AHC42116 - Certificate IV in Permaculture

Come on the journey to grow your permaculture know-how right in the green heart of Northern NSW!

Permaculture is a richly rewarding career, where you can immerse yourself in sustainable living and organic farming practices. It can provide you with opportunities to work in community development locally and internationally, aid projects, integrated food production or design for sustainable living. This Certificate IV Qualification aims to expand your existing knowledge of permaculture principles and delve deeper into research, planning and design.

You will learn how to:

• Provide advice on permaculture principles and practices
• Identify and analyse bioregional characteristics and resources
• Design an urban or rural permaculture system
• Manage organic soil improvement
• Evaluate suitability of species as solutions for permaculture applications
• Cost a project
• Manage a permaculture seed bank
• Design harvest and storage systems for permaculture products
• Operate within a sustainable community and bioregional development program
• Plan and implement permaculture works
• Recommend approaches for sustainable community and bioregional development
• Selecting appropriate technology and evaluating suitability of species for permaculture applications

You will be guided by our highly skilled, industry current trainers to expand your personal and professional skills, acquiring the resilience to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

This nationally recognised course will qualify you to work in a variety of roles, such as: Project Supervisor or a Designer for permaculture design projects.

The course will kick-off with a morning orientation session at the college, followed by a permaculture immersion experience in Alstonville hosted by tutors Bunya Halasz and Lauren O'Reilly. Held over three days and two nights, this is a great opportunity for diving head first into learning and getting to know your tutors and peers.

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

• Learners are required to hold a Certificate III in Permaculture or be able to provide evidence that their existing permaculture knowledge is is of a high enough standard to successfully engage with the course.
• Learners must be available for a three day permaculture immersion experience at Namabunda Property in Alstonville.
• 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
• 2 days of face to face and onsite learning per week, 8:30am – 3:00pm, Tuesday & Wednesday
• 1 day structured home study per week, Thursday
• 1 day (minimum) unstructured project-based learning per week, flexible
• Three days and two nights local permaculture immersion experience – further information provided on application
• Work experience on a community-based program (30 hours from Term 3)
• Practical work experience roster at Mullumbimby Community Gardens (2 hours every 2 weeks)
• Excursions undertaken at external properties
• Delivery location: Mullumbimby Campus
• There will be no classes during the NSW school holidays

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: $6,900
• Concession: $6,600
• Early Bird: $6,400 (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