The AUSRIVAS Online training course is offered twice a year. The course teaches the skills and knowledge needed to assess river health to an acceptable standard using the Australian River Assessment System (AUSRIVAS) method. Those who complete its requirements successfully are eligible for accreditation from the relevant state or territory agency.
- Four interactive online modules teach all the theory.
- Work at your own pace over 12 weeks.
- All study materials are provided, including readings, photographs and diagrams.
- Self-test quizzes let you check your own progress.
- Hands-on 4-5 day workshop-module (Nov 10-14, Canberra) teaches the practical aspects.
- Hands-on module can be run in your own location for a local group.
- No prerequisites other than registration and payment.
- Course is not-for-degree.
To register, please visit http://ausrivas.canberra.edu.au/Bioassessment/Macroinvertebrates/Training..
The AUSRIVAS system
The Australian River Assessment System is a method designed for rapid biological assessment of river condition in Australia.
Put very simply, AUSRIVAS bioassessment consists of standardised sampling techniques, predictive models and a software program, used to predict the aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblage (water insects and other river creatures without backbones) expected to occur at a site in the absence of environmental stress. An assessment of stream condition is made by comparing and rating the macroinvertebrate assemblage collected at a test site with those predicted to occur at a set of reference sites that have similar features to the test site.
The AUSRIVAS method was devised under the National River Health Program in consultation with water managers and scientists in all states and territories of Australia. The use of AUSRIVAS outputs for Commonwealth, State and Territory monitoring and assessment has expanded since the scheme was initially introduced and given a national profile with the First National Assessment of River Health that reported in 2002. Such an assessment was not possible before the development of AUSRIVAS, which provided the standardised bioassessment results to make comparisons possible.
To be an accredited operator within the NRHP, it makes sense to become trained via the AUSRIVAS Online course.
Theory modules and 'hands-on'
The theory is delivered over the Internet via interactive online courses. This allows you to work on the modules in your own time and space, but at the same time you can interact easily with the course coordinators (who developed the AUSRIVAS computer models in the first place). The theory modules provide all the study materials you need, including readings, photographs and diagrams. A key feature is the self-test quizzes you use to check your own progress.
The four theory modules teach you about
- Study design and site selection
- The habitat
- Macroinvertebrate sampling and processing
- Data analysis, predictions and indices.
One hands-on module teaches you the standardised practical methods that are used in rivers and provides the opportunity to undertake the assessment required for AUSRIVAS accreditation for the field-work components of the method (laboratory component optional). Using the methods you've learnt about online, and with experienced supervision, you get into a river to measure habitat variables and collect and process macroinvertebrate samples.
While the practical module is regularly delivered in Canberra, it can equally well be hosted in your local area if a large enough group is enrolled there.