First, the terminology
A bobcat and a skid steer are the same machine. Bobcat is a brand name that became the everyday word for it, the same way people say Esky for things that have a generic name nobody uses.
The proper term is a skid steer loader. SafeWork SA calls it a front-end loader of the skid steer type, Class LS, and defines it as a self-propelled crawler or wheeled machine where steering is achieved by skidding or reversing the track or wheels on one side. It has an integral front mounted bucket supporting structure that loads or excavates through the forward motion of the machine.
So when a job ad asks for a bobcat ticket, and an RTO advertises skid steer training, they are talking about the same thing. Do not let the wording put you off applying.
Do you need a licence to operate a bobcat in SA?
No. There is no High Risk Work Licence for skid steer loaders in South Australia.
SafeWork SA classifies skid steers as loadshifting equipment and lists them explicitly among the classes that are not high risk work. The same applies to excavators, front end loaders, backhoes and dozers.
What you do need is evidence that you are competent to operate the machine. That is what a bobcat ticket is: a record of training and assessment, not a licence card issued by the regulator.
So what counts as evidence?
SafeWork SA accepts a range of evidence for loadshifting plant. Any one or more of the following:
- a previous Notice of Satisfactory Assessment issued by or on behalf of a regulator such as SafeWork SA
- a Statement of Attainment or other nationally accredited qualification for the plant being operated
- a Certificate of Competency for the plant issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
- an industry competency card, or evidence of training completed at a RTO to a standard equal to NOHSC:7019
- confirmed evidence of on the job training from an experienced and competent operator, with records verified by that operator
- confirmed evidence of previous experience by a current or previous employer and/or a Verification of Competency (VoC) by an RTO.
SafeWork SA also expects operators to show their competency suits the complexity of the work and the conditions of the site. That last part matters more on a skid steer than most people assume, and here is why.
Attachments change the job
A skid steer is rarely just a bucket.
Augers, trenchers, four in one buckets, brooms, breakers, pallet forks and grapples all turn the same base machine into a different tool with different hazards. If your competency evidence was gathered pushing dirt with a standard bucket and you are now augering post holes near a boundary fence, the honest answer is that your evidence does not cover the work you are doing.
This is where a documented Verification of Competency (VoC) on your actual configuration earns its keep, and it is exactly what a WHS manager should be checking or organising to occur at their site by a registered training organisation (RTO) such as FQT.
Bobcat, excavator or loader? Which one do you need
|
Machine |
SafeWork SA class |
Licence needed |
Typical use |
| Bobcat / skid steer loader | LS | No HRWL, competency evidence | Tight site earthmoving, trenching, site clean up, landscaping |
| Excavator | LE | No HRWL, competency evidence | Digging, trenching, bulk excavation, 360 degree slew |
| Front end loader | LL | No HRWL, competency evidence | Bulk material movement, construction, agriculture, viticulture |
| Backhoe | LB | No HRWL, competency evidence | Combined front bucket and rear digging |
| Forklift truck | LF | High Risk Work Licence | Warehousing, logistics, yard work |
If your role crosses over into materials handling with tines with a mast that raises vertically over 900mm from ground level, then the rules change and a High Risk Work Licence comes into play. Our forklift training page covers that pathway, and if you are looking at telehandlers specifically, start with our article on telehandler training, assessment and licencing.
Why bother getting ticketed if it is not the law?
Three reasons, and none of them are about paperwork.
You will not get hired or win contracts without it. Labour hire firms, civil contractors and principal contractors on SA sites almost universally ask for competency evidence before you set foot on site. No card, no start.
Your employer is legally exposed without it. A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure operators have adequate information and training and are supervised so risks are minimised. If something goes wrong and there is no record of how competency was established, that gap gets found very quickly.
It is worth more than one machine. Skid steer training can be bundled with our other earthmoving courses at a discounted rate. Operators who hold evidence across skid steer, excavator and front end loader are simply more useful to a crew than operators who hold one.
What FQT’s skid steer course involves
Forklift Quality Training delivers skid steer training and assessment as an onsite service, in metropolitan Adelaide, regional South Australia or interstate.
The course runs over one day, with start and finish times arranged at booking. It covers a written component including knowledge and calculations, plus a practical component. Students who complete successfully receive a Verification of Competency certificate and an FQT competency card.
Entry requirements: 16 or over with photo identification, year 10 level language, literacy and numeracy, enclosed shoes with safety boots preferred, and hi-vis clothing.
Because delivery is onsite, minimum student numbers apply and extra charges may apply depending on where you are. Pricing is quoted on enquiry, so get in touch with your location and crew size and we will work it out.
CITB subsidies
Forklift Quality Training is an approved CITB provider, and skid steer duty of care training is listed under our provider profile.
Eligible South Australian construction industry workers can access up to $3,000 per financial year toward short course training. Bring a valid CITB number to enrolment. Details on our CITB subsidies page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bobcat licence the same as a skid steer licence? Yes, they are the same thing, and technically neither is a licence. Bobcat is a brand name for a skid steer loader. In South Australia the machine sits in the loadshifting category, Class LS, which is not a class of high risk work.
How long does it take to get a bobcat ticket? FQT delivers skid steer training and assessment in one day, covering both theory and practical.
Do I need experience first? No, but be honest at booking about your experience level so the assessment is pitched correctly. Operators with no seat time need more than a straight verification.
Does a bobcat ticket cover attachments? Not automatically. Your competency evidence should reflect the machine configuration and tasks you actually perform. If you are running specialised attachments, raise it when you book.
Can I do the course at your facility? Skid steer training is delivered onsite rather than at our Wingfield centre. We come to your workplace, in metro Adelaide, regional SA or interstate.
Do I still need a white card? Yes, if you are working on a construction site. General construction induction is separate from plant competency and both are required.
Book your crew in
Forklift Quality Training is a Registered Training Organisation, RTO 45625, based at Unit 1/15 Dunstan Road, Wingfield. We have been training and assessing plant operators in South Australia for over 35 years, and we deliver earthmoving training onsite across SA, the Northern Territory and interstate.
Call 08 8244 4958 or email admin@fqt.net.au.