Primary Industries record of changes
All changes made to the Primary Industries Curriculum Framework are recorded here. Learn about these updates.
About the record of changes
This record details any changes to the Framework including the syllabus and assessment, HSC exam and support materials.
Changes are also communicated via NESA official notices or news items in NESA News.
For more information, contact: curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au
Update to Primary Industries Curriculum Stage 6 Syllabus
(Official notice NESA 33/24)
The Primary Industries Curriculum Framework Stage 6 Syllabus has been updated following the release of version 10 of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package (1 May 2024).
There is no change to examinable HSC Content.
The updated syllabus and unit of competency status table, as well as new course planning templates, are now available. A summary of changes is listed below.
Implementation commences with:
- Year 12, 2025 (from Term 4, 2024), and
- cohorts commencing in Term 1, 2025.
Summary of changes:
- qualifications updated
- superseded units of competency deleted from the Framework
- associated HSC mandatory units of competency (Section 2.5.1)
- AHCWHS201 Participate in work health and safety processes
- AHCWRK201 Observe and report on weather
- AHCWRK204 Work effectively in the industry
- AHCWRK209 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices
- HSC elective units of competency (Section 2.5.3)
- AHCILM201 Maintain cultural places
- AHCILM203 Record information about Country
- AHCINF201 Carry out basic electric fencing operations
- AHCINF202 Install, maintain and repair farm fencing
- AHCLSC201 Assist with landscape construction work
- AHCPGD201 Plant trees and shrubs
- AHCPGD203 Prune shrubs and small trees
- AHCWRK205 Participate in workplace communications
- AHCWRK206 Observe enterprise quality assurance procedures
- AHCWRK207 Collect and record production data
- associated HSC mandatory units of competency (Section 2.5.1)
- units of competency added to HSC elective pool (Section 2.5.3)
- ACE references updated
- clarified ACE Rules come into effect from 14 October 2024.
Schools should consult with their school system/sector and/or RTO regarding this update and delivery of courses from the Primary Industries Curriculum Framework.
Updated exam specifications for HSC VET exams
(Official notice NESA 29/23)
NESA has updated the HSC exam specifications for Primary Industries for the 2024 HSC exam.
Section II will include 4 to 6 short-answer questions and 10 to 12 items in total. Section III now structured extended response questions. Section IV now extended response question.
Refer to NESA 24/23 for updates to the HSC exam specifications for Primary Industries effective from the 2025 HSC exam.
Reminder – updated performance band descriptions for HSC VET exams
(Official notice NESA 28/23)
NESA updated the performance band descriptions for Primary Industries.
Effective from the 2025 HSC exam (NESA 24/23).
Revised Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus
(Official Notice NESA 24/23)
NESA has revised the Primary Industries Curriculum Framework Stage 6 Syllabus following the release of version 9 of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package on training.gov.au (24 January 2023).
The revised syllabus, syllabus associated documents and syllabus support materials based on AHCv9 are now available. New course numbers are detailed in the syllabus. A summary of changes is listed below.
Implementation commences from 2024 with Year 11. The first HSC exam based on the revised syllabus will be in 2025.
Students who commenced a Primary Industries course in 2023 and are completing the course in 2024, will continue the course as outlined in the ‘old’ Primary Industries syllabus (final year of delivery with Year 12, 2024).
Students who want to undertake the 240-hour Primary Industries course in one year in 2024 will also complete the course as outlined in the ‘old’ syllabus.
This is in line with Australian Skills Quality Authority’s (ASQA) approval of an extended learner transition period for qualification pathways from AHCv8 in the ‘old’ syllabus until 22 January 2025.
Any student wanting to sit the 2024 HSC exam must complete the 240-hour course from the ‘old’ syllabus.
Summary of changes – revised syllabus (AHCv9):
- qualifications:
- AHC20122 Certificate II in Agriculture supersedes AHC20116 (not equivalent)
- AHC20422 Certificate II in Horticulture supersedes AHC20416 (not equivalent)
- AHC30122 Certificate III in Agriculture supersedes AHC30116 (not equivalent)
- AHC20320 Certificate II in Production Horticulture – added to the Framework
- AHC21216 Certificate II in Rural Operations – deleted from the Framework
- associated HSC mandatory units of competency (Section 2.5.1), with 3 exceptions*, includes both:
- AHCWHS202 Participate in workplace health and safety processes (not equivalent) and
AHCWHS201 Participate in work health and safety processes (superseded) – Safety focus area - AHCWHS302 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes supersedes AHCWHS301 Contribute to work health and safety processes (not equivalent) – Safety focus area*
- AHCWRK211 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK209 Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices (superseded) – Sustainability focus area - AHCWRK320 Apply environmentally sustainable work practices supersedes AHCWRK309 (not equivalent) – Sustainability focus area*
- AHCWRK210 Observe and report on weather (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK201 Observe and report on weather (superseded) – Weather focus area - AHCWRK314 Monitor weather conditions supersedes AHCWRK302 (not equivalent) – Weather focus area*
- AHCWRK212 Work effectively in industry (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK204 Work effectively in the industry (superseded) – Working in the industry focus area
- AHCWHS202 Participate in workplace health and safety processes (not equivalent) and
HSC elective units of competency (Section 2.5.3):
- updated to reflect current unit of competency codes and/or titles and, with the exception of 3*, includes both:
- AHCOCM201 Maintain cultural sites (not equivalent) and
AHCILM201 Maintain cultural places (superseded) - AHCOCM202 Observe and report plants or animals (not equivalent) and
AHCILM202 Observe and report plants or animals (superseded) - AHCOCM203 Record information about Country (not equivalent) and
AHCILM203 Record information about Country (superseded) - AHCINF205 Carry out basic electric fencing operations (not equivalent) and
AHCINF201 Carry out basic electric fencing operations (superseded) - AHCINF206 Install, maintain and repair farm fencing (not equivalent) and
AHCINF202 Install, maintain and repair farm fencing (superseded) - AHCINF306 Plan and construct an electric fence supersedes AHCINF302 (not equivalent)*
- AHCINF307 Plan and construct conventional fencing supersedes AHCINF303 (not equivalent)*
- AHCWRK213 Participate in workplace communications (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK205 Participate in workplace communications (superseded) - AHCWRK214 Observe workplace quality assurance procedures (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK206 Observe enterprise quality assurance procedures (superseded) - AHCWRK215 Collect and record production data (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK207 Collect and record production data (superseded) - AHCWRK318 Comply with industry quality assurance requirements supersedes AHCWRK306 (not equivalent)*
- AHCOCM201 Maintain cultural sites (not equivalent) and
(Where alternatives are provided, registered training organisations (RTOs) should select the appropriate unit of competency for the qualification being delivered.)
- added to the Framework:
- AHCMOM311 Operate precision control technology
- AVIW0028 Operate and manage remote pilot aircraft systems
- AVIY0027 Operate multi-rotor remote pilot aircraft systems
- AVIY0052 Control remote pilot aircraft systems on the ground
- AVIZ0005 Apply situational awareness in remote pilot aircraft systems operations
- FBPVIT2003 Hand prune vines
- FBPVIT2008 Train vines
- FBPVIT2010 Take and process vine cuttings
- FBPVIT3005 Install and maintain vine trellis
- FBPVIT3006 Field graft vines
- deleted from the Framework:
- ACMEQU202 Handle horses safely
- ACMEQU205 Apply knowledge of horse behaviour
- AHCBAC206 Assist agricultural crop maintenance
- AHCBAC207 Assist agricultural crop harvesting
- AHCDRG202 Maintain drainage systems
- AHCDRG305 Install drainage systems
- AHCECR305 Collect native seed
- AHCILM202 Observe and report plants or animals
- AHCOCM303 Follow Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols
- AHCINF203 Maintain properties and structures
- AHCIRG220 Assist with surface irrigation operations
- AHCIRG221 Assist with pressurised irrigation operations
- AHCLSC203 Install aggregate paths
- AHCLSC208 Install aggregate paths
- AHCLSC205 Install tree protection devices
- AHCLSC210 Install tree protection devices
- AHCLSC207 Construct low-profile timber or modular retaining walls
- AHCLSC209 Lay paving
- AHCLSK201 Assist with feeding in a production system
- AHCLSK217 Apply animal welfare principles to handling and husbandry of livestock
- AHCLSK303 Carry out feedlot operations
- AHCLSK323 Maintain and monitor feed stocks
- AHCLSK324 Care for and train working dogs
- AHCNSY208 Maintain indoor plants
- AHCNSY308 Maintain nursery plants
- AHCPCM202 Collect, prepare and preserve plant specimens
- AHCPGD206 Conduct visual inspection of park facilities
- AHCPGD212 Conduct visual inspection of park facilities
- AHCPGD210 Transplant shrubs and small trees
- AHCPHT214 Support horticultural crop harvesting
- AHCPHT215 Plant horticultural crops
- AHCPHT218 Carry out post-harvest operations
- AHCPMG301 Control weeds
- AHCSAW203 Conduct erosion and sediment control activities
- AHCWRK202 Observe environmental work practices
- AHCWRK208 Provide information on products and services
- AHCWRK315 Respond to emergencies
- AHCWRK317 Coordinate work site activities
- RGRHBR304 Assess suitability of horses for specific uses
- updated to reflect current unit of competency codes and/or titles and, with the exception of 3*, includes both:
- HSC focus areas:
- mandatory:
- 4 retained with changes and additions to the HSC Content – Safety, Sustainability, Weather and Working in the Industry
- 1 retained with no changes to the HSC Content – Chemicals
- 2 streams retained with (very) minor changes to the HSC Content – Livestock health and welfare and Plant pests, diseases and disorders
- mandatory:
- Primary Industries Specialisation Study – 180-hour course option deleted from the Framework
- exam specifications updated:
- Section II will include 4 to 6 short-answer questions and 10 to 12 items in total
- Section III now structured extended response questions
- Section IV now extended response question
- performance band descriptions updated.
Update to Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus (final HSC 2024)
(Official Notice NESA 18/23)
NESA has included 17 updated units of competency in the Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus (based on AHCv8).
There is no change to HSC Content for the 2024 exam.
The updated syllabus and status of units of competency for qualifications in the Framework are now available. Effective immediately.
Summary of changes:
- associated HSC mandatory unit of competency (Section 2.5.1) includes both:
- AHCWRK210 Observe and report on weather (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK201 Observe and report on weather (superseded) – Weather focus area
- AHCWRK210 Observe and report on weather (not equivalent) and
- HSC elective units of competency (Section 2.5.3), with one exception*, includes both:
- AHCOCM201 Maintain cultural sites (not equivalent) and
AHCILM201 Maintain cultural places (superseded) - AHCOCM202 Observe and report plants or animals (not equivalent) and
AHCILM202 Observe and report plants or animals (superseded) - AHCOCM203 Record information about Country (not equivalent) and
AHCILM203 Record information about Country (superseded) - AHCOCM303 Follow Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols supersedes AHCILM306 Follow Aboriginal cultural protocols (not equivalent)*
- AHCINF205 Carry out basic electric fencing operations (not equivalent) and
AHCINF201 Carry out basic electric fencing operations (superseded) - AHCINF206 Install, maintain and repair farm fencing (not equivalent) and
AHCINF202 Install, maintain and repair farm fencing (superseded) - AHCINF207 Maintain properties and structures (not equivalent) and
AHCINF203 Maintain properties and structures (superseded) - AHCINF306 Plan and construct an electric fence (not equivalent) and
AHCINF302 Plan and construct an electric fence (superseded) - AHCINF307 Plan and construct conventional fencing (not equivalent) and
AHCINF303 Plan and construct conventional fencing (superseded) - AHCWRK213 Participate in workplace communications (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK205 Participate in workplace communications (superseded) - AHCWRK214 Observe workplace quality assurance procedures (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK206 Observe enterprise quality assurance procedures (superseded) - AHCWRK215 Collect and record production data (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK207 Collect and record production data (superseded) - AHCWRK216 Provide information on products and services (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK208 Provide information on products and services (superseded) - AHCWRK315 Respond to emergencies (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK303 Respond to emergencies (superseded) - AHCWRK317 Coordinate work site activities (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK305 Coordinate work site activities (superseded) - AHCWRK318 Comply with industry quality assurance requirements (not equivalent) and
AHCWRK306 Comply with industry quality assurance requirements (superseded).
- AHCOCM201 Maintain cultural sites (not equivalent) and
Where alternatives are provided, registered training organisations (RTOs) should select the appropriate unit of competency for the qualification being delivered. RTOs are responsible for any gap training needed to meet the performance criteria and knowledge evidence requirements detailed in units of competency for these qualifications.
Schools and colleges should consult with their school system and/or RTO regarding this advice and delivery of courses from the Primary Industries Curriculum Framework to continuing primary industries students in 2024, or students undertaking the 240-hour course in one year (2024).
Update to Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus
(Official notice NESA 32/22)
The Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus is now based on version 8.0 of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package following its release on 31 July 2022 on training.gov.au.
No impact on HSC courses and their requirements. No changes to HSC Content.
NESA has updated the syllabus to include access to the Primary Industries Specialisation Study (60 indicative hours) course for students undertaking AHC21020 Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, where selection of elective units of competency means that the qualification cannot be completed within the 240-hour Primary Industries course.
The cover page of the syllabus, associated documents and support materials now reference AHCv8.0, and are available on the NESA website.
Update to Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus
(Official notice NESA 15/22)
NESA has updated the Primary Industries syllabus, based on AHCv7.2 for Year 11 2022, following the release of AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package version 7 (15 February 2022), version 7.1 (26 March 2022) and version 7.2 (16 May 2022) on training.gov.au.
There is no change to HSC Content.
The updated syllabus based on AHCv7.2 is now available. Effective immediately.
Summary of changes:
- HSC elective units of competency (Table 2.5.3), includes both:
- ACMEQU212 Handle horses safely and
ACMEQU202 Handle horses safely (superseded) - ACMEQU214 Prepare to work safely around horses and
ACMEQU205 Apply knowledge of horse behaviour (superseded) - ACMEQU215 Provide daily care for horses and
ACMHBR203 Provide daily care for horses (superseded) - ACMEQU216 Check and treat horses and
ACMHBR201 Check and treat horses (superseded) - ACMEQU309 Carry out basic hoof care procedures and
ACMHBR302 Carry out basic hoof care procedures (superseded) - AHCLSC206 Assist with landscape construction work and
AHCLSC201 Assist with landscape construction work (superseded) - AHCLSC207 Construct low-profile timber or modular retaining walls and
AHCLSC202 Construct low-profile timber or modular retaining walls (superseded) - AHCLSC208 Install aggregate paths and
AHCLSC203 Install aggregate paths (superseded) - AHCLSC209 Lay paving and
AHCLSC204 Lay paving (superseded) - AHCLSC210 Install tree protection devices and
AHCLSC205 Install tree protection devices (superseded) - AHCPGD207 Plant trees and shrubs and
AHCPGD201 Plant trees and shrubs (superseded) - AHCPGD208 Prepare and maintain plant displays and
AHCPGD202 Prepare and maintain plant displays (superseded) - AHCPGD209 Prune shrubs and small trees and
AHCPGD203 Prune shrubs and small trees (superseded) - AHCPGD210 Transplant shrubs and small trees and
AHCPGD204 Transplant small trees (superseded) - AHCPGD212 Conduct visual inspection of park facilities and
AHCPGD206 Conduct visual inspection of park facilities (superseded)
as well as:
- AHCBAC205 Assist agricultural crop establishment (supersedes and equivalent to AHCBAC201)
- AHCBAC206 Assist agricultural crop maintenance (supersedes and equivalent to AHCBAC202)
- AHCBAC207 Assist agricultural crop harvesting (supersedes and equivalent to AHCBAC203)
- AHCBAC313 Establish pastures and crops for livestock production (supersedes and equivalent to AHCBAC302)
- AHCDRY202 Milk livestock (supersedes and not equivalent to AHCDRY201)
- AHCLSK220 Monitor livestock to parturition (supersedes and equivalent to AHCLSK208)
- AHCLSK341 Coordinate artificial insemination and fertility management of livestock (supersedes and not equivalent to AHCLSK312)
- AHCLSK342 Prepare animals for parturition (supersedes and not equivalent to AHCLSK314)
Where alternatives are provided, registered training organisations (RTOs) should select the appropriate unit of competency for the qualification being delivered. RTOs are responsible for any gap training needed to meet the performance criteria and knowledge evidence requirements detailed in units of competency for these qualifications.
NESA has published support materials to assist RTOs to identify the superseded units of competency relevant to each qualification. These documents replace the individual qualification overviews previously published:
- Status of units of competency for qualifications in the Primary Industries Curriculum Framework, based on AHCv6.2, and
- Status of units of competency for qualifications in the Primary Industries Curriculum Framework, based on AHCv7.2
Schools and colleges should consult with their school system and/or RTO regarding this advice and delivery of courses from the Primary Industries Curriculum Framework.
Update to Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus
(Official Notice NESA 34/21)
NESA has updated the Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus following the release of version 6 (24 December 2020), version 6.1 (13 February 2021) and version 6.2 (30 March 2021) of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package on training.gov.au.
No changes to HSC Content.
The updated syllabus and support material based on AHCv6.2 are now available. A summary of changes is listed below.
Implementation commences from 2022 for both Year 11 and 12. The first HSC exam based on the updated syllabus will be in 2022.
Summary of changes – updated syllabus:
- qualification:
- AHC21020 Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management supersedes AHC21016 Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management (not equivalent)
- HSC elective units of competency:
- updated to reflect current unit of competency codes and titles
- added to or deleted from the Framework as appropriate to the qualification pathways
- minor changes to syllabus format, such as removal of course requirement diagrams and reduced table referencing.
Amendment – Primary Industries Curriculum Framework Syllabus
(NESA News)
NESA has amended the Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus following the release of version 5 (26 August 2020) of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package on training.gov.au.
No impact on HSC courses and their requirements. No changes to HSC content.
The cover page of the syllabus and qualification overview documents now reference version 5 of the Training Package.
Update to Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus
(Official notice NESA 53/19)
NESA has updated the Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus following the release of version 3 (released 19 December 2018) and version 4 (released 21 October 2019) of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package. The updated syllabus and support documents based on AHCv4 are now available.
Implementation commences from 2020 for both Years 11 and 12.
Summary of changes:
- mandatory and stream units of competency:
- AHCCHM201 Apply chemicals under supervision (minor update to elements and performance criteria)
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases supersedes AHCCHM303 Prepare and apply chemicals (equivalent)
- AHCWRK302 Monitor weather conditions (minor update to elements and performance criteria)
- AHCPMG202 Treat plant pests, diseases and disorders (minor update to elements and performance criteria).
- elective units of competency (Table 6):
- AHCDRG202 Maintain drainage systems supersedes AHCDRG201 (equivalent)
- AHCDRG305 Install drainage systems supersedes AHCDRG301 (equivalent)
- AHCIRG219 Assist with low volume irrigation operations supersedes AHCIRG215 (equivalent)
- AHCIRG220 Assist with surface irrigation operations supersedes AHCIRG216 (equivalent)
- AHCIRG221 Assist with pressurised irrigation operations supersedes AHCIRG217 (equivalent)
- AHCPHT214 Support horticultural crop harvesting supersedes AHCPHT203 (equivalent)
- AHCMOM216 Operate side by side utility vehicles supersedes AHCMOM211 (not equivalent)
- AHCMOM217 Operate quad bikes supersedes AHCMOM212 (not equivalent)
- minor updates to other (non-superseded) HSC elective units of competency (performance criteria, performance evidence and knowledge evidence).
- HSC focus areas:
- off target replaces non-target
- application plan replaces application/spray plan
- delta T and dew point added to list of elements of weather
- NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment replaces NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
Schools and colleges should consult with their school system and/or registered training organisation (RTO) regarding this update and delivery of courses from the Primary Industries Curriculum Framework for all their primary industries students in 2020.
The 2020 HSC exam for Primary Industries will be based on the updated syllabus.
Minor update to Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus
(Official notice NESA 15/18)
NESA has updated the Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus following the release of version 2 of the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.
Implementation of the updated syllabus commences immediately for all Primary Industries students (ie both students commencing and continuing study in 2018).
The changes are to the elective horse breeding units of competency (Table 6 HSC elective pool), and have no impact on the mandatory and stream focus areas, their associated units of competency, or the HSC exam.
Changes include:
- ACMHBR201 Check and treat horses (20) supersedes and is equivalent to AHCHBR201A Monitor horse health and welfare
- ACMHBR203 Provide daily care for horses (25) supersedes and is not equivalent to AHCHBR203A Provide daily care for horses
- ACMHBR302 Carry our basic hood care procedures (15) supersedes and is not equivalent to AHCHBR302A Carry out basic hoof care procedures
- ACMHBR305 Assess suitability of horses for specific uses (20) supersedes and is not equivalent to AHCHBR307A Assess suitability of horses for stock work
- addition of prerequisite units of competency ACMEQU202 Handle horses safely (30) and ACMEQU205 Apply knowledge of horse behaviour (30).
Updated Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus
(Official notice NESA 12/17)
NESA updated the Stage 6 Primary Industries Curriculum Framework syllabus following the release of the new national AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package. The updated syllabus based on AHCv1.1 and a range of associated documents are now available.
Implementation commences from 2017 with Year 11. New course numbers for the updated Framework are detailed in the syllabus.
Students who commenced a Primary Industries course in 2016 and are completing the course in 2017 will continue the courses as outlined in the 'old' Primary Industries syllabus based on AHC10v8, also available on the NESA website. The 2017 HSC exam for Primary Industries will be based on this 'old' syllabus.
2017 students who want to undertake the 240-hour Primary Industries course in one year will also complete the course as outlined in the 'old' syllabus. Any student wanting to sit the 2017 HSC exam must complete the 240-hour Primary Industries course from the 'old' syllabus.
The first Primary Industries HSC exam based on the updated syllabus will be 2018.