Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)

Sydney

Renewal 28th June
Full + Renewal 6 - 9 August

Adelaide

Full + Renewal June 11-14

Melbourne

Renewal Friday 3 May - Registrations are closed
Full 6-8 May - Registrations are closed
Full + Renewal Oct 14-17 October

Go to the events page to register online

Cancellation Policy

• All registration fees must be paid in full before the registration deadline date by credit card, unless a Purchase Order number has been provided at the time of registration. If no Purchase Order number has been provided and no payment received before the registration deadline date, you may not be accepted onto the course.

• Cancellations must be notified in writing to traq@trees.org.au

• Cancellation before the registration deadline date will incur an AUD $80.00 cancellation fee

• No refunds or transfers will be granted after the registration deadline

• The attendee must meet the pre-requisites before registering

• A minimum number of attendees is required to run the TRAQ course, if the minimum number is not reached by the registration deadline date, Arb Australia has the right to cancel the course and a full refund will be provided

This price list details the cost for 2024 TRAQ courses in an in-person classroom setting.

TRAQ course fees are the same price for all locations. The prices below are for 2024

Fees are subject to change

FULL COURSE (2.5 days)

$1250 - ISA member

$1250 - Arb Aus member

$1400 - non-member

RENEWAL COURSE (1 day)

$550 - ISA member

$550 - Arb Aus member

$600 - non-member

Want to become a member of Arb Aus? Your membership entitles you to immediate discounts. Contact the Arb Aust Team now.

The Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) is owned and developed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

The program expands your fundamental knowledge of tree risk assessment by learning a standardised, systematic process for assessing tree risk. You will be able to provide information to decision makers and tree owners to foster informed decisions that promote the safety of people and property, and enhance tree benefits, health, and longevity. You will learn strategies to systematically identify and assess tree risk.

This internationally recognised qualification course comprises of a two-day education course followed by a ½ day assessment (2.5 days in total) that includes both a written and field component. The course prepares the participant to take the TRAQ assessment to become ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified . It is required you attend the course and successfully complete the assessment in order to receive the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification.

Tree Biology and Mechanics:

Participants will learn how to assess wood structure, decay, tree mechanics, and evaluate their impact on likelihood of tree or tree part failure. Participants will also learn how to identify and assess defects and conditions that may affect likelihood of failure.

Tree Inspection and Assessment

Participants will learn about types of targets, assess the likelihood of a tree or tree part impacting target, and estimate the consequences of tree or tree part failure. Participants will also learn how to assess site factors that may influence likelihood of failure.

Data Analysis and Risk Categorisation

After learning the tree and target factors that must be assessed, participants will combine likelihood of failure, likelihood of impact, consequences of failure to derive risk rating. This rating helps the assessor communicate tree risk to clients and risk managers and allows comparison risk levels between trees.

Risk Reporting

Participants will learn skills for clearly communicating tree risk to clients, both in written and verbal reports. Participants will also learn about the key components that should be included in a report after completing a tree risk assessment.

The qualification consists of a two-day educational course followed by a half-day assessment that includes both a written and a field component. You must attend the course and successfully complete the assessment in order to receive this qualification.

When applying to participate in a TRAQ event, applicants must agree to the terms, conditions, and policies outlined in the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification Application Guide.

All course registrants will receive a copy of the Tree Risk Assessment Manual and a course workbook. These are provided in hard copy to all in-person registrants, and in soft copy for any online refresher course attendees.

To be eligible to register for the course and take the exam, you must have earned one of the following credentials:

• Certificate III Arboriculture

• ISA Certified Arborist® or ISA Board Certified Master Arborist®

• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified

• A degree in arboriculture, urban forestry, traditional forestry, or horticulture that is part of a national qualifications framework or is from a college or university

• A national certification or certificate in arboriculture (see a complete list in the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification Application Guide)

• ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist (RCA) status

• Licensing or Certification from an approved state/province program (see a complete list in the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification Application Guide)

• SAF Certified Forester

The TRAQ credential is an internationally recognised qualification that is valid for five (5) years from the date it is earned.

A credential holder must take the renewal course and pass the exam every five (5) years in order to renew the credential. Maintaining this qualification does not require CEUs; however, ISA certification holders will be offered 14.5 CEUs for attending the course.

The renewal course is an abbreviated version of the full course. The renewal is a one-day refresher with five (5) hours of instruction and three (3) hours to take the exam.

Current TRAQ holders can complete the abbreviated renewal course as early as 18 months prior to the expiration of their qualification. Upon passing the renewal exam, the expiration date will be adjusted to five years from the original expiration date. This means that if you pass the renewal exam four years into your credential, you will have six years until it expires.

TRAQ holders who do not take the renewal course and exam before their expiration date will be required to retake the full TRAQ course and pass its exam to requalify.

BEN KENYON

Ben has over 20 years experience in the arboricultural industry in both the field and consultancy and is an expert in all aspects of tree management.

As the Principal Consulting Arborist at Homewood Consulting, Ben has a strong practical focus and is passionate about training & public consultation.

Given his practical background he has extensive experience in the preparation of arborist reports, tree management plans and tree retention assessments for planning and development.

He has extensive skills in database development & design and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) which are predominantly used to manage large volumes of asset data such as complete city tree inventories or asset surveys.

Prior to establishing Homewood Consulting, Ben worked for over 15 years as a field Arborist for a number of organisations.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticulture

Associate Diploma of Applied Science Horticulture (Arboriculture)

Quantified Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA) Registered User 919

ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)

Favourite Trees

Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum) – coz it's not Australian if you don’t like Red Gums

Flindersia australis (Australian Teak) It has really cool looking fruit capsules, the kids and I love watching them open and have done some time lapse photography on them

Corymbia citriodora (Lemon-Scented Gum) After returning from travelling overseas for 2 years (as a young adult), this tree became one of my favourites, it typifies ‘the smell of the bush’.