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 will undertake this self-paced Course using 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 or Certificate III level who are upskilling or articulating from previous studies.

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.

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 Apprentice Connect Australia Provider, who can help with preparing the training contract as well as other paperwork. If you want to become an apprentice or hire one, Apprentice Connect Australia Providers 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 Apprentice Connect Australia Provider is, call the Skilling Australia hotline on 1800 020 108.

Click here to find a local Apprentice Connect Australia Provider | Australian Apprenticeships

Duration

The nominal study load to complete this course is 876 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 Apprenticeship Training Contract or Workplace Training Agreement in place with the participants employer.

AHC40422 Certificate IV in Horticulture (Release 1)

This version released with AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package Version 9.0.

12 units of competency must be satisfactorily completed by participants to achieve a AHC40422 – Certificate IV in Horticulture. The 12 units of competency are comprised of: 4 core unit plus 8 elective units. The 8 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.

Delivery Schedule

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

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.

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

Provision of learning and assessment resources:

• Participants attempting the Course 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 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 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 regular cycle.

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.