Course Description
Participants may select to undertake this Course in either of the following delivery models, or a combination of the two, as required:
- Blended : Self-paced online learning and assessment tasks + workplace-based training and assessment tasks + workplace employer/supervisor mentoring.
- Workplace : Self-paced printed workbook learning and hand-written assessment tasks + 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, and/or
- Graduates of AHC-related qualifications at the Certificate II-level who are upskilling or articulating from previous studies.
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.
SA WorkReady
Eligible South Australian participants may have this course partially subsidised through the Government of South Australia’s WorkReady initiative. Check your eligibility here: https://finder.skills.sa.gov.au/get-support-for-training/check-my-eligibility
ARO College is an approved provider of WorkReady funding for this qualification. Eligible Participants who live or work in South Australia may receive subsidised training in this course under a Training Contract.
What is a Training Contract?
A training contract is a legally binding document that is agreed between the employer, and a trainee which includes a nominated RTO to deliver the program. It must be signed by a parent or legal guardian if the trainee is under 18. It covers:
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- 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
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The training contract must be lodged with an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP). The ANP can help with preparing the training contract as well as other paperwork.
Click here to find your local Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider
Duration and Intakes
Duration
The nominal study load to complete this course is 970 hours over approximately 96 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
AHC30716 Certificate III in Horticulture (Release 2)
This Course will be superseded on 23 January 2024. New enrolments into this course will transition to the AHC30722 Certificate III in Horticulture qualification prior to this date.
Current participants that will not complete this course by the teach-out date of 23 January 2024 will transition to the AHC30722 Certificate III in Horticulture qualification.
Units of Competency & Tuition Fees
16 units of competency must be satisfactorily completed by participants to achieve a AHC30716 – Certificate III in Horticulture. The 16 units of competency are comprised of: 5 core units, plus 11 elective units. The 11 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.
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) |
| 1-Core | AHCWHS301 | Contribute to work health and safety processes (NE AHCWHS302) | $842.08 | $400 |
| 2-Elective | AHCMOM304 | Operate machinery and equipment | $1,130.91 | $400 |
| 3-Elective | AHCCHM304 | Transport and store chemicals | $812.61 | $400 |
| 4-Elective | AHCPGD309 | Perform specialist amenity pruning | $1,204.59 | $400 |
| 5-Elective | AHCIRG345 | Install pressurised irrigation systems | $1,018.92 | $400 |
| 6-Elective | AHCTRF308 | Establish turf | $1,142.70 | $400 |
| 7-Core | AHCPCM302 | Provide information on plants and their culture (E AHCPCM306) | $936.40 | $400 |
| 8-Core | AHCPMG301 | Control weeds | $1,163.33 | $400 |
| 9-Core | AHCPMG302 | Control plant pests, diseases and disorders | $1,272.38 | $400 |
| 10-Core | AHCSOL303 | Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas (E AHCSOL304) | $1,142.70 | $400 |
| 11-Elective | AHCTRF309 | Implement a grassed area maintenance program | $1,142.70 | $400 |
| 12-Elective | AHCARB314 | Implement a tree maintenance program | $895.13 | $400 |
| 13-Elective | AHCCHM307 | Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases | $1,163.33 | $400 |
| 14-Elective | AHCPGD308 | Plan and maintain plant displays | $1,071.96 | $400 |
| 15-Elective | AHCPGD311 | Conduct operational inspection of park facilities | $1,142.70 | $400 |
| 16-Elective | AHCLSC314 | Implement a tree transplanting program | $1,142.70 | $400 |
| $17,225.14 | $6,400 |
Outcomes
Awards
Participants that complete all 16 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 IV and Diploma levels, such as:
- AHC52021 Diploma of Landscape Construction Management
- AHC50422 Diploma of Horticulture Management
- AHC40422 Certificate IV in Horticulture
Occupational pathways
Graduates of this Course are ideally placed to maintain or seek employment in the AHC sector in roles such as:
- Horticulturalist in a commercial Nursery or Landscape Construction Enterprise
- Local Council or NFP parks and gardens team leader or ground person.
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:
Persons attempting the Course online in aXcelerate will need to provide their own:
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Course Delivery
| aXcelerate
ARO College uses the aXcelerate Student and Learning Management System to facilitate the administration and training and assessment activities of this Course. All Participants, regardless of delivery mode, once enrolled in the Course are invited by email to access the aXcelerate Learner Portal.
From the Learner Portal, all Participants can:
Provision of learning and assessment resources:
Either way, the default release of learning and assessment resources online or at a Workplace Workshop coincides with the participants delivery schedule of one Unit commencing and one Unit being assessed, every 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 6-week cycle. |
Assessment
| There are 5 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. Reflective Journal and Logbook – provides an opportunity for participants to self-assess their own performance in the workplace. Third Party Report – 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. |