Skip to main content

Applications open for Waters of LIFE Advisor Training – May 2025

Waters of LIFE are inviting applications to attend our next Waters of LIFE Advisor Training event.

The one-day event will take place on Wednesday May 28th 2025 in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise from 09:15 to 17:00. There is no cost for attendance.

Date: Wednesday May 28th 2025

Venue: Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise

Time: 09:15 – 17:00

This event is open to any advisor working with farmers or looking to work with farmers in our five demonstration sub-catchments:

Demonstration Sub-Catchments:

We’ve limited the class-room element of our training to one day. This is to be mindful of advisor time commitments.

Anyone who attended a previous Waters of LIFE training event in January 2025 does not need to attend. We will send further information out on runoff risk assessment training and habitat training in the coming weeks.

Waters of LIFE Advisor Training Schedule:

09:15 – Sign-in

09:30 – Training Overview

09:40 – Module 1: Intro to Waters of LIFE Project

10:20 – Module 2: Intro to Water Quality

11:00 – Coffee Break

11:20 – Module 3: Introduction to Catchment Science

13:00 – Lunch provided

14:00 – Module 3 continued: Catchment Specific Issues

14:15 – Module 4: General Actions I – Completing A Run Off Risk Assessment

15:15 – Coffee Break

15:30 – Module 5: Supporting Actions

16:00 – Module 6: General Actions II – Implementation

16:30 – Next Steps and Evaluation

17:00 – Sign-out

Click here for detailed Waters of LIFE Advisor Training (Classroom) Schedule

The training caters for people with varied knowledge of water quality and is designed to be interactive and engaging. Of the 50 advisors we trained in January 2025, 50% had no previous training in water quality.

To register:

Go to Waters of LIFE Agricultural Advisor Training #4 Tickets, Wed, May 28, 2025 at 9:15 AM | Eventbrite

The need for greater knowledge in water quality across our industries is continuing to increase and you are welcome to apply. Please note that completion of the form is not a guarantee of entry. Priority will be given to those with the strongest connection to farmers in our demonstration sub-catchments.

Role of the Agricultural Advisor:

Agricultural advisors have a vital role to play in delivery of the programme.

Work includes:

  • Conducting a run-off risk assessment (flow pathways) walkthrough on participant farms
  • Scoring habitats on farms to facilitate results based payments to participating farmers
  • Supporting farmers in implementation of general measures (e.g. nutrient management planning)
  • Completion of Waters of LIFE Advisor Training

For a full breakdown of on the role of the advisor and association advisor payment rates, please contact the project. 

Agricultural Advisor Training:

Advisors must be formally approved by Waters of LIFE in order to work on the agri-environmental programme. Approval is dependent on participation in a bespoke programme of 13 hours of contact time across classroom, computer based and field work training.

  • Classroom Training (8 hours in-person)
  • Computer Based Training: Use of desktop app (1 hour online)
  • Field Training: Habitat scoring (4 hours in-person)