Horticulture and Conservation

This qualification describes the skills and knowledge for a range of entry level horticulture job roles.
Individuals with this qualification carry out routine tasks under supervision where the work is predictable and structured with limited judgement requirements.
The qualification is suited to VET programs delivered to secondary school students or learners with no previous connection to the horticulture industry or relevant employment history.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

If you are looking for a career where you can design, create and build outdoor spaces, this qualification is for you.

You’ll gain the practical skills and knowledge to design or renovate and maintain existing garden landscapes. You will learn how to select materials and plants for landscape projects and set out landscaping for a range of sites using stone, brick, block and timber structures. Training is provided in the areas of hard landscaping, irrigation, plant knowledge, soil nutrition, turf maintenance, landscape machinery use and horticultural safety.  You’ll also gain an understanding of environmental and sustainability considerations for landscaping.

Are you looking for a career among the trees?

If you are passionate about the environment and sustainable practices, launch your horticulture career by completing this entry-level qualification. Horticulture is one of the fastest growing industries in Australia with the sector playing an important role in delivering economic, social and environmental value. This qualification will allow you to work in a gardening, nursery and landscaping setting. You'll gain the basic skills and knowledge required to work in the horticultural industry as well as WHS.

Gain these skills

• plant identification and care
• improving soil conditions
• operating machinery and equipment
• propagating
• pruning and fertilising
• maintaining gardens and nurseries, and
• workplace safety and health.

Grow your horticulture skills

This qualification will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to work effectively in the horticulture industry. If you have industry experience this course will enhance your skills. 

Subjects are selected from specialisations including arboriculture, floriculture, landscaping, nursery, parks and gardens, production skills and turf management. Subjects may include plant identification, irrigation, pest and disease control, machinery use, nursery work, hard landscaping, hydroponics, and turf maintenance. 

Gain these skills

• Implement propagation plans
• Safely prepare, store and apply chemicals
• Create plant displays
• Apply workplace safety and health guidelines

Develop your supervisory skills for the horticulture industry

This qualification will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to coordinate and supervise operations in your chosen field of horticulture. You can choose to learn skills from a range of subjects that enable you to cost and supervise projects, develop and implement programs and provide training. You can also choose subjects that will further develop your technical expertise in horticulture.

Gain these skills:

• cost a project
• implement a maintenance program for hydroponic systems
• schedule irrigations
• identify plant specimens
• recommend plants and cultural practices
• perform specialist amenity pruning
• design plant displays
• plan a plant establishment program
• control weeds
• sample soils and interpret results
• produce complex desktop published documents

Take your horticulture career to new heights

This course will develop the skills you need to design, plan, implement, manage and evaluate horticultural operations and processes to effectively manage and maintain public and private parks, reserves, gardens, natural bushland and community recreation areas. This will include developing your skills in how to establish and manage a horticultural business or project, which includes preparing estimates, quotes and tenders; selecting plants and landscape solutions; managing plant health programs; developing production plans; and managing staff and services.

Gain these skills

• Plant nutrition and health
• Propagation and recognition of plants
• Landscape design, products and services
• Business management and administration