Course Description
| This qualification will allow you to develop your post-trade skills and knowledge at a managerial level in the Horticulture industry.
This course is ideal if you are currently working in the Horticulture industry at a supervisory level and want to gain a formal qualification, or if you are working within the industry and are looking to progress your career. In this course, you’ll learn about business management and safe work practices, as well as how to cost and supervise projects, develop and implement plant propagation and nutrition programs, and develop procedures to minimise risks in the use of chemicals. On successful completion of this course, the skills and knowledge you gain at this level will prepare you for work at a supervisory level within this vibrant industry, or perhaps even start your own Horticulture business! You may also be interested in undertaking further study at ARO COLLEGE and continue your development with AHC50416 – Diploma of Horticulture.
Participants may select to undertake this Course in either of the following delivery models, or a combination of the two, as required:
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:
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:
- 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 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 835 hours over approximately 72 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 Traineeship Training Contract or Workplace Training Agreement in place with the participants employer. |
Course Version
AHC40416 Certificate IV in Horticulture (Release 4)
This Course will be superseded on 23 January 2024. New enrolments into this course will transition to the AHC40422 Certificate IV 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 AHC40422 Certificate IV in Horticulture qualification.
Units of Competency & Tuition Fees
12 units of competency must be satisfactorily completed by participants to achieve a AHC40416- Certificate IV in Horticulture. The 12 units of competency are comprised of: 1 core unit 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 | AHCWHS401 | Maintain work health and safety processes (NE AHCWHS402) | $1,018.92 | $400 |
| 2-Elective | AHCMOM402 | Supervise mainteinance of property, machinery and equipment | $1,861.82 | $400 |
| 3-Elective | AHCWRK409 | Supervise work routines and staff performance | $783.14 | $400 |
| 4-Elective | AHCPMG401 | Implement the pest monitoring and evaluation plan | $1,326.90 | $400 |
| 5-Elective | AHCCHM404 | Develop procedures to minimise risks in the use of chemicals | $930.50 | $400 |
| 6-Elective | AHCBUS407 | Cost a project | $753.66 | $400 |
| 7-Elective | AHCPGD404 | Plan a plant establishment program | $1,390.26 | $400 |
| 8-Elective | AHCPCM406 | Develop a soil health and plant nutrition program | $1,514.05 | $400 |
| 9-Elective | AHCPCM404 | Recommend plants and cultural practices | $1,390.26 | $400 |
| 10-Elective | AHCBUS408 | Operate within a budget framework | $812.61 | $400 |
| 11-Elective | AHCSOL406 | Sample soils interpret results | $1,001.24 | $400 |
| 12-Elective | AHCNSY403 | Plan a growing-on program | $1,390.26 | $400 |
| $14,173.62 | $4,800 |
Outcomes
Awards
Participants that complete all 12 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 Diploma and Advanced Diploma level, such as:
- AHC52021 Diploma of Landscape Construction Management
- AHC50422 Diploma of Horticulture Management
- AHC60222 Advanced Diploma of Horticulture
- AHC60319 Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management
Occupational pathways
Graduates of this Course are ideally placed to maintain or seek employment in the AHC sector in roles such as:
- Local Council or NFP parks and gardens Supervisor/Team Leader
- Commercial or Production Nursery Supervisor/Team Leader
- Horticulture Team Leader/Supervisor
- Commercial Landscape Construction Enterprise Supervisor/Team Leader
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 Driver Licence or Utilities/Bank Statement
Persons attempting the Course online in aXcelerate will need to provide their own:
- Internet and data
- Laptop or personal computer or tablet-style device with web-browser software, Gmail or similar email platform, and other general MS Office software such as; Word, Excel, VideoPlayer, PowerPoint and Adobe PDF reader
- Access to a printer/scanner or other mechanism to print or scan forms and templates for assessment tasks and activities
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.
- Login Username – will be the Participants email address
- Login password – will be set by Participant on first login
From the Learner Portal, all Participants can:
- Download their Certificates when available
- Email their trainers/assessors and study coaches
- Update their personal details (email, phone)
- Access their Course Calendar and Workplace Workshop schedules
- Access additional course-specific learning resources and tools and general RTO resources such as forms and templates
- Undertake online assessment tasks and activities
Provision of learning and assessment resources:
- Participants that are not attempting the Course online via aXcelerate are provided with printed and bound Workbooks for each Unit of Competency as they progress through their Training plan and as they are assessed in the Workplace
- Participants that are attempting the Course online via aXcelerate are provided with e-learning, digital and web-browser-accessible copies of their learning and assessment resources for each Unit of Competency as they are enrolled in each Unit in the LMS
- Trainers/assessors will print their own copies of any practical demonstration/observation and assessment resources to each workplace Workshop assessment
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.