Overview
Develop the skills needed to begin an apprenticeship in civil construction, with the Certificate II in Civil Construction RII20720 pre-apprenticeship course at Victoria University Polytechnic.
You will develop practical skills in the following areas:
- identifying, locating and protecting underground services
- measurements and calculations
- manual excavation
- levelling
- reading and interpreting plans and specifications
- traffic control and management
- prioritising work
- effective communication
- work safety.
You will also learn how to safely use and maintain tools and equipment used in civil construction, including:
- hand and power tools
- small plant and equipment
- concreting materials and equipment.
On completion, you’ll have a broad understanding of the industry along with the skills and knowledge to work as an apprentice or undertake further study.
Hands-on training & industry links
You will have access to state-of-the-art simulators and machines at our Werribee Campus (Werribee East). As part of your course, you will undertake 150+ hours of operating machinery, including our eight-tonne wheeled front end loader, in a controlled environment. Learning with us means you’ll get the hands-on training to operate equipment safely and be job-ready when you graduate.
Industry partners are also co-located at Werribee East, allowing for closer industry contact during your training.
Multi-million dollar Construction Hub
You'll learn in our multi-million dollar trades facilities at our Sunshine Campus.
Our ‘Construction Futures’ hub is a sustainable training facility with a six-Star Green rating. It provides modern high-tech labs and dynamic workshops including:
- concrete laboratory
- survey laboratory
- engine laboratory
- soldering/construction laboratories
- power systems laboratory
- computer workstations with simulation and modelling software.
Learning advice
VU's Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.
Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.
We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.
Our programs include:
- workshops
- drop-in sessions
- peer mentoring
- maths and writing resources
- resume and career guidance.
We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.
Library & computer facilities
Our campus libraries have photocopying, computing and printing facilities as well as electronic and print resources.
You'll also have access to a rich collection of online resources at any time of the day or night, including:
- databases
- e-learning content for courses
- student email
- student software packages
- social networking tools.
On campus, we make sure that all of our students have access to digital resources. We offer:
- excellent WiFi networks
- more than 4000 computers (PCs and Apple Macs) across our campuses
- a central IT helpdesk for technical help.
Celebrating cultural diversity
As part of Victoria University, Victoria University Polytechnic believes in inclusivity, diversity and opportunity. Studying with us means you’ll be learning in an environment that values community empowerment.
Victoria University received the highest rating of five stars for cultural diversity by the Good Universities Guide. Our students feel fortunate to learn in a setting that has such a rich representation of cultures.
VU also works to address refugee issues, tackle diversity and social inclusion issues and improve the health and social wellbeing of the region. We are proud of our cultural diversity initiatives and projects with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Indigenous communities.
Need some advice?
Request a call back from one of our experienced Victoria University Polytechnic course advisers to get your questions answered.
Request a call backTAFE resources
Do you need help applying for a pre-apprenticeship? Attend an application support session to be guided through your pre-apprenticeship application at VU Polytechnic.
Careers
Construction and engineering are some of the largest employment industries in Australia. This pre-apprenticeship program is designed to give you industry skills so you can start a career in civil construction. Employers prefer apprentice applicants that have undertaken a pre-apprenticeship.
Possible career opportunities emerging from the completion of RII20720 Certificate II in Civil Construction include:
- civil construction apprentice in a broad range of work situations
- construction labourer
- civil construction general hand.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
Course structure
The course structure comprises the following core and elective units. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback.
To be awarded the RII20720 Certificate II in Civil Construction, a student must successfully complete a total of Sixteen (16) units of competency, comprising of:
- Ten (10) core units, and;
- Six (6) elective units, of which:
- at least five (5) must be chosen from elective units listed in the qualification
- no more than one (1) may be chosen from elsewhere within this training package, or from another endorsed training package, or from an accredited course.
All elective units selected from outside this qualification must reflect current occupational and learning outcomes of this AQF qualification level.
There are both licensed and non-licensed units of competency relating to high risk work in the Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package. To be appointed under any statutory requirements in related roles, units of competency should be selected to meet the state/territory licensing requirements.
VCAA Approved VCE VET Civil Infrastructure Program Structure
The VCE VET Civil Construction program comprises Sixteen (16) units of competency:
- Twelve (12) compulsory units of competency
- Four (4) elective units of competency
VCE VET credit will accrue on the basis of 90 nominal hours per VCE unit in the following sequence: Units 1, 2, 3, and 4. These units of credit may be accumulated over more than one year.
Course structure and units
VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).
Standard course structure
Core units
Elective units
Elective unit below delivery at Werribee Campus only
Elective imported units
Recognition of Prior Learning and/or Credit Transfers
Previous completion of units at the Polytechnic or any other Registered Training Organisation and/or previous attainment of skills and knowledge may be credited towards this course. Units must satisfy the completion rules of the qualification and be assessed as appropriate by the Polytechnic.
Learning outcomes
This qualification reflects the role of individuals working in an operational role in civil construction, who undertake a prescribed range of tasks using limited practical skills and fundamental knowledge, in a defined context working under supervision.
Vocational Education Delivered to Secondary Schools (VETDSS) This qualification forms part of the credit suite specified by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and may contribute towards the satisfactory completion of the Victoria Certificate of Education (VCE) Vocational Major (VM) or the Victoria Pathways Certificate (VPC).
Fees & scholarships
Fee type for this course: VET
Fee type definitions
The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.
Students who enrol in a:
- government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
- full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).
Calculate your VET course fees.
Find out more about:
- the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
- ways to pay your fees
- important fee dates
- how to apply for a VE/TAFE refund
Scholarships & assistance
Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.
We can help with fee assistance and advice.
Admission & pathways
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs.
Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course.
As part of the application process, applicants must complete a Pre-training Review (PTR) and undertake a literacy and numeracy (LN) assessment to determine suitability for admission.
VETDSS: The literacy and numeracy levels of applicants will be assessed through consultation with the relevant Secondary school.
Pathways from VU courses
There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.
How to apply
Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
Available start dates:
- 10 July 2023
- 2 October 2023
Before you apply
Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.
Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:
- Credit transfer/Recognition of prior learning (RPL): If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.
Apply direct to VU
Apply direct to VU using our admission centre, submit applications for one or more courses, track and save your progress and upload additional information.
Already a VU student?
If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.
After you apply
- It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
- Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered
Enquire now – TAFE
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Contact VU Polytechnic
Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.
At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.
