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Learning English Skills through Horticulture


2019-07-30

​Twelve students of Burmese origin currently studying English and Certificate II in Horticulture have gained valuable work experience in parks and garden related industries.

Learning and understanding technical language is a challenge for many Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) students who are new to Australia.

Box Hill Institute’s AMEP team in Lilydale developed a program for the horticulture and landscaping industry, which is delivered alongside an English course and gives students first hand work experience in parks and gardens, like council gardens, nurseries and landscaping.

Coordinator - Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land, Rob Hall carefully selected an employer who would be accommodating of people with low level English. He called a longstanding industry partner, Michael Casey, who owns MJC Horticulture and is President of Australian Institute of Horticulture. Michael provided the students with work placement and, as a result of their performance on the job, they have each received an offer for a landscape construction apprenticeship.

The Box Hill Institute AMEP team in Lilydale is very proud of this program, which has built strong relationships with the Burmese migrant community in the Outer East.