Demonstrating safe technique on a real tree is an essential part of completing training in manual tree felling. However, sourcing appropriate trees can be challenging for most registered training organisations (RTOs), creating a barrier to training skills that are crucial across a wide range of industries, including development, construction, landscaping, parks and gardens and forestry.
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Skills Insight and ForestWorks are undertaking this project to develop a mechanism for sourcing trees for delivery of the tree felling units. In consultation with stakeholders, we will investigate ways to establish partnerships between RTOs and organisations that can facilitate access to trees, such as forestry companies, councils, landowners, national parks services and other relevant stakeholders.
Our team will consult to understand existing partnerships, practices and regulations relating to tree allocation, as well as the challenges associated with each. From here, we will develop protocols and guidelines to support partnerships for identifying, allocating, and managing trees for training purposes, which will be tested with a small selection of RTOs and stakeholders. Implementation support materials and a virtual workshop will be developed to help roll out the protocol to a broader cohort of stakeholders. Our team will follow up with participants to assess the effectiveness of the protocol and produce a report outlining these findings.
The project aims to support continued delivery of the tree felling units, so that all workers are equipped with the skills to safely fell trees using a chainsaw.
Opportunities to contribute will be available throughout the project via this website.
Rob Stowell
Project Consultant
rstowell@forestworks.com.au
Belinda Tierney
General Manager
ForestWorks
projects@forestworks.com.au
This project aims to address challenges in sourcing trees for training and assessment of the basic, intermediate and advanced tree felling units.
A Project Working Group has been formed with representatives from various stakeholder groups to provide guidance on the proposed Tree Allocation Partnerships Protocol. This protocol is designed to establish a broad framework that enables registered training organisations (RTOs) to collaborate with tree/land owners including forestry companies, plantation managers, government departments, and other relevant stakeholders in sourcing trees for training and assessment purposes.
The Project Working Group met three times during May 2025 and has developed an initial draft of the Protocol. Amongst other things, the Protocol will outline the roles and responsibilities of tree and landowners, as well as RTOs, in accessing trees for training and assessment purposes. The project team is currently investigating several issues that have arisen during the development of the draft, including matters related to insurance, the management of the Protocol, and the final wording of the document. Following investigation of the issues, a working draft of the Protocol will be reviewed by the Project Working Group before pilot testing can commence.
Project background
This project follows the 2023-24 Tree Felling Project which updated the units for basic, intermediate and advanced tree felling skills. A key finding of the project was the need for additional support to help RTOs access trees for training and assessment. Another project is also underway to investigate potential pathways into tree felling units to ensure learners have the appropriate skills prior to enrolment. See the Pathway to Tree Felling Skills Project for more information.
A draft Tree Allocation Partnerships Protocol and a supporting template agreement have been developed, with the opportunity for registered training organisations (RTOs) and tree/landowners and managers to be involved in pilot testing.
The draft Protocol has been developed in close partnership with registered training organisations (RTOs), tree/landowners and managers, and other stakeholders, supported by legal advice from Minter Ellison. It has been designed to establish a broad framework that enables RTOs to collaborate with tree/landowners including forestry companies, plantation managers, government departments, and other relevant stakeholders in sourcing trees for training and assessment purposes. The Protocol was approved for testing by the Project Working Group, comprised of members from various industry sectors, including arboriculture, forestry, emergency services, and land management.
Next steps
The draft Protocol and template agreement will be piloted across three locations from November to December 2025. The pilot aims to:
- test how the Protocol can be used to form practical agreements between RTOs and land/tree owners
- identify support materials (e.g., model agreements, checklists) to maximise utilisation of the Protocol
- make recommendations on refinements to the Protocol and associated tools
- build confidence and capability in forming such partnerships.
Note: The pilot will not involve any actual tree-felling activity but will focus on testing the Protocol and enabling tools. It will aid in the evaluation of the Protocol and feasibility and effectiveness of partnerships in achieving the project objectives
Expressions of interest
Expressions of interest were open from 5 to 16 November 2025.
RTOs and tree/landowners and managers were invited to express their interest in pilot testing the Protocol. This included RTOs that are currently delivering or planning to deliver tree-felling units and require access to trees, and tree/landowners with suitable trees (e.g., identified for removal) and interested in supporting skills development. Tree/landowners and managers could include councils, forestry agencies, national parks and wildlife services, and private landholders.
For more information, please contact :
Tim Cleary, Stakeholder Engagement Lead, ForestWorks, on 0438 846 546.
Build capability and consistency in applying the Tree Allocation Protocol and Tree Access Agreement
To help RTOs and partners roll out the Protocol and Agreement, ForestWorks is hosting online implementation support sessions. These sessions will translate the Protocol into practical steps, share insights from the 2025 pilots, and walk through the updated Toolbox of templates, checklists, and guidance.
Who should attend?
Key stakeholders involved in planning, supporting or overseeing manual tree felling training and assessment across arboriculture, forestry, land management and emergency services, including RTO staff, tree and landowners or managers, councils, government agencies and related partners.
Session dates and times
|
Session One |
Friday, 6 March 2026, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Melbourne time) |
|
Session Two |
Friday, 6 March 2026, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (Melbourne time) |
|
Session Three |
Friday, 13 March 2026, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Melbourne time) |
Each session runs for two hours. A maximum of approximately 25 participants per session applies. Multiple participants from the same organisation are welcome.
What you’ll learn
- Purpose, structure and status of the Tree Allocation Protocol and the Tree Access Agreement
- Roles and responsibilities for RTOs, industry stakeholders and tree/land owners or managers
- Practical considerations: site inspection, safety management, insurance, cultural heritage and environmental factors
- How to use the Toolbox resources in your organisation
- Next steps for implementation and ongoing support
Secure your place via the online form:
A meeting link will be emailed to registered participants closer to the date.
Background
The Tree Allocation Partnerships Project is delivered by ForestWorks in collaboration with Skills Insight to address the challenge RTOs face in accessing suitable trees for nationally recognised training and assessment in manual tree felling. A draft Protocol and template agreement were developed with industry and piloted in late 2025. Lessons from the pilots are informing final materials and the implementation support program.
Contact
For questions, contact Tim Cleary, Stakeholder Engagement Lead, ForestWorks.Â
Email: tcleary@forestworks.com.au | Phone: 0438 846 546Â
This stage has not yet commenced.
At the finalisation stage, final checks are conducted and the outcomes of the project are submitted to the Department for consideration. Following this, outcomes are published or enacted.
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