Course Description
Career Opportunities
Course Duration
Course Commencement Dates
Entrance Requirements
Application Procedures
Skills Recognition - Exemptions/Transfers
Pathways to Further Study
Course Outline
Assessment Methods
Materials
Qualification

Course Location and Contact Information

Course Description

These courses provide the training component for the landscape apprenticeship. Construction and maintenance skills will be developed. The training provided has a strong practical focus, with students completing many practical landscape activities.

Landscaping Skills Training

A major feature of these training programs is that they are competency based. There is the provision for on-job and off-job training and assessment. Specifically, the training in these landscape courses includes:

Construction and maintenance of domestic and commercial landscapes
Construction and installation of features such as:

• paved areas


• water features


• pergolas and decking works


• drainage


• retaining walls.

Students at NMIT's Fairfield campus will be trained in a purpose built, spacious landscaping facility. In addition, students have access to a plant identification laboratory; irrigation training facilities, soils laboratory and computer laboratory with the latest versions of Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) software.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape), whether as an Australian Apprenticeship or as a private student, may gain further employment in the landscape industry in the areas of construction and maintenance. Qualifications in landscape allow for graduates to provide consultancy.

Course Duration

The Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape) has a nominal duration of 960 hours.
There are two forms of delivery for the Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape), which are both offered part-time:

-Australian Apprenticeship
This course is structured as either three-day blocks of training every three weeks or one day per week, over three years.
To be eligible to enrol as an Australian Apprentice, participants must be employed in the landscape industry and have a signed Training Agreement with the employer and NMIT.

-'Adult Trade' students
This course is structured as two nights per week, with a full day once per month. Course duration is approximately three years. Students who work in the landscape industry may enrol in the Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape) as an 'Adult Trade student.

Course Commencement Dates

Australian Apprenticeship - Courses commence in February, and if there is sufficient demand, additional courses may commence in July. There may be scope for continuous enrolment throughout the year.

'Adult Trade' - Courses commence in February. There may be scope for continuous enrolment throughout the year.

Entrance Requirements

There are two forms of delivery for Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape) training:

1. Australian Apprentice. Courses are structured as three-day blocks of training every three weeks, over three years.
To be eligible to enrol as a New Apprentice participants must be employed in the landscape industry and have a signed Training Agreement with the employer and NMIT. The course coordinator can provide advice on this process.

2. "Adult Trade" students. This course is structured as two nights per week, with a full day once per month. Course duration is approximately three years.
Students who work in the landscape industry may enrol in the Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape) as an "Adult Trade" student.

Application Procedure

Apply directly to the Horticulture department.

Skills Recognition - Exemptions/Transfers

Students enrolling in this course 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 understanding of the unit from their work, then they may discuss the option of being assessed for units in their workplace. Students are eligible for Skills Recognition.

Pathways to Further Study

These qualifications may lead to further study at Certificate IV in Horticulture (Landscape) or other streams, and/or into Diploma of Horticulture (Landscape) or other streams.

Course Outline

The Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape) requires successful completion of 16 units of competency. Eight units are to be selected from Group A, another five units from Group A and/or B, and an additional three units from Group A, B and/or C. Group C units may be selected from other Training Packages at level 5 or they may be from the Amenity Horticulture Training Package from level 2, 3 or 4. At least 12 of the units of competency presented must relate to landscape work procedures, activities or contexts.

NMIT, in consultation with industry, has constructed courses that satisfy these packaging rules and are tailored to the requirements of industry.

Group A (* Units in italics are compulsory)

BCG3115A Lay segmental/unit paving*
RTC3016A Provide information on plants and their culture
RTC3206A Erect timber structures and features*
RTE3601A Install irrigation systems*
RTE3713A Carry out workplace OH&S procedures*
RTF3203A Construct brick and/or block structures and features*
RTF3204A Construct concrete structures and features*
RTF3216A Install water features
RTF3217A Set out site for construction work*
RTF3219A Construct block or stone structures and features*

Group B

RTC3310A Operate specialised machinery and equipment
RTC3401A Control weeds
RTE3603A Install drainage systems
RTF3010A Establish turf
RTF3011A Implement plant establishment
RTF3207A Implement a landscape maintenance program

Once the training and work components of the Australian Apprenticeship have been successfully completed, a certificate will be issued. All other students must apply for their certificate.

Assessment Methods

A competency based course assessment is based on student's abilities to achieve unit outcomes. There is the opportunity for workplace delivery and assessment of competencies. Assessment methods include:

Materials

List of safety equipment and books that need to be purchased by students will be distributed to students early in the course

Qualification

As part of the Australian Qualifications Framework this program is nationally recognised. On successful completion students will be awarded the Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape).

Links

The Victorian Government makes a significant contribution to these programs.