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Personalised for LOCAL students.

Local student means; you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.

Personalised for INTERNATIONAL students.

International student means; you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.

Overview Career Pathways Course details Fees & Costs Requirements Next Steps

Vet Courses

Certificate III in Horticulture

Free TAFE Code: AHC30722

Sorry, this course is not available for international students.

If you are a local student you may be eligible.

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Overview Career Pathways Course details Fees & Costs Requirements Next Steps

Overview

Campus

Epping, Fairfield

Duration

12 months full time / 18 months part time

Requirements

Click here to see entry requirements

Requirements

Click here to see entry requirements

Next Intake

February, July

Expand your green thumb

Nurture your love of greenery with the Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722 at Melbourne Polytechnic. Working within a lush and broad field, you will receive state-of-the-art hands-on training in modern horticultural skills. With over 6.54 million tonnes of horticultural products produced within Australia every year, you’ll enter a booming industry at the completion of your diploma. You’ll learn everything you need in order to develop your knowledge of the flora and fauna maintenance of which continues to be pivotal in conserving the environment for years to come.

Highly regarded experience and expertise

You’ll take part in important training from an array of experienced trade professionals in our industry replicated working environments. Melbourne Polytechnic is equipped with state of the art purpose-built horticulture workshops, run by qualified, industry-based teachers who will share industry insights and expertise throughout the course. You’ll learn the fundamentals of plant recognition and nutrition, pest, disease and weed control, critical skills in maintaining plant life. Melbourne Polytechnic’s extensive industry connections and partnership with the Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria, will allow you to apply your new skills at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, granting your qualification invaluable real-world experience and a unique credibility.

Flourishing career opportunities

As a fully qualified horticulturist, you’ll have the advantage to work within a range of horticultural practices. An array of opportunities to maintain your love for greenery awaits, including landscape construction and design, contract maintenance, consultancy services, or management of botanic gardens and horticultural enterprises.

Career Pathways

Where will the Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722 take me?

Successful completion of this course will see you more accomplished in your job and may make you eligible for other opportunities in the Horticultural field.

Labourer
Community Landscape Officer
Nursery Plant Propagator
Community Facility Groundskeeper
Landscaping Business Operator
Nursery Retail Salesperson
Landscape Gardener
Groundsperson
Nursery Maintenance Assistant

Study Pathways

This qualification may lead to further study - the Certificate IV in Horticulture AHC40416, or other streams.

“I was fortunate enough to have some fantastic teachers. They taught me everything that I know and I think that if you were to sit there and get taught by these teachers, then you'll be in great stead in the industry.”

Caleb Johnson

Certificate III in Sports Turf Management Graduate and Outstanding Apprentice/Trainee of the Year 2022

A man with long hair wearing a white shirt looking into the camera

Course Details

Delivery methods

Practical Work

How you will study

Each course has a dedicated learning method that is designed to let you thrive in your studies.

On-campus

Interactive learning in a face-to-face environment. Classes will be held at a Melbourne Polytechnic campus or partner institute. Visit the How You'll Study page for more information.

Assessment Methods

Competency assessment based on your abilities to achieve unit outcomes. There will also be workplace delivery and assessment of competencies and demonstration of skills, tests and assignments, folios, oral activities, and third party reports

Units of Study

The hours displayed are nominal, actual classroom hours delivered may differ. Please contact us for the latest student contact hours information.

Code	Subject	Elective	Hours
AHCCHM304	Transport and store chemicals	Core	50
AHCCHM307	Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases	Core	70
AHCIRG346	Operate pressurised irrigation systems	Core	50
AHCMOM304	Operate machinery and equipment	Core	40
AHCNSY313	Implement a propagation plan	Elective	90
AHCPCM305	Implement a plant nutrition program	Elective	60
AHCPCM306	Provide information on plants and their culture	Elective	70
AHCPCM308	Identify and select plants	Core	90
AHCPGD307	Implement a plant establishment program	Elective	80
AHCPGD308	Plan and maintain plant displays	Elective	60
AHCPGD309	Perform specialist amenity pruning	Core	65
AHCPMG301	Control weeds	Core	70
AHCPMG302	Control plant pests, diseases and disorders	Core	80
AHCSOL304	Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas	Core	60
AHCTRF207	Renovate grassed areas	Elective	40
AHCWHS302	Contribute to workplace health and safety processes	Core	50
AHCWRK320	Contribute to workplace health and safety processes	Core	60

Attend an Information Session

Our information sessions will give you an in-depth look at your chosen area of study and answer your questions about your course.

Find an information session

Fees & Costs

Tuition Fees

	Free TAFE	Concession	Government subsidised fee	Non-subsidised fee
Tuition fee	$0	$1100	$5500	$12000
Materials fee	$150	$150	$150	$150
Maximum annual amenities	$250	$175	$250	$250
Total payable	$400	$1425	$5900	$12400

Per year	$0
Per semester	$0
Materials fee	$150

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.

Displayed course fees are indicative only. There are many variables that impact the total amount of your full course costs including qualification for government subsidies, concessions or recognition of prior learning. Tuition fees do not include the cost of student amenities or material costs.

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. Contact us to find out if you’re eligible for a Government subsidy.

Melbourne Polytechnic offers a range of payment options to help you pay your tuition fees, so you can get on with your studies.

Fees displayed are effective for new applications received on or after 1st of November. Tuition fees do not include textbooks, course materials or overseas student health insurance and visa fees.

After initial deposit, international students are able to pay tuition fees in installments, four times per year.

For more detailed information please read the International Student Fees.

Fees explained

The State Government’s Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative covers the cost of tuition (excluding Amenities Fees and Materials Fees) for students who are eligible for government subsidised training and enrol into one of the Priority listed course.

Free TAFE is available to eligible students for one course enrolment in a lifetime.

Free TAFE places are limited. Please call 1300 635 276 and we can advise you whether Free TAFE places are still available.

Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative covers the cost of tuition fees for students who are eligible. Materials and amenities may still apply.

The Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative will pay your tuition fees for only one course. Once you have commenced in a tuition-free priority course, you are not eligible for further tuition-free places again, even if you do not finish your first tuition-free priority course.

Check your eligibility

The fees for those ineligible for a government-funded enrolment.

Check your eligibility here.

The cost of tuition for those eligible for government funding.

Check your eligibility here.

Concession fees are charged at 20 per cent of the standard fees for enrolments in Certificate I to IV courses. To be eligible students must meet Skills First eligibility criteria and present a valid:

Commonwealth Health Care card, or
Pensioner Concession card, or
Any dependent spouse or dependent child of one of the above cardholders, or
Veterans Gold card.

The following groups are eligible for concession fees from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma level:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Asylum Seekers and victims of human trafficking

Additional expenses

The Student Services and Amenities Fee is charged at forty cents (40 cents) per student contact hour and is capped over a twelve (12) month period, effective from the enrolment date, to:

$250 for full fee-paying students; and
$175 for concession-paying students studying Certificate I, II, III, or IV.

Amenities fees are used to improve non-academic services including libraries, counselling services, student support, and recreational activities.

A list of equipment and reference material (which you will need to provide) will be distributed at the start of the course. Reference material is also available for loan in our libraries.

Necessary items may include your own:

safety boots (steel capped)
Hi-Vis vest
good quality secateurs
sunscreen
USB flash drive
one textbook and suitable writing materials

Horticulture courses at Melbourne Polytechnic

Certificate III in Parks and Gardens - Apprenticeship AHC31021

Horticulture - Apprentice, Full Time - Fairfield

Become a qualified Horticulturalist in with our Certificate III in Parks and Gardens AHC31021 - Apprenticeship stream. This course is for Apprentices already learning and working in the Horticulture industry.

Agricultural Chemical Skill Set AHCSS00074

Agriculture and Conservation, Horticulture - Full Time - Workplace and Industry, Fairfield

Free Tafe Agriculture and Conservation, Horticulture - Full Time - Workplace and Industry, Fairfield

The Agricultural Chemical Skill Set has been designed for people who require an understanding of farm chemicals. It is necessary to apply for the Agricultural Chemical Users Permit.

Certificate IV in Landscape Design AHC42421

Horticulture - Part Time - Fairfield

The Certificate IV in Landscape Design AHC42421 is committed to plotting your landscape future. Take the next important step in a landscape construction or horticulture career and advance your skills with a focus on marketing, costing and design.

Certificate III in Landscape Construction - Non-Apprenticeship AHC30921

Horticulture - Part Time - Fairfield

The non-apprenticeship stream of our qualification in Landscape Construction AHC30921 will help build and grow your future. Take your career to the great outdoors by creating serene spaces of gardening bliss, and build your skills in the landscaping or horticulture industry.

Chainsaw Operation and Safety

Horticulture - Short Course - Fairfield

Chainsaw Operation and Safety provides participants with the basic skills to operate and maintain this potentially dangerous piece of equipment, safely. There is more to using a chainsaw than just starting it up. Get the job done safely with this one day course.

Requirements

Direct entry - no formal entry requirements

Next Steps

The first step to enrolling is completing the application short form from the Apply Now page.

After you complete that form we will send you an email with a link to an application form webpage. If you don’t receive the email, check your spam and junk folders.

Complete the application form on the application form webpage.

You will be required to complete an online literacy and numeracy assessment.

Once you are ready to enrol, you will be invited to attend an enrolment appointment over the phone or on campus.

For certificate-level courses, you can pay by weekly or fortnightly direct debit using our Tuition Payment Plan. Read more about Tuition Payment Plans here.

If you need assistance with your application and the next steps, you can contact one of our Education and Course Advisors on 1300 635 276 or follow a step-by-step guide to enrolling for vocational education local students.