sport, recreation and racing > racing

careers | training | training packages | apprenticeships & traineeships

The racing and equine industry covers a variety of areas:

•    Thoroughbred Racing
•    Harness Racing
•    Greyhound Racing
•    Horse breeding
•    Farriery
•    Equestrian coaching and competition
•    Recreational Riding

The three racing codes provide the majority of employment and career paths, along with those aligned to them (farriers and thoroughbred breeding).
The industry attracts people from diverse backgrounds who participate as owners, trainers, jockeys, track riders, stable hands, farriers, accountants, IT support and programming along with grounds management and hospitality.

careers

Examples of careers in racing include:

  • Managers - general managers (including full time race club managers), resource managers, track and grounds managers, sales and marketing managers, racing administrators, farm managers and miscellaneous managers
  • Professionals - veterinarians, accountants, auditors, information technology professionals etc
  • Para professionals - horse trainers (thoroughbred and harness), greyhound trainers, stewards, handicappers etc
  • Trades - jockeys (apprentice jockeys), harness race drivers, trackwork riders, farriers, race track curators, horticultural tradespeople, veterinary nurses etc
  • Operatives/clerical - stablehands, grooms, plant/machine operators, horse transport drivers, trackwork drivers, grounds people, office clerks and assistants
  • Others - race day personnel including barrier attendants, judges, clerk of scales, swab assistants, greyhound catchers, catering/bar staff etc

Personal attributes:

  • good communication skills
  • confident and skilled in working with animals
  • excellent organisational skills
  • good technical skills and knowledge
  • attention to detail
  • flexibility

Want to know more about careers in Racing?

FutureNow - The Creative & Leisure Industries Training Council Inc.
Contact: Rachael Davidson - Project Manager Sport and Recreation   
Phone: (08) 9285 8555   
Email: rdavidson@futurenow.org.au    
Website: www.futurenow.org.au 

Click on the following link for further infomation on careers available in the Racing industry: FutureNow Racing Careers Flyer

Career Centre
Location: City Central Building, Level 2, 166 Murray St (Mall), Perth 6000   
Phone: 13 23 98
Email: career.developmentcentre@det.wa.edu.au     
Website: www.trainingwa.wa.gov.au/careercentre

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nationally recognised training

Nationally recognised training in racing comes from the RGR08 Racing Industry Training Package and is the national framework for skills development including nationally recognised units of competency and qualifications to train and assess individuals in a range of skills and occupations in racing.

Racing qualifications include:
RGR10108 Certificate I in Racing (Stablehand)
RGR20108 Certificate II in Racing (Stablehand)
RGR20208 Certificate II in Racing (Kennelhand)
RGR20308 Certificate II in Racing Services (Racing Administration)
RGR20408 Certificate II in Racing Services (Track Maintenance)
RGR30108 Certificate III in Racing (Trackrider)
RGR30208 Certificate III in Racing (Advanced Stablehand)
RGR30308 Certificate III in Racing Services (Racing Administration)
RGR30408 Certificate III in Racing Services (Cadet Steward)
RGR30508 Certificate III in Racing Services (Track Maintenance)
RGR40108 Certificate IV in Racing (Racehorse Trainer)
RGR40208 Certificate IV in Racing (Jockey)
RGR40308 Certificate IV in Racing (Harness Race Driver)
RGR40408 Certificate IV in Racing (Greyhound Trainer)
RGR40508 Certificate IV in Racing Services (Racing Administration)
RGR40608 Certificate IV in Racing Services (Steward)
RGR40708 Certificate IV in Racing Services (Track Maintenance)
RGR50108 Diploma of Racing (Racehorse Trainer)
RGR50208 Diploma of Racing Services (Racing Administration)
RGR50308 Diploma of Racing Services (Steward)
RGR50408 Diploma of Racing Services (Track Management)

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training packages

Click here for an overview of the Vocational Education and Training: Racing Training Package (RGR08) from Agri-Food Industry Skills Council, the National Industry Skills Council responsible for the Racing Training Package.

Click here for more information about this Training Package via the National Training Information Service (NTIS) website.

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apprenticeships & traineeships

Racing Apprenticeships available in Western Australia
Certificate III in Farriery

Racing Traineeships available in Western Australia
Certificate II in Racing (Stablehand)
Certificate III in Racing (Trackrider)
Certificate III in Racing (Advanced Stablehand)
Certificate IV in Racing (Jockey)

About Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Apprenticeships and traineeships combine practical experience at work with structured training.  As an apprentice or trainee, you enter into a formal training contract with an employer that leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

Apprentices and trainees spend most of the time in paid employment, learning practical skills on the job and putting them into practice. The rest of the time is spent in structured training at a registered training organisation like a TAFEWA college, or in the workplace.

People of all ages can undertake apprenticeships and traineeships. Most can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis, and many can be started at school.

What's in it for you?
•    You can earn wages while you learn.
•    You can complete your training early if you show you have the skills.
•    You can get a qualification that is recognised Australia wide.
•    You can start training while you're in school.

Get the best of both worlds by being paid to learn on the job while doing structured training at TAFEWA or another registered training organisation.

Not only will your qualification be nationally recognised, you'll also have loads of experience in the industry of your choice.

Check out the ApprentiCentre website for further details on apprenticeships and traineeships available in Western Australia http://www.det.wa.edu.au/apprenticentre, email: apprenticentre@det.wa.edu.au or phone: 13 19 54.   

higher education

Example of higher education qualifications in Racing provided by universities in Western Australia:

Curtin University of Technology
Bachelor of Agribusiness (Major: Equine Management)

 

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