Certificate III in Horticulture AHC30722
Traineeship
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
As a trainee, you will benefit from extending the on-the-job experience through formal training. Our professional staff come to you in the field, allowing you to earn while you learn. Trainees are also welcome to attend an optional weekly training session on campus to further develop their skills and knowledge.
Topics covered include plant identification, healthy soil development, managing plant nutrition, pests, weeds, diseases and disorders, chemical treatments, specialist tools, systems and machinery. The course will be tailored to suit your workplace needs in consultation with your employer.
To study this course, you must be signed up as a trainee and employed in the horticulture industry.
Learn more about traineeships.
You can also complete this qualification on campus.
At least ten training sessions are in your workplace during the year and you are also welcome to attend weekly, on-campus classroom training sessions to support your training. Your trainer will give you a detailed learning plan and resources for each unit to provide you with structured learning to continue with between their visits.
You may access your trainer by phone, email and online for support during business hours. You can also attend a weekly trainer-supported study day at the Warragul Campus from 9am – 1pm with agreement from your employer. We expect approximately 2 hours per week of study outside the scheduled training time. In addition, students can request access to the CCG campus farm and facilities from February to December to practice working with equipment and workplace skills.
The full qualification is 17 units of competence: 11 core units and six elective units.
Core units:
- AHCWHS302 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes, 50 hours
- AHCPMG301 Control weeds, 70 hours
- AHCIRG346 Operate pressurised irrigation systems, 50 hours
- AHCWRK320 Apply environmentally sustainable work practices, 60 hours
- AHCSOL304 Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas, 60 hours
- AHCPCM308 Identify and select plants, 90 hours
- AHCPMG302 Control plant pests, diseases, and disorders,80 hours
- AHCMOM304 Operate machinery and equipment, 40 hours
- AHCPGD309 Perform specialist amenity pruning, 65 hours
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds, and diseases, 70 hours
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals, 50 hours
Elective units:
- AHCNSY313 Implement a propagation plan, 90 hours
- AHCBIO301 Identify and report signs of unusual disease or pest, 50 hours
- AHCPCM305 Implement a plant nutrition program, 60 hours
- AHCPGD310 Implement a landscaping maintenance program, 100 hours
- AHCNSY308 Maintain nursery plants, 40 hours
- AHCHYD301 Implement a maintenance program for hydroponic systems, 60 hours
Total 1085
CCG requirements
- Be employed and have a signed contract with an Apprenticeship Network Provider with CCG named as the Registered Training Organisation
- 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, 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
- Total course fee $4060.00
Skills First Concession fee
- Tuition fee (teaching and training) 80c per student contact hour
- Course tuition fee $812.00
- Total course fee $812.00
Fee for service
- Tuition fee (teaching and training) $6.10 per student contact hour
- Course tuition fee $6191.50
- Total course fee $6191.50
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 from the Visa Entitlement Verification Online System (VEVO) of permanent residence granted by the Department of Home Affairs (or its successor) AND the student’s foreign passport or ImmiCard. If applicable, a document from the Department of Home Affairs confirming that the student holds a bridging 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 two Skills First subsidised 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 EZYPAY
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.
Request a payment plan if you require support to pay your course fees.
If the traineeship/apprenticeship is cancelled, the payer will be refunded for the units the student has not commenced for the calendar year minus a $100.00 administration fee. A refund for materials purchased will be dependent on the condition of unused materials and is determined by the Training Manager. 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 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 or Update to Records Form to your Teacher/Trainer or the Training Manager.
All students receive a Statement of Results, Statement of Attainment or Certificate after completing their study. If required, students can request:
- A replacement Certificate or Statement of Attainment for a fee of $30; or
- 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.