Certificate III in Horticulture

AHC30716 Certificate III in Horticulture is trained and assessed using the simulated workplace at Bairnsdale Trade Centre. Students are generally not currently employed in industry. The teachers work closely with local businesses and local industry organisations to ensure that students are exposed to real work environments through a combination of fieldtrips, industry guest speakers and projects.

You’ll be trained by industry professionals in areas such as plant identification, soil health and plant nutrition, plant propagation, crop and plant maintenance, canopy management (pruning) and integrated pest management and farm safety (including farm chemical use).
This qualification will allow you to pursue a career pathway in one of the horticulture sector’s many streams, including arboriculture, landscaping and gardening services, turf management, retail nursery and rural and residential land care and management – just to name a few!

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 2023. 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.

Horticulture industry is very diverse and provides individuals with opportunities from soil rectification to production and retail/wholesale employment. The horticulture industry in Gippsland has significant important assets that positions the region to further develop its horticulture and food production opportunities.

AHC40416 Certificate IV in Horticulture
AHC40116 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC51120 Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

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.

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

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.

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.

Not applicable.

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)

AHC30716 Certificate III in Horticulture is trained and assessed using the simulated workplace at Morwell campus. Students are generally not currently employed in industry. The teachers work closely with local businesses and local industry organisations such as Landcare to ensure that students are exposed to real work environments through a combination of fieldtrips, industry guest speakers and projects.

You’ll be trained by industry professionals in areas such as plant identification, soil health and plant nutrition, plant propagation, crop and plant maintenance, canopy management (pruning) and integrated pest management and farm safety (including farm chemical use).
This qualification will allow you to pursue a career pathway in one of the horticulture sector’s many streams, including arboriculture, landscaping and gardening services, turf management, retail nursery and rural and residential land care and management – just to name a few!

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 2023. 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.

Horticulture industry is very diverse and provides individuals with opportunities from soil rectification to production and retail/wholesale employment. The horticulture industry in Gippsland has significant important assets that positions the region to further develop its horticulture and food production opportunities.

AHC40416 Certificate IV in Horticulture
AHC40116 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC51120 Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

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.

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

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.

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.

Not applicable.

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)

If you are currently working in the horticulture sector in Gippsland or aspiring to, then this could be the course for you.
Ideal for people seeking to establish a strong career pathway within the region’s thriving horticulture industries, our blended/workplace Certificate III in Horticulture course has been designed based on extensive industry feedback that has been gathered over the past four years from local shires and nursery industries.

You’ll be trained by industry professionals in areas such as plant identification, soil health and plant nutrition, plant propagation, crop and plant maintenance, canopy management (pruning) and integrated pest management and farm safety (including farm chemical use).
This qualification will allow you to pursue a career pathway in one of the horticulture sector’s many streams, including arboriculture, landscaping and gardening services, turf management, retail nursery and rural and residential land care and management – just to name a few!

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 2023. 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.

Horticulture industry is very diverse and provides individuals with opportunities from soil rectification to production and retail/wholesale employment. The horticulture industry in Gippsland has significant important assets that positions the region to further develop its horticulture and food production opportunities.

AHC40416 Certificate IV in Horticulture
AHC40116 Certificate IV in Agriculture
AHC51120 Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

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.

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

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.

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.

Not applicable.

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)