Certificate in Wool Technology
This level 4 programme is designed to enable you to gain a job or progress within the wool industry and can be undertaken while in full time employment.
It is suitable for people working, or wishing to work, in all links in the chain from farm production through to final sale. It is a requirement qualification for people wishing to become a registered wool classer.
It teaches knowledge and practical skills needed to work with wool and, about the various processes involved in taking wool from the sheep’s back to making it suitable for the many final uses for wool. Students also learn about the unique characteristics of wool, the structure of the New Zealand wool industry and the sheep farming systems which produce wool, and will help increase confidence and satisfaction in your work.
You will learn about wool metrics, develop wool classing skills, and knowledge about working in the industry, including supervision of wool preparation staff.
Topics covered: Wool Value Chain, Wool Classification, Working in the Wool Industry, Wool Shed Management.
Teaching is delivered mainly via distance learning, but students will attend a one-week block course once over the 2-year (18 months study time) duration of the programme.
| Provider: | Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) |
| Qualification: | Certificate |
| Level: | 4 |
| Dates: | Start Feb & June each year |
| Duration: | Part-time over 2 years. The qualification comprises 4 courses with each course running for 17 weeks (15 teaching weeks, 2 holiday weeks) |
| Location: | SIT2LRN Distance Learning |
| Credits: | 60 |
Wool Clip Grading Course
This course is run by Southern Institute of Technology and being delivered though out New Zealand with the assistance of local shearing contractors. Tutors for this course are Richard Gavigan (North Island) and Bruce Abbott (South Island).
COURSE OUTLINE
The Wool Clip Grading Course is a brand-new programme designed for experienced woolhandlers wanting to improve their wool knowledge and become a registered Wool Grader. The course combines learning at home with a two-day block course run at various locations throughout New Zealand. The qualification is NZQA-approved and is supported by the New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association.
Once you have successfully completed the course you will have the opportunity to become a registered Q-Stencil holder, recognised by the New Zealand Wool Classers Association.
WHO SHOULD DO THE COURSE?
Experienced woolhandlers with good practical skills (“Leading Shedhands”) wanting to improve their knowledge and enhance their employment opportunities will find the Grading course extremely valuable.
HOW IS THE PROGRAMME RUN?
The learning at home component of the course is based around a comprehensive study-guide that students receive two weeks prior to attending the Block Course. The study-guide includes information on:
- Wool trading and scouring
- Wool characteristics and faults
- Sheep breeds
- Clip preparation and woolshed procedures
Two-day practical block courses are held at various locations in both the North Island and the South Island, with assistance from local shearing contractors. The block courses assess practical woolhandling skills and use wool samples for teaching:
- Wool faults and terminology
- Sheep breeds
- Wool oddments
- Crossbred and Mid Micron Hogget grading
HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?
The Wool Clip Grading course has a $150 registration fee.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Please email Telford@sit.ac.nz to register your interest or for more information contact the following:
- Richard Gavigan
- Home: 06 376 6599. Mobile: 027 376 0005
- Email: gavigan@xtra.co.nz
| Provider: | Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) |
| Qualification: | Short Course |
| Level: | 4 |
| Dates: | TBA |
| Duration: | 2 Days |
| Location: | Home study and block course |
| Credits: | 10 |
The Woolmark Learning Centre
An online educational platform for all things wool
This online learning centre is provided FREE by the Woolmark Company, a not for profit organisation that supports the Australian Wool Industry, and offers the following courses:
- Wool appreciation course
- Wool fibre science
- Raw wool scouring
- Worsted top making
- Worsted & woollen spinning
- Wool fabric finishing
- The dyeing of wool
This online programme is designed to enable you to gain a knowledge needed to work in the wool industry. It will help you increase confidence and satisfaction to work with wool.
