Certificate II in Horticulture

Keen to develop your interest in plants and gardens into a career? Throughout this program, you will develop skills in plant identification, pest, disease, and weed control, propagation, and pruning.

You will also gain experience in operating and maintaining common horticultural machinery and equipment. Give yourself a head start into an apprenticeship or traineeship.

• understanding plant and soil properties
• managing plant health
• plant naming
• plant propagation methods
• basic planting and landscaping techniques
• tools and machinery used in horticulture

• Gardener
• Landscaper
• Nursery worker

Once you finish this program, there are a variety of study options to gain more skills for a career in horticulture. 

At South West TAFE:

On campus, you can study:

• Certificate II in Horticulture (complete the full qualification)
• Certificate III in Horticulture
• Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management
• Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management

Through a traineeship or apprenticeship, you can study while working:

• Certificate III in Horticulture
• Certificate III in Parks and Gardens
• Certificate III in Landscape Construction
• Certificate III in Nursery Operations

At university:

While this program does not provide a direct university pathway, it can provide a foundation to support future study at university with a degree in environmental science, agriculture, landscape architecture, or land and conservation management.

Colac Secondary College Trade Training Centre*

Wednesdays (10am - 2pm) during school terms.

*This is an auspiced training agreement where training is delivered by a third party on behalf of SWTAFE.

This course is partial completion only. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Statement of Attainment listing the successful units completed. You may be able to use the Statement of Attainment to receive credit towards a full qualification, reducing the time and cost of further study.

Credit to ATAR score

Students undertaking this VET DSS program are eligible for credit of up to four VCE VET units on their VCE Statement of Results: two units at Unit 1-2 level and a Unit 3-4 sequence. Students may be entitled to 10% increment towards their VCE.

VCE Vocational Major

Students undertaking this VET DSS program through the VCE Vocational Major stream will need to complete a minimum of 180 nominal hours of a VET DSS program over a 2-year period.

This course is partial completion only. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Statement of Attainment listing the successful units completed. You may be able to use the Statement of Attainment to receive credit towards a full qualification, reducing the time and cost of further study.

Any costs and fees associated with completing this course will managed directly with your school. Please contact your school for further information.

Some courses require specific resources or materials necessary for your study e.g. tools of the trade, uniform, etc. Please check with your school's VET DSS coordinator to determine resource costs applicable to you.

There are 5 steps to applying for a VET DSS program with SWTAFE:

1. Look at your options - chat with your school's VET DSS Coordinator and your parents/guardians about a program that will suit you.
2. Apply - complete a short online application form
3. Complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment online
4. Chat to our team - your SWTAFE teacher or course specialist will contact you to discuss the course in more detail and ensure the right units of study are selected for you.
5. Enrol - once your school approves your VET DSS application, you will be enrolled in the qualification at SWTAFE.