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

National Code: RTF30503/RTF30603

Course Location and Contact Information

Course Description

This course provides the training component for the nursery Apprenticeships. Both production and retail skills and knowledge will be developed, thus providing opportunities for either pathway to be pursued upon completion. The training provided has a strong practical focus.

Students at NMIT's Fairfield campus will be trained in a commercial production and retail nursery. Facilities include specialist propagation facilities, state-of-the art greenhouse, potting shed, plant tissue culture laboratory, computer laboratory and a well-resourced library.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Apprenticeship may gain employment in the propagation, production and maintenance of plants or hire and sales, wholesaling and retailing of plants and associated products, provision of advice on plant selection and marketing and promotion of plant products and services.

Course Duration

The Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery) and Certificate III in Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery) each have a nominal duration of 840 hours, which is delivered over three years.

Course Commencement Dates

February. There may also be scope for continuous enrolment throughout the year.

Entrance Requirements

To be eligible as an apprentice in these courses, participants must be employed in the nursery industry and have a signed Training Agreement with the employer and NMIT. The course co-ordinator can provide advice on this.

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 (Nursery) or other streams, and then into Diploma of Horticulture (Nursery) or other streams.

Course Outline

Both the Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery) and the Certificate III in Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery) require successful completion of 16 units of competency. Seven units are to be selected from Group A, with one compulsory unit, another six units to be selected from Group A and/or Group B, and an additional three units from Group A, B and/or C.

Group C units may be selected from other Training Packages or they may be from the Amenity Horticulture Training Package from level 2, 3 or 4. Twelve of the units of competency must be related to retail nursery work procedures, activities of contexts.

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

Retail Nursery:

Group A

RTC3701A Respond to emergencies
WRRCS3B Interact with customers
RTE3713A Carry out OH&S, environmental and workplace communication responsibilities*
RTC3016A Provide information on plants and their culture
WRRM3B Co-ordinate merchandise presentation
RTF3036A Plan and establish plant displays
RTF3503A Sample soils and analyse results

Group B

RTF3012A Implement a plant nutrition program
RTF3021A Maintain nursery plants
RTC3404A Control plant pests and diseases
RTE3611A Operate pressurised irrigation systems
RTC3705A Transport, handle and store chemicals

Group C

RTC3401A Control weeds
RTF3014A Implement a propagation plan
RTF3025A Prepare specialised plants

*Compulsory unit

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 (Retail Nursery).

Wholesale Nursery:

Group A

RTC3701A Respond to emergencies
WRRCS3B Interact with customers
RTE3713A Carry out OH&S, environmental and workplace communication responsibilities*
RTC3016A Provide information on plants and their culture
RTF3503A Sample soils and analyse results
RTF3012A Implement a plant nutrition program
RTF3021A Maintain nursery plants
RTC3404A Control plant pests and diseases
RTF3012A Implement a plant nutrition program
RTF3026A Receive and dispatch plants and other nursery products

Group B

RTF3014A Implement a propagation plan
RTF3025A Prepare specialised plants
RTF3036A Plan and establish plant displays
RTC3401A Control weeds
RTE3611A Operate pressurised irrigation systems
RTC3705A Transport, handle and store chemicals

*Compulsory unit

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 (Wholesale Nursery).

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

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

Links

The Victorian Government makes a significant contribution to these programs.