AHC33822 - Certificate III in Permaculture

Are you interested in learning permaculture skills to help make lives, homes and communities more sustainable?

We offer you the opportunity to immerse yourself in sustainable living in Byron Shire, the green heart of the North Coast. Make like-minded friends in this highly practical course as you gain experience and confidence to transition your life and the lives of others towards a better future.

You will learn:

• Permaculture principles and ethics
• Integrated plant and animal systems
• Propagation
• Establishment of urban permaculture systems
• Planning and design of food forests and orchards
• Building and installation of permaculture structures
• Crop planning, maintenance, harvesting and cooking
• Installation and maintenance of permaculture water systems
• Plant, pest and disease management
• Landscape and map interpretation
• Soil health and soil types
• Composting

You will be inspired by natural ecosystems, holistic philosophy integrating organic farming, animal systems, natural building, food preservation, systems thinking, community development and more. This course is the ‘trade equivalent’ qualification that prepares you to operate in a skilled and independent manner developing and operating permaculture systems.

You will divide your time in the classroom and onsite at our purpose designed 1-acre permaculture site located at Mullumbimby Community Gardens, where you will gain vital hands-on experience.

During the course, you will be required to participate in weekly or fortnightly practical work experience at the Mullumbimby Community Gardens. Tasks may include chicken care, watering seedlings and beds, turning compost and maintaining paths.

Byron Region Community College is a registered training organisation offering this course with the support of Mullumbimby Community Gardens and Permaculture Australia.

This course is being offered as a subsidised course to eligible students under the Smart and Skilled program. Applications for 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

You will be required to work physically in a range of outdoor conditions (sun, rain, wind) for extended periods of time so it's strongly recommended that you're able to squat, kneel, bend, lift and carry loads, dig, shovel and weed. You need a willingness to actively participate in all practical activities.

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. 

Course Duration & Hours

• Assessments will be completed in an online format
• Rolling enrolments - First intake Tuesday 6th February 2024
• 2 days of face to face onsite learning per week, 9:00am – 3:30pm, Tuesday & Wednesday
• 2 days structured at home study / research per week, flexible
• Practical work experience roster at Mullumbimby Community Gardens (3 hours every 2 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: $4,300
• Concession: $4,100
• Early Bird: $3,900 (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

What to bring

• Pen and paper
• Own lunch and refreshments
• Students must have enclosed shoes and a brimmed hat
• Long sleeve shirt and long pants
• Sunglasses and gloves

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.

Student Experience Cert III Permaculture

A student experience Tasara Dewhurst

“I participated in the Byron Community College Permablitz course because I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to step into a wholesome world of possibility. I then continued this journey by enrolling in the Cert III in Permaculture. Learning to live off the land gives one a huge sense of power and freedom. We can create our own independent worlds that work in harmony with the earth, instead of against it. The course gave me all this and more. Every day was joyful and abundant in giggles, I met lifelong friends and felt connected to my community.

I now study in Melbourne, and have a cranking garden, where I get the majority of my veggies from, my urban system is admired by all, and has inspired the birth of many others. The knowledge I gained will enrich my life in many ways and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity through Byron Community College."

"Don’t hesitate, you have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain!”

Tasara is continuing her learning by studying Steiner Education in Melbourne, she has a strong passion to educate children about sustainability and is gaining the skills required to share that knowledge. We wish her all the best in her future studies.

The Byron Centre For Permaculture is a proud member of Permaculture Australia

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