Certificate III in Nursery Operations
Love plants and all things horticultural? Sow the seeds for a green and satisfying career by enrolling in Swinburne’s Certificate III in Nursery Operations.
Skilled and knowledgeable workers are in demand for both nursery production and retail nursery areas. In this certificate, experienced instructors will teach you plant recognition, propagation techniques, biosecurity and management of weeds, pest, diseases and disorders – all with a practical, hands-on approach.
The nursery industry expects proficiency in new employees and this course provides exactly that, and more. You’ll be ready to work in retail and production nurseries, parks and gardens, land management and private soft landscaping.
Additionally, upon graduation, you could choose to progress to the Diploma of Horticulture or the Diploma of Landscape Design to further enhance your career opportunities.
This course has been discontinued and is closed for new enrolments. The information on this page is for continuing students only. To discuss your study options, contact us.
Duration
4 year apprenticeship (ability to accelerate) - VET Feb Intake (16/02/2022), VET Apr Intake (27/04/2022), VET Jul Intake (13/07/2022) and VET Oct Intake (05/10/2022)).
Intakes
Wantirna (February, April, July, October) - View application and start dates
Study mode
- Part-time (day)
This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
This course is supported by the Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria.
Course structure
The course will be delivered in a variety of study modes, including online, face-to-face and workplace options. The course will be delivered in clusters of common skills required for the qualification. Students are required to complete 16 units (9 core and 7 elective units).
Units of study
Transport and store chemicals (AHCCHM304)
Prepare and apply chemicals to control pests, weeds and diseases (AHCCHM307)
Troubleshoot irrigation systems (AHCIRG338)
Maintain nursery plants (AHCNSY308)
Implement a plant nutrition program (AHCPCM305)
Provide information on plants and their culture (AHCPCM306)
Control plant pests, diseases and disorders (AHCPMG302)
Prepare growing media (AHCSOL305)
Contribute to work health and safety processes (AHCWHS301)
Identify plant specimens (AHCPCM303)
Receive and dispatch nursery products (AHCNSY309)
Prepare specialised plants (AHCNSY312)
Control weeds (AHCPMG301)
Apply biosecurity measures (AHCBIO303)
Implement a propagation plan(AHCNSY313)
Install and maintain plant displays (AHCNSY310)
Produce visual merchandising displays (SIRRMER001)
Engage the customer (SIRXCEG001)
Recommend products and services (BSBPRO301)
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Career opportunities
Graduates may find employment in production or retail nurseries. Pathways from this Certificate III to Diploma are available, further information is available from the coordinator on specific pathways.
Aims and objectives
Students learn to identify plants for specific areas, fertiliser requirements of plants, ongoing plant maintenance procedures, including pest and disease control and biosecurity within the production nursery industry. Students will obtain the Agvet certificate on successful completion of the pest/weed/chemical cluster of competencies.
Graduate skills
Students at this level will develop skills to work independently within the nursery production and/or retail nursery industry, in a wide variety of contexts, which will involve discretion and judgement in planning tasks, selecting and operating equipment, coordinating resources and applying contingency measures during work. They will be able to propagate a range of plants using basic recognised skills, understand the importance of soil, media and nutritional relationships, recognise a range of plants, apply biosecurity measures, recommend and display a range of products and services, and identify and control a range of weeds, pests, diseases and disorders.
Pathways and scholarships
- Pathways, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Entry requirements
How to apply
Find out more
Tel: 1300 SWINBURNE
Training Organisation Identifier (TOID): 3059