About the course
About the course
In this qualification, you will gain a broad range of skills and knowledge to give you a head start in the horticulture industry. Whether you want to work outdoors creating and maintaining beautiful gardens, or in the relative shelter of a production nursery growing all things green, or prefer helping customers choose the right plants from your wholesale or retail nursery, this course will equip you to start your career in this ever growing industry.
You will undertake 17 units, covering topics such as plant identification and botanical nomenclature, soil management, propagation and plant establishment, safe use of chemicals, plant pest and weed control, landscape maintenance, machinery use, pruning techniques and more. The course is structured so that students undertake foundational units before moving onto more complex topics.
Course Details
- Intake Dates & Course Length
- Career Outcomes
- Entry Requirements
- Pathways & Accreditation
- Fees & Finance Options
- Course Structure
Last updated:
Fri, 03 May 2024 04:00:32 GMT
Box Hill Institute reserves the right to alter or delete details of a course offering, fees or other information provided
Intake Dates & Course Length
Full time: 1 year
Part time: 18 months to 3 years (the time taken to complete this course will vary depending on your input)
| Location | Study Mode | Study Load | Start Date | Days | Additional Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | 15 Jul 2024 | M | Tu | W | Full time Mon-Wed | |
| | | ||||
| Start Date : 15 Jul 2024 | ||||||
| Days : M | Tu | W | ||||||
| Additional Info : Full time Mon-Wed | ||||||
Icon Key
Lilydale Campus
Classroom
Full Time
Career Outcomes
- Horticulturalist
- Gardener
- Parks and Gardens Maintenance Worker
- Retail Nursery Worker
- Wholesale/ Production Nursery Worker
Entry Requirements
Our horticulture course has significant practical components with a focus on giving you the necessary skills and knowledge to create a successful pathway to employment. You must have the physical capacity to complete the practical tasks involved including:
- bending, lifting and carrying heavy or awkward items
- digging, raking, hoeing
- pushing loaded wheelbarrows and trolleys
- walking on uneven ground
- repetitive movements when weeding, planting, propagating
- standing for extended periods
- using machinery including brush-cutters, push mowers, ride-on mowers,
- use of hand tools including secateurs, loppers, saws
You must also possess the communication skills to work with a diverse range of people.
This course is also available as a traineeship, if you have a traineeship contract, please indicate this in your application.
Pathways & Accreditation
Upon completion of this course, students may continue in further studies with Box Hill Institute in AHC51120 Diploma of Conservation & Ecosystem Management, or in related courses in other institutes such as Certificate IV in Horticulture or Diploma of Horticulture Management.
This course is government accredited and has national recognition
The qualification is aligned with the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level 3
Fees & Finance Options
This training is provided with funds made available by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments.
| Free TAFE | Government Subsidised Concession | Government Subsidised Standard | Full Fee | |
| Tuition Fee | $0 | $1,182 | $5,908 | $13,821 |
| Service & Amenity Fee | $268 | $268 | $268 | $268 |
| Material Fee | $318 | $318 | $318 | $318 |
| Retain Course Items | $80 | $80 | $80 | $80 |
| Total Course Estimate | $666 | $1,848 | $6,574 | $14,487 |
| Payable Estimate (at commencement) | $666 | $1,848 | $6,574 | $14,487 |
Service & Amenity Fee may vary depending on course commencement and enrolment duration. Retain Course Items are purchased once by the student prior to commencing. Those items then become the property of the student. Fees listed are at 2024 rates and may increase annually over the duration of delivery. The student tuition fees listed are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. For more information please contact our Course Advisors on 1300 BOX HILL.
Course Structure
You will complete a total of 17 units (11 core & 6 elective units).
Units will be delivered in the following sequence, to enable students to gain relevant skills and knowledge in safe work procedures, operation of machinery and equipment, chemical handling, as well as underpinning knowledge of soil management and plant propagation.
In delivery period 2, students will proceed to units in plant establishment and maintenance, as well as higher level plant identification and growth requirements.
- AHCWHS302Contribute To Workplace Health And Safety Processes50.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to contribute to workplace health and safety procedures, including applying policies and procedures, assisting in hazard identification and risk control, and observing safe practices during work operations.
The unit applies to individuals who contribute to workplace health and safety processes under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, health and safety in the workplace requirements, legislative and regulatory requirements.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, portfolio - AHCMOM304Operate Machinery And Equipment40.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare and operate machinery and equipment in a safe and controlled manner that is used principally in agriculture, horticulture, and conservation and land management work.
This unit does not apply to chainsaws, tractors, vehicles or earth moving equipment.
The unit applies to individuals who operate machinery and equipment under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, portfolio, practical demonstration - AHCSOL304Implement Soil Improvements For Garden And Turf Areas60.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to collect and test soil samples for their physical and chemical characteristics and take corrective action to improve the soil for garden beds and turf areas.
The unit applies to individuals who carry out soil improvements under general direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration - AHCPMG301Control Weeds70.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and coordinate weed control activities using appropriate strategies to provide effective, economic control while minimising environmental damage.
The unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems.
State or territory licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply in some jurisdictions.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration - AHCPMG302Control Plant Pests, Diseases And Disorders80.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and assess the effect to plants of plant pests, diseases and disorders and plan and coordinate control measures.
The unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems.
State or territory licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply in some jurisdictions.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration - AHCWRK320Apply Environmentally Sustainable Work Practices60.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to apply environmentally sustainable work practices.
The unit applies to individuals who apply environmentally sustainable work practices under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, health and safety in the workplace requirements, legislative and regulatory requirements and sustainability and biosecurity practices.
No licencing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, presentation - AHCCHM304Transport And Store Chemicals50.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely handle, transport and store chemicals.
The unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems.
State or territory licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply in some jurisdictions.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, practical demonstration - AHCCHM307Prepare And Apply Chemicals To Control Pest, Weeds And Diseases70.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely prepare and apply chemicals for the control of pests, weeds and diseases, using general application equipment.
The unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and for solving problems.
State or territory licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply in some jurisdictions.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, practical demonstration - AHCNSY207Undertake Propagation Activities30.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for plant propagation, assist with plant propagation and complete propagation activities.
The unit applies to individuals who undertake propagation activities under general supervision with limited autonomy or accountability.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration - AHCNSY308Maintain Nursery Plants40.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to monitor and maintain the nursery environment, determine water requirements and plant interventions that promote plant growth, and complete nursery plant maintenance work.
The unit applies to individuals who maintain nursery plants under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration - AHCPCM308Identify And Select Plants90.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and select plants to suit plant use and work site, including identifying commonly used plants, describing plants and explaining plant cultural requirements.
The unit applies to individuals who identify and select plants under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, portfolio, practical demonstration - AHCPGD309Perform Specialist Amenity Pruning65.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to perform specialist amenity pruning, including preparing, undertaking and completing amenity pruning work using specialist pruning techniques.
The unit applies to individuals who perform specialist amenity pruning under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, practical demonstration - AHCPGD307Implement A Plant Establishment Program80.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to establish planting areas, including preparing, implementing, reviewing and completing plant establishment work, in new projects and in programs of extensive replacement and renovation works across a range of situations and environments.
The unit applies to individuals who implement a plant establishment program under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration - AHCPGD310Implement A Landscape Maintenance Program100.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to implement a landscape maintenance program, including interpreting the program requirements, and monitoring and maintaining landscape areas of newly constructed or established landscapes.
The unit applies to individuals who implement a landscape maintenance program under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration - AHCPCM305Implement A Plant Nutrition Program60.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to implement a plant nutrition program, including preparing for the nutrition program, monitoring and controlling the nutritional requirements of plants, preparing fertilisers and application equipment, applying products to plants, and completing plant nutrition program activities.
The unit applies to individuals who implement a plant nutrition program under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration - AHCLSC318Erect Timber Structures And Features60.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to erect timber structures and features as a component of landscape project works, including preparing for work, setting out and preparing site, preparing and cutting timber components, assembling and erecting structure, checking and cleaning up site.
The unit applies to individuals who erect timber structures and features under broad direction, and take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, practical demonstration - AHCIRG346Operate Pressurised Irrigation Systems50.0 hours
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to pre-start check, inspect, start up, operate, monitor and shut down pressurised irrigation systems.
The unit applies to individuals who operate pressurised irrigation systems under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Assessment: Knowledge questions, project, practical demonstration
Study Period - 1
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