Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture)

Course Location and Contact Information

Course Description

This course has been developed in consultation with industry to give participants the skills and knowledge to gain employment as an Arboricultural Consultant in the Arboriculture industry. This course will provide
training in a range of skills specifically suited to the arboriculture environment.
Graduates from this course will have gained competency accreditation in subjects that will require advanced technical skill training in the management and assessment of trees. In particular the subjects of tree assessment, data gathering and interpretation, report generation and the use of computer based hardware and software is emphasised.
Whilst it is highly desirable for students to have had several years industry experience, it is not the course intent to assess students tree access skills or to develop that field of training. This course is more attuned to participants desiring to further their tree assessment and interpretation skills.

Students at NMIT's Fairfield campus will be trained in a purpose-built arboriculture facility. NMIT's arboriculture equipment includes a travel tower, stump grinders and full complement of climbing equipment for each participant. Arboriculture equipment is stored in specially constructed trailers allowing equipment to be easily taken to any site where tree work training is to take place. In addition there is a plant identification laboratory, a PC laboratory, a soils laboratory plant tissue culture and a well-resourced library.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this course may gain employment as an Arboricultural Consultant in the tree maintenance industry. This could be with local government authorities or tree maintenance contractors providing service to government authorities and/or the private sector.

Course Duration

The Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture) course is offered on a part time basis of one day per week for a period of two and a half years.

Course Commencement Dates

Courses commence in February and July.

Entrance Requirements

Prospective students will have completed Certificate III in Horticulture (Arboriculture) as a minimum entry to the course.

Application Procedure

Apply directly to the Horticulture Department

Skills Recognition - Exemptions/Transfers

Students enrolling in these courses who have completed studies at other institutions should discuss the possibility of being exempted from related units in this course. If a student can demonstrate a full practical and theoretical of the unit from their work then they may discuss the option of being assessed for this in their workplace. Students are eligible for Skills Recognition.

Pathways to Further Study

This qualifications may lead to further study in other streams of horticulture at higher levels including degrees.

Course Outline

The Arboriculture stream of the Diploma of Horticulture requires successful completion of 10 units of competency selected from the Horticultural Training Package. NMIT, in consultation with industry, has constructed courses that satisfy these packaging rules and are tailored to the requirements of industry.

Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture)


RTC5913A Collect & manage data
RTC 5011A Collect & classify plants
RTF 5005A Manage plant health
RTC 5801A Provide specialist advice to clients
RTC 5914A Prepare reports
BSBEBUS506A Plan and develop a business website
RTC5701A Establish and maintain the enterprise OHS program
RTC5908A Prepare estimates, quotes and tenders
RTF5018A Assess trees
RTC5519A Conduct biological surveys

Assessment Methods

Competency based course assessment is based on students' abilities to achieve unit outcomes. There is the opportunity for workplace delivery and assessment of competencies.

Assessment methods include:

• Demonstration of skills
• Tests and assignments
• Folios
• Oral activities
• Third party reports.

At the commencement of each unit students will be given an outline of what is to be covered in that unit and how the unit will be assessed.

Materials

All students will need to provide their own Personal Protective Equipment, as per the Student Code of Conduct.

Minimum requirement is: protective footwear and protective eyewear.

Qualification

As part of the Australian Qualifications Framework this program is nationally recognised. On successful completion students will be awarded the Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture).

Links

The Victorian Government makes a significant contribution to these programs.