Course Description
Participants will undertake this self-paced course and provided with printed workbook learning and hand-written assessment tasks. Training will also consist of workplace-based training and assessment tasks + workplace employer/supervisor mentoring.
This Course is designed primarily for Participants that are eligible for a Training Contract and employed as an apprentice or trainee in a horticulture enterprise, specifically:
- Persons pursuing a career as an employee in a Horticulture-based enterprise or organisation, and/or
- Persons working in the AHC industry who are seeking a formal qualification
This Course is also suitable for Participants under a South Australian VET for School Students program, who may continue with this Course post school completion.
The onus is on the Applicant to arrange their own access to an actual horticulture workplace or enterprise to undertake learning and assessment tasks and activities, if they wish to enrol in the Course where they are not currently employed in a horticulture enterprise.
Fee-For-Service
Where Participants are not eligible for a Training Contract or a Skills SA Training Account they may seek enrolment into the Course under a fee-for-service basis if they are employed in a suitable horticulture workplace or enterprise and only if they and their employer enter into a Workplace Training Agreement (WTA) with ARO College.
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Eligible South Australian participants may have this course partially subsidised through Skills South Australia (Skills SA). Check your eligibility here: https://finder.skills.sa.gov.au/get-support-for-training/check-my-eligibility
Eligible Participants who live or work in South Australia may receive subsidised training in this course under if they are enrolled as Trainee with a Training Contract.
What is a Training Contract?
A training contract is a legally binding document that is instigated by an Australian Apprenticeship Support Service (AASS) provider between the AASS, an employer, and a trainee which includes a nominated RTO (ARO College) to deliver the program. It must be signed by a parent or legal guardian if the trainee is under 18. It covers:
- the length of the traineeship
- details of the registered training organisation (RTO) delivering the training
- the qualification to be obtained
- employment arrangements and industrial award
The training contract must be lodged with an Australian Apprenticeship Support Service (AASS), who can help with preparing the training contract as well as other paperwork. If you want to become an apprentice or hire one, the AASS are the first point of contact to get started. They connect apprentices and trainees with employers, and support you throughout your apprenticeship. If you’re already an apprentice and don’t know who your AASS is, call the Skilling Australia hotline on 1800 020 108.
Click here to find a local Apprentice Connect Australia Provider | Australian Apprenticeships
Duration and Intakes
Duration
The nominal study load to complete this course is 500 hours over approximately 90 weeks duration. This nominal duration may vary considerably for each participant depending on their existing knowledge and skills and the level of support the participant receives from their workplace, and/or if they successfully obtain recognition for previous learning or study.
Intakes
There are no scheduled intake dates, cohorts or classes for this qualification. Participants may commence the Course at any time provided there is an Apprenticeship Training Contract or Workplace Training Agreement in place with the participants employer.
Course Version
AHC21024 – Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management (Release 1)
This version released with AHC Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management Training Package Version 10.0.
Units of Competency & Tuition Fees
15 units of competency must be satisfactorily completed by participants to achieve a AHC21024 – Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. The 15 units of competency are comprised of: 2 core units, plus 13 elective units. The 13 elective units selected by ARO College are guided by advice provided by consultation with industry and on the qualifications and expertise of ARO training and assessment staff.
Participants are not provided access to all units of competency (UOC) in the qualification simultaneously. The learning and assessment resources are released at nominal 6-week intervals. Each unit is attempted in the order presented in the Delivery Schedule table below. A single Registration Fee will be invoiced upon enrolment. Please refer to the Charges Table in our Fees, Charges and Refunds Policy.
Fees
Participants are charged Tuition fees in advance for each individual unit as enrolled via the student portal or provided in person as printed workbooks. The Delivery Schedule table below indicates the fees charged per unit.
Customised Delivery Schedules
ARO College will liaise with each participant’s employer to align the workplace’s business activities with the most relevant unit of competency.
Delivery Schedule
Unit # | Code | Title | Participant Fee (fee for service) |
Participant Fee (SA subsidy) |
Elective | AHCFAU202 | Recognise fauna | $724.40 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCPCM204 | Recognise plants | $795.13 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCWRK212 | Work effectively in industry | $453.26 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCMOM203 | Operate basic machinery and equipment | $656.46 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCSOL203 | Assist with soil or growing media sampling and testing | $615.65 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCECR305 | Collect native seed | $1195.13 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCCHM201 | Apply chemicals under supervision | $627.14 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCSAW203 | Conduct erosion and sediment control activities | $653.67 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCPCM303 | Identify plant specimens | $1201.65 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCPGD207 | Plant trees and shrubs | $547.57 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCNSY206 | Care for nursery plants | $627.14 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCPMG201 | Treat weeds | $736.19 | $350.00 |
Elective | AHCPMG202 | Treat plant pests, diseases and disorders | $627.14 | $350.00 |
Core | AHCWHS202 | Participate in work health and safety processes | $476.83 | $350.00 |
Core | AHCWRK211 | Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices | $453.26 | $350.00 |
$10,190.00 | $5,250.00 |
Outcomes
Awards
Participants that complete all 15 units of competency satisfactorily will be awarded a Testamur certificate and a statement of results for the Course.
Academic Pathways
Graduates of this Course may articulate to a range of qualifications in the AHC Training Package at the Certificate III levels, such as:
-
- AHC30722 Certificate III in Horticulture
- AHC30624 Certificate III in Production Horticulture
- AHC30921 Certificate III in Landscape Construction
Occupational pathways
Graduates of this Course are ideally placed to maintain or seek employment in the AHC sector in roles such as:
- Lands, Parks and Wildlife Officer
- Conservation Earthworks Trainee
- Landcare Assistant
- Conservation Project Assistant
- Conservation Earthworks Assistant
Exit Opportunities
Participants have the opportunity to exit the Course prior to completion at any stage. Participants will be issued a Statement of Attainment certificate for any UOC completed.
Entry Requirements
Upfront Assessment of Need (UAN)
To ensure Participants receive the support they need to successfully complete the Course, an upfront assessment of need (UAN) process is undertaken before enrolment is confirmed. All individuals who are seeking access to a fee-for-service or subsidised training place, regardless of prior educational attainment, employment experience or employment status, are required to participate in the UAN process. The UAN process includes an assessment of the participant’s suitability, support needs and literacy and numeracy capabilities via a Language Literacy and Numeracy assessment (LLN).
Employment
All applicants into this Course must arrange and provide their own access to an actual horticulture workplace or enterprise to enable the attempting of practical/performance-based training and assessment activities. Applicants will require a Training Contract or a Workplace Training Agreement (WTA) to be executed prior to an application for enrolment will be offered.
Workplace Training Agreement
Where a Training Contract does not exist, for example under a fee-for-service enrolment, Participants should nominate their current place of employment, if it is an appropriate facility. ARO will engage with the nominated workplace, prior to enrolment being confirmed, to ensure that the workplace can provide a suitable environment to gather practical experience across all tasks outlined in all UOC’s. If approved, ARO will offer a WTA to the employer and the Participant to sign and execute.
Personal
All applicants into this course will need:
- A Unique Student Identifier #
- A mobile phone or other hand-held device that is: web-browser-enabled; can access the Participants personal email account (eg: Gmail); and has a calendar App or functionality (eg: Google Calendar) and has photo and video recording capabilities
- An active personal email address
- Government-issued photo identification inclusive of Date of Birth
- Evidence of personal place of residence address such as a Drivers Licence or Utilities/Bank Statement
Course Delivery
Provision of learning and assessment resources:
- Participants are provided with printed Workbooks for each Unit of Competency as they progress through their Training plan and as they are assessed in the Workplace
- Trainers/assessors will print their own copies of any practical demonstration/observation and assessment resources to each workplace Workshop assessment
The release of learning and assessment resources at a Workplace Workshop coincides with the participants delivery schedule of one Unit commencing and one Unit being assessed, every 4-6 weeks, where possible noting that some UOC’s will require observation assessments to be conducted over a period of time in excess of the normal cycle.
Assessment
There are 3 assessment Tasks that Participants must achieve a satisfactory result for, to be deemed competent in each unit of competency:
Knowledge questions – 20-40 questions which assess the Performance Criteria and Knowledge Evidence requirements of each Unit.
Workplace Practical Tasks – which are on-the-job project activities using actual equipment and tools, that the Participants undertake in their workplace or simulated workplace or role-play.
Case study and/or project(s) – requiring self-directed research and medium-long-answer written responses which requires the participant to apply theory and practice such as action research, experiment, impact studies, planning for a complex professional task, field work etc.
Third Party Report (Supplementary) – allows for a Workplace Supervisor to provide feedback on the skills and knowledge of the Participant to capably complete the specific tasks in the workplace on multiple occasions consistently.