- On campus (Bairnsdale)
- On campus (Morwell)
Course Overview
Intakes
2025 Intake
Intake Date | Campus | Attendance Days |
---|---|---|
12/02/2025 | Bairnsdale Trade Centre | Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm |
23/04/2025 | Bairnsdale Trade Centre | Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm |
04/06/2025 | Bairnsdale Trade Centre | Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm |
23/07/2025 | Bairnsdale Trade Centre | Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm |
27/08/2025 | Bairnsdale Trade Centre | Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm |
08/10/2025 | Bairnsdale Trade Centre | Wednesday 9:00am-4:00pm, Thursday 8:00am-3:00pm |
29/10/2025 | Bairnsdale Trade Centre | Wednesday, Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm |
About this course
Grow your green skills with a Certificate III in Horticulture, training in a simulated workplace at our Bairnsdale Trade Centre.
You don't need to be employed in the industry to enjoy this practical course, which will see you exposed to real work environments through a combination of field trips, industry guest speakers and projects thanks to our connections with local businesses and industry organisations such as Landcare.
Pursue a practical career pathway in Gippsland’s thriving horticultural industry.
This qualification provides a general vocational outcome in one of the many streams of horticulture for those aspiring to work in one or more of these areas in the future:
- Arboriculture
- Landscape Services
- Gardening Services
- Turf and Sports Turf Management
- Production Nursery
- Field / Paddock Fruit and Vegetable production
- Controlled Environment crop / nursery production
- Retail Nursery
- Nature Reserves and Conservation Parks
- Parks & Botanical Gardens
- Rural and Residential Land Care and Management.
Hear from Kaylee, one of our Horticulture students
Horticulture teacher Katrina on studying with us
Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.
Career Opportunities
Horticulture industry is very diverse and provides individuals with opportunities from soil rectification to production and retail/whole sale employment. The Horticulture industry in Gippsland has significant important assets that positions the region to further develop its horticulture and food production opportunities
Opportunities for Further Study
AHC40422 Certificate IV in Horticulture
AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC51120 Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Skills or Knowledge gained
This course involves hands on learning, both outdoor and indoor and enables students to develop and practice skills including machinery operation, plant growth, soils, diseases and pests, chemical use and landscape construction works. This qualification also includes creating and maintaining garden beds, nursery and vegetable growing skills. This is a real 'doing' course and involves fun learning, getting dirty and experiencing all of what is offered in the horticultural industry
Entry Requirements
Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: No
Mandatory entry requirements:
Profile / Fulltime Trainee Students: Minimum age of 17 years (this is not a training package requirement). Profile students in Victoria must be 17 years of age or older and not enrolled at secondary school to be eligible to enrol in this qualification.
School Based Apprentice / Trainee (SBAT): Must be 15 years or older to undertake a SBAT. SBATs must be 16 years of age or older to be operate machinery such as Tractors, according to manufacturer specifications.
Recommended entry Requirements:
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry, often as a part time or full time traineeship, including School Based Trainee.
Applicants wishing to undertake the qualification are required to complete a full Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment, as well as a Pre training Review.
Applicants are also required to complete a interview with one of the trainers before enrolment can proceed into this course.
We recommend that applicants should have completed a Certificate II Horticulture or equivalent qualification or have a minimum of1 year experience working in the horticulture sector. Past experience on a horticultural enterprise or related businesses a would be an advantage but not essential.
Limitations to course Entry:
Students must have access to a reliable internet connection.
Students must have access to a computer or tablet that will support course work to be completed in our Learning Management System Moodle. We recommend that this also includes a headset (integrated microphone and earphones).
Students intending to work within the horticultural industry must be physically fit, this includes the ability to bend and lift. Students must be able to spend considerable time on their feet throughout their working day.
Minimum Industry Requirement
Not applicable.
Licensing/Regulatory Requirements
Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: true
An ACUP (agricultural chemical users permit) is a permit issued to a person, which provides authority to purchase specified 'restricted supply' chemicals and use specified 'restricted use' chemicals in Victoria.
You are required to undertake relevant training before you can apply for and hold an ACUP.
ACUPs do not authorise a person to use agricultural chemicals on another person’s property, crop or commodity for a fee or reward (i.e. contractors).
To be eligible to apply for a "STANDARD ACUP" the minimum Training requirement is the successful completion of a course in AgVet chemical use (or equivalent) that includes the units of competency:
AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases (previously AHCCHM303); and
AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals.
On successful completion of these units of competency individuals can use their statement of results / attainment to apply for a Standard ACUP through Agriculture Victoria online at https://chemical.agriculture.vic.gov.au/ (additional fees are payable to apply for this permit)
Qualifications and Recognition - 2025
Upon successful completion of this course students will be eligible to receive the Certificate III In Horticulture.
Work Placement - 2025
Does this course require placement?: Yes
While it is not compulsory students are strongly encouraged and may undertake up to 240 hours of vocational placement, this is designed to enhance the students learning throughout the course.
Placement to be arranged by: Student
Course Overview
Intakes
2025 Intake
Intake Date | Campus | Attendance Days |
---|---|---|
10/02/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
21/04/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
26/05/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
26/05/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
16/06/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
21/07/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
21/07/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
25/08/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
25/08/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
06/10/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
06/10/2025 | Morwell | Monday, Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm |
About this course
Grow your green skills with a Certificate III in Horticulture, training in a simulated workplace at our Morwell campus.
You don't need to be employed in the industry to enjoy this practical course, which will see you exposed to real work environments through a combination of field trips, industry guest speakers and projects thanks to our connections with local businesses and industry organisations such as Landcare.
Pursue a practical career pathway in Gippsland’s thriving horticultural industry.
This qualification provides a general vocational outcome in one of the many streams of horticulture for those aspiring to work in one or more of these areas in the future:
- Arboriculture
- Landscape Services
- Gardening Services
- Turf and Sports Turf Management
- Production Nursery
- Field / Paddock Fruit and Vegetable production
- Controlled Environment crop / nursery production
- Retail Nursery
- Nature Reserves and Conservation Parks
- Parks & Botanical Gardens
- Rural and Residential Land Care and Management.
Hear from Kaylee, one of our Horticulture students
Horticulture teacher Katrina on studying with us
Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.
Career Opportunities
Horticulture industry is very diverse and provides individuals with opportunities from soil rectification to production and retail/whole sale employment. The Horticulture industry in Gippsland has significant important assets that positions the region to further develop its horticulture and food production opportunities
Opportunities for Further Study
AHC40422 Certificate IV in Horticulture
AHC40122 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC51120 Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management
Skills or Knowledge gained
This course involves hands on learning, both outdoor and indoor and enables students to develop and practice skills including machinery operation, plant growth, soils, diseases and pests, chemical use and landscape construction works. This qualification also includes creating and maintaining garden beds, nursery and vegetable growing skills. This is a real 'doing' course and involves fun learning, getting dirty and experiencing all of what is offered in the horticultural industry
Entry Requirements
Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: No
Mandatory entry requirements:
Profile / Fulltime Trainee Students: Minimum age of 17 years (this is not a training package requirement). Profile students in Victoria must be 17 years of age or older and not enrolled at secondary school to be eligible to enrol in this qualification.
School Based Apprentice / Trainee (SBAT): Must be 15 years or older to undertake a SBAT. SBATs must be 16 years of age or older to be operate machinery such as Tractors, according to manufacturer specifications.
Recommended entry Requirements:
This qualification may be accessed by direct entry, often as a part time or full time traineeship, including School Based Trainee.
Applicants wishing to undertake the qualification are required to complete a full Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment, as well as a Pre training Review.
Applicants are also required to complete a interview with one of the trainers before enrolment can proceed into this course.
We recommend that applicants should have completed a Certificate II Horticulture or equivalent qualification or have a minimum of1 year experience working in the horticulture sector. Past experience on a horticultural enterprise or related businesses a would be an advantage but not essential.
Limitations to course Entry:
Students must have access to a reliable internet connection.
Students must have access to a computer or tablet that will support course work to be completed in our Learning Management System Moodle. We recommend that this also includes a headset (integrated microphone and earphones).
Students intending to work within the horticultural industry must be physically fit, this includes the ability to bend and lift. Students must be able to spend considerable time on their feet throughout their working day.
Minimum Industry Requirement
Not applicable.
Licensing/Regulatory Requirements
Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: true
An ACUP (agricultural chemical users permit) is a permit issued to a person, which provides authority to purchase specified 'restricted supply' chemicals and use specified 'restricted use' chemicals in Victoria.
You are required to undertake relevant training before you can apply for and hold an ACUP.
ACUPs do not authorise a person to use agricultural chemicals on another person’s property, crop or commodity for a fee or reward (i.e. contractors).
To be eligible to apply for a "STANDARD ACUP" the minimum Training requirement is the successful completion of a course in AgVet chemical use (or equivalent) that includes the units of competency:
AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases (previously AHCCHM303); and
AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals.
On successful completion of these units of competency individuals can use their statement of results / attainment to apply for a Standard ACUP through Agriculture Victoria online at https://chemical.agriculture.vic.gov.au/ (additional fees are payable to apply for this permit)
Qualifications and Recognition - 2025
Upon successful completion of this course students will be eligible to receive the Certificate III In Horticulture.
Work Placement - 2025
Does this course require placement?: Yes
While it is not compulsory students are strongly encouraged and may undertake up to 240 hours of vocational placement, this is designed to enhance the students learning throughout the course.
Placement to be arranged by: Student
Further Information - 2025
Fees
Fees and charges | Government subsidised concession | Government subsidised | Full-fee paying student |
---|---|---|---|
Maximum full course tuition fee* (GST exempt) | $998.20 | $4,991.00 | $13,128.50 |
Materials fee* (GST exempt) | $595.00 | $595.00 | $595.00 |
Total | $1,593.20 | $5,586.00 | $13,723.50 |
VET Student Loans
Not Applicable for this course
Help with fees
Sample course units
Assessment
The assessment for each course varies. It may include knowledge questions, practical skills tasks, projects, research work, on the job assessment, etc. Your assessor or educator will provide specific information on the requirements for your course.
You can expect that:
- assessment methods are clear
- assessment tasks are relevant and meet the requirements of your course
- assessor or educator demonstrate fairness and lack of bias when assessing your work
- educators will provide open and honest feedback about assessment tasks.
Further Information - 2025
Fees
Fees and charges | Government subsidised concession | Government subsidised | Full-fee paying student |
---|---|---|---|
Maximum full course tuition fee* (GST exempt) | $998.20 | $4,991.00 | $13,128.50 |
Materials fee* (GST exempt) | $595.00 | $595.00 | $595.00 |
Total | $1,593.20 | $5,586.00 | $13,723.50 |
VET Student Loans
Not Applicable for this course
Help with fees
Sample course units
Assessment
The assessment for each course varies. It may include knowledge questions, practical skills tasks, projects, research work, on the job assessment, etc. Your assessor or educator will provide specific information on the requirements for your course.
You can expect that:
- assessment methods are clear
- assessment tasks are relevant and meet the requirements of your course
- assessor or educator demonstrate fairness and lack of bias when assessing your work
- educators will provide open and honest feedback about assessment tasks.