AHC30716 Certificate III in Horticulture
In Classroom
Cultivate your green thumb with the Certificate III in Horticulture. Whether you want to plant a food forest, design landscapes to get lost in or make our planet a greener place, we are ready to get you started.
At CCG, you will enjoy hands-on learning on our 8-hectare property featuring:
- state-of-the-art hydroponic hothouses
- plant nursery
- orchard
- vegetable gardens
- ornamental gardens
Our trainers are fully qualified with current industry experience. Topics covered include plant identification, healthy soil development, managing plant nutrition, pests, weeds, diseases and disorders, chemical treatments, specialist tools, systems and machinery.
You can also complete this qualification as a traineeship.
Classroom-based training at our Warragul Campus, located in a rural farm setting on eight hectares. Some parts of the course may be available online. We expect two hours per week of study outside the scheduled training time. You can join an additional study day with a trainer, weekly at the Warragul Campus, 9am – 1pm by appointment. In addition, students can request access to our campus facilities from February to December to practice working with equipment and develop workplace skills.
The full qualification is 16 units of competence: five core units and 11 elective units.
Core units:
- AHCWHS301 Contribute to work health and safety processes 50
- AHCPCM302 Provide information on plants and their culture 70
- AHCSOL303 Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas 60
- AHCPMG301 Control weeds 70
- AHCPMG302 Control plant pests, diseases and disorders 80
Elective units:
- AHCPCM301 Implement a plant nutrition program 60
- AHCNSY301 Maintain nursery plants 40
- AHCMOM304 Operate machinery and equipment 40
- AHCPGD304 Implement a landscape maintenance program 100
- AHCNSY307 Operate fertigation equipment 70
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases 70
- AHCBIO302 Identify and report unusual disease or plant pest signs 50
- AHCNSY306 Implement a propagation plan 90
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals 50
- AHCPGD303 Perform specialist amenity pruning 65
- AHCIRG306 Troubleshoot irrigation systems 50
Total 1015
CCG requirements:
- 17 years or older
- hold a minimum of Year 10 or equivalent
- good computer application skills
- attend a pre-enrolment interview. At the interview (1 hour approx.) you will:
- Discuss course requirements and your suitability
- Discuss your general work, learning experiences and, your career and employment pathways
- Complete an online skills review so we can understand your literacy and numeracy levels and discuss the level of study that would be best for you
- Check your eligibility for a Skills First Government-funded place
- Be given a quote for course fees
Qualification entry requirements: Nil
Licensing requirements: Nil
The total course fees listed below are approximate and based on:
- the total unit of competency hours at enrolment for the calendar year (January to December), plus materials and amenity fees
- completion of the full course within 22 months
Fees for unit enrolments started in 2023 are subject to change.
Skills First Full Fee
- Tuition fee (teaching and training) $4.00 per student contact hour
- Course tuition fee $4060.00
- Material fee (resources) $95.00
- Amenities fee (student amenities and services) $101.50
- Total course fee $4256.50
Skills First Concession fee
- Tuition fee (teaching and training) 80c per student contact hour
- Course tuition fee $812.00
- Material fee (resources) $95.00
- Amenities fee (student amenities and services) $101.50
- Total course fee $1008.50
Fee for service
- Tuition fee (teaching and training) $6.10 per student contact hour
- Course tuition fee $6191.50
- Material fee (resources) $95.00
- Amenities fee (student amenities and services) $101.50
- Total course fee $6388.00
The tuition fees as published are subject to change given the individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. At the pre-enrolment interview we will give you a Statement of Fees Course Quote for the proposed course of study.
This qualification provides Nationally Recognised Training and is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. People with a disability are encouraged to apply.
The Skills First Government contribution to this course is approx. $7.50 per SCH.
You may be eligible to receive Government funding to support the course fees. If you have a current concession card and are eligible for a funded place, we will charge a smaller fee. CCG can provide students with a payment plan to help pay fees. Refer to the Skills First Eligibility Checklist below to check your eligibility for a government-funded place. Eligibility will be checked at the pre-enrolment interview. If you think you might be eligible; bring supporting documents to the interview.
We will guide you through the process to check your eligibility at the pre-enrolment interview.
Skills First funded place eligibility criteria
Citizenship/Residency
You must live permanently in Victoria and be:
- an Australian citizen; or
- a holder of a permanent resident visa; or
- a New Zealand citizen
You must present one of the following proof of Australian Citizenship/Residency:
- Australian or New Zealand birth certificate (not extract)
- Australian or New Zealand citizenship certificate
- Current Australian or New Zealand passport
- Current green Medicare Card
- Proxy declaration for individuals in exceptional circumstances (clarification during interview)
- Australian Certificate of Registration by Descent
- Formal confirmation of permanent residence granted by the Department of Home Affairs (or its successor) AND the student’s foreign passport or ImmiCard
- Visa entitlement verification online system (VEVO) confirmation that the student holds a valid Bridging Visa Class E, Safe Haven Enterprise Visa, Temporary Protection visa, Bridging Visa class F, Humanitarian Stay (temporary) (subclass 449) Visa or Temporary (humanitarian concern)(subclass 786) Visa
- a Referral to Government Subsidised Training – Asylum Seekers’ form from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the Australian Red Cross
Limits on the amount of training that can be subsidised
A Skills First Student can only:
- begin a maximum of two Skills First subsidised skill sets or AQF qualifications in a calendar year. If a student is enrolled in a program(s) that is scheduled to start later in that calendar year, this program(s) must be counted for the purpose of this limit;
- study a maximum of two Skills First subsidised programs at any one time (the ‘2 at a time’ limit);
Eligibility exemptions may apply, and can be discussed at the pre-enrolment interview.
- Horticulture kit: including secateurs, PPE gloves, glasses and vest
- pen and paper
- access to a computer and the internet
At the time of enrolment and before the course or training starts one of the following payment options must be made. Payment confirms the student’s place in the course.
- Pay all course fees at enrolment
- Commit to a payment plan via direct debit arrangement with EZIPAY
Please note:- Material fees cannot be included in the direct debit and must be paid for in full at enrolment.
- A minimum deposit of 10% of the course tuition fees for the units selected for the calendar year.
- Payments can be made fortnightly, or monthly.
Request a payment plan if you require support to pay your course fees.
If you withdraw from your course by written notice within 4 weeks of the date you completed your enrolment/payment process and up to within 4 weeks of the course commencement date (using the Course Withdrawal form) you will receive a refund on your tuition fee, minus a $50.00 administration fee. A refund of any materials purchased from CCG will be dependent on the condition of the unused materials and is determined by the Director of Education & Training. The form must be submitted to the Customer Service Officer at any CCG campus location or the Director of Education & Training. You are not entitled to any refund if you withdraw after the four week period. If a course is cancelled by CCG at any time during the period of a person’s enrolment, CCG will refund the pro-rata portion of the tuition fees, amenity fees, and fees for materials that have not been used prior to the date of cancellation.
CCG can supply individual language, literacy and numeracy support if needed. Ask about available options at the pre-enrolment interview.
Skills recognition is a generic term used to cover the ways an individual’s skills, experience, knowledge, and qualifications can be formally acknowledged. These may include either Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Credit Transfer (CT).
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Apply to have your skills and knowledge assessed, with the aim of getting a formal qualification. Request to apply for RPL during the interview process and before enrolment
- Credit Transfer (CT) and National Recognition (NR): Apply for units of a completed accredited course identified as equivalent to the units in the course you are interested. CCG recognises Australian Quality Framework qualifications and statements of attainment issued to students by other Registered Training Organisation’s (RTO’s) within Australia. Request to apply for a Credit Transfer during the interview process and before enrolment
Throughout your study you will complete assessments for each unit of competence against the training you have received. You will receive a Student Assessment Guide that outlines the tasks for each unit of competence that you will be assessed against. You are expected to attempt each assessment task outlined in the Student Assessment Guide. CCG will retain your original work submitted. Once the tasks have been attempted you will receive feedback from your Trainer and Assessor on the outcomes achieved.
Accredited courses and qualifications are continually updated and improved to meet current industry standards. Students enrolled in a course or qualification that is superseded during the time enrolled may need to transition into the new qualification. If required, CCG will discuss this transition with affected students on an individual basis.
If you are studying a Nationally Recognised course in Australia, you need a Unique Student Identifier (USI). Your USI links all your training records and results that you have completed from 1 January 2015 onwards. You need your USI to enrol. Visit www.usi.gov.au for instructions or CCG can provide you with a guide if needed.
To request your student details, submit the 602-1A Student access to records form to your Teacher/Trainer or the Director of Education and Training.
All students receive a Statement of Results, Statement of Attainment or Certificate after completing their study. If required, students can buy:
- a replacement Certificate or Statement of Attainment for a fee of $30; or
- request a copy of the original for a fee of $20
CCG is required to collect and submit data under the National and Victorian data use policy.
For more information on how CCG collects and uses your information refer to :
During your course you will be asked to complete an online student survey. It takes about 10 minutes and gives you the opportunity to tell CCG about your learning experience. As a student of Community College Gippsland, you may also:
- Receive a survey from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
- Receive an invitation to participate in a project endorsed by the Victorian Government Department of Education and Training (the Department)
- Receive an invitation to participate in the Department’s annual student outcome survey, and/or
- Be contacted by the Department for audit, review or investigation purposes.
Grace Mattingley
“CCG is a really down-to-earth place. As soon as I walked in the door on my first day, everyone welcomed me with open arms. It was a great way to start my learning. I would describe my trainer as one of the easiest people to talk to. He’s an expert in everything he does, so […]