AHC30722 - Certificate III in Horticulture

Do you want to grow your passion, while creating and nurturing diverse types of green environments?

A career in horticulture is a great choice if you enjoy working outdoors. It can provide you with vast opportunities to work within a wide range of horticulture settings. You will be guided by our highly skilled, industry current trainers who will help you develop the personal and professional skills required to start your career as a sought-after horticulturist, in an evolving and growing industry.

Your time will be divided in the classroom and at our 1-acre site located at Mullumbimby Community Gardens, where you will gain vital hands-on experience.

This entry-level nationally recognised course will qualify you to work in nurseries, parks and gardens, while opening doors to a variety of roles, such as: Horticulturalist, Nursery Worker, Parks and Gardens Worker.

You will learn how to:

• Operate machinery and equipment
• Contribute to work health and safety processes
• Recognise plant specimens and provide information on their culture
• Conduct site inspections and coordinate work site activities
• Install pressurised irrigation systems
• Implement soil improvements for garden and turfs
• Control weeds, plant pests, diseases and disorders
• Apply pruning techniques and implement a propagation plan
• Apply environmentally sustainable work practice

This course is being offered as a subsidised course to eligible students under the Smart and Skilled program. Applications for these subsidised places are limited so a funded place cannot be guaranteed.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.

Admission / Desirable Requirements

When studying with Byron Community College, we want you to succeed. Entry requirements allow us to ensure you have the pre-existing knowledge and skills required to complete your qualification. This course involves reading and undertaking a range of written assessments. A full list of admission / desirable requirements is available in the course Information Pack, please call or email the college for details.

Course Duration & Hours

• Assessments will be completed in an online format
• Rolling enrolments - First intake Thursday 8th February 2024
• 2 days of face-to-face onsite learning per week, 9:00am – 3:30pm, Thursdays & Fridays
• 1 day structured home study per week
• Half day unstructured study / research per week
• Work experience at Mullumbimby Community Gardens (3 hours every 3 weeks)
• Delivery location: Mullumbimby Campus and Mullumbimby Community Gardens

Not sure which course is right for you? Click here to book a chat with our Student Support Coordinator to discuss your options and study pathways.

Course Fees

The fee below applies to all eligible Smart and Skilled students:

Smart and Skilled NSW Fee Free initiative - $0

To be eligible for Smart and Skilled government subsidised training, you must:

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder, or a New Zealand citizen; and
• Live or work in New South Wales; and
• Be aged 15 years or older; and
• No longer be at school or equivalent; and
• Provide the College with your USI at the time of enrolment (admin staff can assist you in obtaining a USI

Most NSW residents are eligible for the above government subsidised fee!**

For more information on Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria or subsidised places, click here or call our office on 02 6684 3374.

This training is subsidised by the NSW Government.

The fee below applies to all User Pays students:

• Full fee: $3,950
• Concession: $3,750
• Early Bird: $3,550 (deposit to be received by 13 January 2023)

Payment Plan
Course fees are paid in instalments scheduled throughout the duration of the course. Fee schedules for individual courses are outlined on the enrolment paperwork available through the college administration team.

This course is Austudy Approved

Student Policies and Procedures

See Student Handbook

USI

From the 1st of January 2015, any student enrolling in an Accredited Training course will be required to obtain a USI. The USI helps to keep your training records and results together in an online account which is controlled by you. You can logon to the USI website here and follow the simple instructions online to create your USI. This then needs to be provided to the College at the time of enrolment.

Important Information

Once your enrolment is completed you will receive a confirmation email. This email will be your receipt and inform you of the dates, time and venue of your course, it will also let you know of anything you need to take to class with you. Please make sure that you give us a valid email address and mobile number as any course changes will be communicated via sms or email.

Click here to read our Refund Policy

Student Story - Shiva Smyth

My name is Shiva Smyth and 2017 was a big year of change for me, I was a qualified automotive vehicle painter at the start of the year and by the end of it I was a certified horticulturist on a completely different career path. Today I'm running my own property maintenance and landscaping business with great success and the future is looking bright.

When approaching the college in regards to course information and enrolment criteria I was greeted by warm and inspired staff. They were so supportive of my bold move to change career which gave me a real confidence boost about re-engaging in study as a mature age student.

Managing time was definitely the hardest aspect but with the all the support from the college and other students I soon found my rhythm. The structure of the course was well balanced with a good mix of practical and theory. Being able to spend time in the field and make connections with locals in the industry was extremely beneficial. Before the course had even finished I had two clients through the college’s connections and word of mouth soon got a few more. I believe this was an integral part of getting my business off the ground so fast.

I’m also working as an environmental education consultant for Brisbane city council conducting education programs for all ages at Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens, a position that I feel really gives something back to the broader community. Also being able provide work to subcontractors, one of whom was a fellow student at Byron College. It's nice to see the benefits spread throughout the local economy and community.