Certificate III in Horticulture

Free TAFE
Course Code AHC30722
Locations Portland, Sherwood Park (Warrnambool)

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Study Mode Part-time, On Campus
Length Two years
Commencement February, July
Timetable One day a week during school terms
Course Overview
Introduction

The Certificate III in Horticulture will provide you with a wide range of general horticultural skills that are to industry standard and can be taken to the workplace.

The course will cover areas such as: identifying plants, propagation, plant nutrition, specialist amenity pruning, implementing soil improvements, controlling weeds, plant pests and diseases.

This on-campus course is very hands-on with a focus on the practical skills required to work in the industry. You will visit a range of gardens and commercial operations to give you an insight into the breadth of the industry and employment opportunities

What will I Learn?

This course will give you the confidence to identify plants and provide information on plants and their growing needs.  You will acquire skills to assess and improve soils, develop plant establishment and display gardens including how to cost a project.  You will learn how to identify plant health problems, establish turf and perform specialist amenity pruning.  You will complete the AgVet Chemical Users course which provides you with the confidence to handle, store and apply chemicals safely. 

 

Course Outcomes and Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion, you will be equipped to gain work as a horticulturalist in parks and gardens, nurseries, turf management and landscape construction.

Pathways

This qualification can provide a pathway to further study in the horticulture field including:

Placement

During this course, you will be required to undertake 210 hours of work experience within the two-year course with a commercial operator (either voluntary or paid). You will be required to maintain a work diary as evidence and organise your own workplace arrangements.

Information Session

Why don’t you come along to our next course info session to find out everything you need to start your learning journey? You can chat with our teachers, tour our facilities, learn more about the course, find out about the application process and get your questions answered by our course experts. 

Find the next info session near you

Course Requirements
Entrance requirements & pre-requisites

You must be at least 17 years of age.

Course requirements

To be eligble for this qualification, you must successfully complete 17 units: 11 core and 6 elective.

Units offered

Core Units

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Unit Code Unit Name Unit Hours Unit Consumables
AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals 50 $0.00
AHCMOM304 Operate machinery and equipment 40 $0.00
AHCPMG301 Control weeds 70 $0.00
AHCPMG302 Control plant pests, diseases and disorders 80 $0.00
AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases 70 $68.25
AHCSOL304 Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas 60 $0.00
AHCIRG346 Operate pressurised irrigation systems 50 $0.00
AHCPGD309 Perform specialist amenity pruning 65 $0.00
AHCWHS302 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes 50 $0.00
AHCWRK320 Apply environmentally sustainable work practices 60 $0.00
AHCPCM308 Identify and select plants 90 $0.00

Elective Units

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Unit Code Unit Name Unit Hours Unit Consumables
AHCBUS407 Cost a project 50 $0.00
AHCTRF309 Implement a grassed area maintenance program 60 $0.00
AHCNSY313 Implement a propagation plan 90 $0.00
AHCPCM305 Implement a plant nutrition program 60 $0.00
AHCPGD307 Implement a plant establishment program 80 $0.00
AHCPGD310 Implement a landscape maintenance program 100 $0.00
Assessment

This course involves accredited units.  You will be required to complete assessment tasks to demonstrate your underpinning knowledge, skills and attributes to meet the course outcomes.  A combination of written, oral and practical assessment strategies will be used in either a classroom, online or workplace environment. 

Where units require demonstration of skills in a workplace environment, you will have the opportunity to do this either in your own workplace (where appropriate), through a practical placement, or by using one of the Institute's simulated workshops/classrooms.  Detailed information about the types, conduct and dates of assessments will be provided in advance.  You will also be provided with information about the opportunity for reassessment and appeal.

After applying

Once you have applied for your chosen course, you will receive a thank you email from South West TAFE with a few steps to help process your enrolment.

Complete a Pre-Training Review
You will receive an email to complete a Pre-Training Review online evaluation. This evaluation helps us tailor your training to suit your needs.

Create or provide a Unique Student Identifier (USI)
A USI is a nationally recognised reference number that provides an online record of your training qualifications gained in Australia.
Create your USI
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Skills recognition
If you have experience or prior qualifications, you may be eligible to apply for recognition of prior learning and gain credits. You will be asked to provide any relevant Statement of Attainment to support identified credits.

Fees
Course Fees

Here's an outline of fees and costs associated with your course.

Your fees each year can be made up of 3 different elements.  Everyone has different circumstances that can affect what you pay and how much you pay. :

  1. Tuition fees - charged as an hourly rate that varies from course to course. A large portion of the tuition is subsidised by the Victorian Government for eligible students.
  2. Resource and/or materials costs - covers the cost of materials and other incidentals. This fee will vary according to the course being undertaken.
  3. Booklist items - such as textbooks, equipment and stationery recommended for your course

Tuition fees

There are 4 different rates of tuition fees. Only one will apply to you (depending on your eligibility and circumstances). 

  1. Government Subsidised Fee - you could be eligible for a government-subsidised rate under the Skills First funding depending on your age, educational history, and citizenship or residency status. If you are eligible, the government will contribute to the cost of your training.
    Find out more about subsidised training

  2. Government Subsidised Concession Fee - If you are eligible for a Skills First government-subsidised place and hold a current healthcare or pension card, that you can provide at enrolment, you may be eligible for the concession rate. Note, the concession rate is not applicable to Diploma level courses.
    Find out more about concession rates

  3. If the course is a Free TAFE course or part of the Free TAFE Pathways Program - Eligible students will not pay course tuition fees for the duration of their enrolment in this course, however, there may be some consumable/material fees for the course (find out more below). Any resource or material costs, or booklist items for this course are listed in the table below.
    Find out more about Free TAFE
    Find out more about Free TAFE Pathways Programs

  4. Full fee - If you are not eligible for a Skills First government-subsidised place, exemption, concession or are enrolling in a course that isn't government-subsidised, you may be required to pay the full fee rate.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FEES AND ELIGIBILITY

The fees listed below are indicative only. The course fees published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Course fee funding is made available to eligible individuals by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments. If funding is utilised, this may affect opportunities to access additional funding in the future. An accurate quote for this course will be provided during the enrolment process.

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Course fees by student type Indicative Course Fee
Government subsidised rate (if eligible) $4,220.00
Concession rate $845.00
Full fee rate (if not eligible for govt subsidy) $13,030.00
This is a Free TAFE course

Students who are eligible for Free TAFE place will not pay course tuition fees for the duration of their enrolment in this course, however, there may be some consumable/material fees for the course (find out more below). The consumable fees for this course are listed in the above table.

Find out more about Free TAFE courses and eligibility or contact us.

Resource and/or materials costs

Some courses require specific resources or materials necessary for your study eg: tools of the trade, excursions, etc. Final costs will be determined upon enrolment.

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Additional course fees Indicative Course Fee
Course consumable/materials (approximate) $233.63
How do I pay my fees?

Once we have processed your enrolment form, you will receive an email with your invoice.

You have three options when organising your payment:

  1. Upfront payment - can be made over the phone with EFTPOS
  1. Payment plan - can be directly debited from your bank account, debited from your Centrelink payments or via a VET Student Loan (for diploma or advanced diploma courses only)
  1. Paid by employer, school or job network agency - if your fees are being paid by your employer, school or job network agency, you will need to complete an Authority to Invoice form.

Payments will need to be arranged within five(5) business days of receiving the email containing your invoice.

We also offer a range of scholarships each year which you may be eligible to apply for to assist with course fees.

Next Steps
How to apply

There are five simple steps to apply for a course with us.

  1. Apply - complete a short online application form. Once this form is submitted we'll send you a thank-you email.
  2. Literacy and Numeracy Assessment - we will assess whether you need to undertake a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment and email it to you if required.
    If you are not required to undertake this assessment, you will skip to step 3.
  3. Chat to our team - your teacher or course specialist will contact you to discuss the course in more detail and ensure the right units of study are selected for you.
  4. Enrol – you will be sent an email to accept your offer for the course. By accepting, you will be directed to verify your details and submit your enrolment for processing.
  5. Pay - once we’ve completed your enrolment, we will send you an invoice to arrange payment of your course fees.

If you need any assistance with applying, contact our team on 1300 648 911 or visit your nearest campus.

Careers and Course Advice

Not sure which course is right for you? South West TAFE will help you find your way.

Our Careers Coaches at the Skills and Jobs Centre is here to support you. Whether you’re exploring career options, transitioning from school to the workforce or looking to study after school we’re here to help you.

Student Support

As a SWTAFE student, you can access a variety of support services that will enhance your study experience and help you complete your studies successfully. For more information about any of these services, visit our student page.