
Unit title |
P |
CUVPHI05B |
Use a 35mm SLR camera or digital equivalent |
|
HLTFA301B |
Apply first aid |
|
MSAENV272B |
Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices |
|
MSL935004A |
Maintain instruments and equipment |
|
MSL973001A |
Perform basic tests |
|
MSL973002A |
Prepare working solutions |
|
MSL973004A |
Perform asceptic techniques |
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MSL973007A |
Perform microscopic examination |
|
MSL973012A |
Assist with geotechnical site investigations |
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PRMWM01B |
Plan waste audit |
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PRMWM02B |
Carry out waste audit |
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PSPRAD707A |
Monitor radiation |
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PUAWER009B |
Participate as a member of a workplace emergency initial response team |
|
TAEDEL301A |
Provide work skill instruction |
Custom Content Section
Not applicable.