The field of horticulture is playing an increasingly vital role in conserving our environment and developing sustainable solutions to land management, landscape and garden design, and resource and water scarcity.
Gain the practical experience and knowledge for careers in:
- horticultural consultancy
- garden and landscape design
- arboricultural consultant
- irrigation installer
- maintenance gardener
Develop specialist knowledge and skills in specialist areas such as:
- garden design and landscaping
- revegetation
- tree health assessment and management
- retail nursery management
- irrigation
- soils and plant nutrition
- turf management
- plant identification
- plant propagation, nutrition and health
A major drawcard of NMIT’s horticultural courses is our purpose-built horticulture facilities at the Fairfield campus, which include:
- specialist propagation facilities
- state-of-the-art greenhouse
- plant tissue culture laboratory
- computer laboratory
- soils laboratory
- a well-resourced library
- extensive gardens for practical work
- a fully operational plant nursery and cafe
As well as Fairfield, Horticulture courses are also offered at the Greensborough campus, which is easily accessible via the Metropolitan Ring Road. This modern campus offers full and part-time diploma, certificate III and certificate II (pre-apprenticeship) courses.
The Greensborough facilities include:
- a design landscape studio
- purpose-built horticulture and landscape workshops
- soils laboratory
- computer-aided design (CAD) laboratory
- a well-resourced library
- extensive gardens for practical work
NMIT has also played host to a display at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo (SAFE), and Horticulture staff have been involved in delivering a number of seminar sessions. Our students also have a long association with the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show - each year, NMIT wins many of the major competitions for garden design and achievable gardens.
Success stories:
Available Courses (26)
Plant Tissue Culture (Training Program)
The Plant Tissue Culture training program is made up of accredited modules from the National Horticulture Training Package. Completion of the nationally recognised units RTF3014A Implement a Propagation Plan and RTF5012A Manage a Controlled Growing Environment will earn you credit towards attaining the Certificate III in Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery). This is a hands-on competency-based program, covering all aspects of the field of micro-propagation of native and exotic plants.
Prepare CAD Landscape Designs (Training Program)
This 60 hour Training Program provides the skills and knowledge to use Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) for the production of landscape designs. The completion of this nationally recognised unit of study VBP092 Produce Computer Aided Landscape Designs will earn you credit towards obtaining the Certificate IV in Applied Design (Landscape) 21615VIC.
Commercial Hydroponic Crop Production (Training Program)
A training program that covers all aspects of commercial crop production. Students will learn a range of skills including preparing nutrients, pest and diseas identification and control, and media types in a range of hydroponic systems. Training will include theoretical and practical exercises delivered by NMIT staff and industry personnel.
Prepare a Landscape Design (Training Program)
This 60 hour Training Program takes the student through all of the key elements of landscape design. The completion of this nationally recognised unit of study RTF4007A Prepare a Garden Design will earn you credit towards completing the Certificate III in Horticulture or Certificate IV in Horticulture.
Certificate IV in Applied Design (Landscape)
The Certificate IV has a large focus on design and business skills to perform a range of functions including CAD landscape design costing and project management. Use your landscape design and construction management skills to find creative solutions to conserving our natural environments and resources
Certificate III in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management - Technical)
You will learn about the correct methods of assessing pest problems and the many ways of controlling or managing pests. From this, you will be able to find employment in the pest control industry. NMIT’s purpose-built horticulture facilities at the Fairfield campus have a soils laboratory and extensive gardens for practical work.
Certificate II in Horticulture
The Certificate II in Horticulture is a six month pre-apprenticeship program designed to help you decide which area of horticulture is right for you. Gain introductory knowledge and skills in landscaping, nursery, parks and gardens, turf and revegetation. The qualification also provides a sound foundation for progression into other horticulture training levels such as the Certificate III.
Certificate III in Horticulture
This one year course is designed to give you a range of practical and technical skills to gain entry into the industry. The program is diverse and facilitates entry into a range of Industry sectors including landscape construction and maintenance businesses, local government and retail nurseries. Once completed graduates have the potential to develop career pathways into small business operations. Horticulture industries are playing an increasingly vital role in protecting our environment and identifying sustainable solutions to conservation and land management.
Certificate IV in Horticulture
The Certificate IV in Horticulture furthers your skills to perform a range of functions and roles from plant identification and garden maintenance, to garden design and costing a project. Horticulture industries are playing an increasingly vital role in protecting our environment and identifying sustainable solutions to conservation and land management
Diploma of Horticulture
The two-year Diploma of Horticulture is designed to provide the foundation for a career in Horticulture at a post-trade level. When you graduate from this course you will have acquired a range of practical, technical and managerial skills. The program is diverse and facilitates entry into a range of industry sectors including, landscape design, local government, contract maintenance, consultancy services and revegetation work.
Certificate II in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
If you care about protecting our trees, NMIT’s Certificate II in Horticulture (Aboriculture) is perfect. Become an arborist, working in parks, gardens and urban planning.
Certificate III in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
Provides practical training in the skills and knowledge essential for maintenance and management of trees. Features a strong focus on the development of practical skills, and many tree work projects are carried out. Study includes tree climbing, pruning, transplanting and removal, tree health, and provision of advice on trees.
Certificate IV in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
Gain specialist skills and knowledge around a range of arboriculture functions, such as maintenance and management of trees, or tree pruning, removal and transplanting. If you care about protecting trees through appropriate management NMIT’s arboriculture courses are for you, and tree conservation is becoming increasingly vital to the very future of our planet.
Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture)
Gain technical skills in tree management applicable to functions such as tree assessment, providing advice on tree health, and data gathering and interpretation. NMIT’s arboriculture courses are for those who care about protecting trees - tree conservation is becoming increasingly vital to the very future of our planet.
Certificate II in Horticulture (Landscape)
Designed as a pre-apprenticeship training program, the Certificate II is suitable for anyone who wants to gain the basic skills and knowledge to assist with finding employment in the industry and/or before moving into a horticultural landscape apprenticeship. The six month course incorporates a work experience component that give students real workplace experience in the landscape industry.
Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape)
Provides the training component for landscape apprenticeships. Develops construction and maintenance skills. Emphasises a strong practical focus, with many landscape activities. Train in NMIT’s purpose-built, spacious landscaping facility, with a plant identification laboratory, irrigation training facilities, soils laboratory and computer laboratory.
Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
Non-apprenticeship
This Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens) is offered as a general part-time non-apprenticeship to local students. This program caters to people already working in parks and gardens/garden areas, or those interested in similar employment. NMIT also offers the Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens) as a apprenticeship to local students through the Horticulture Department.
Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
Apprenticeship
This Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens) is offered as an apprenticeship to local students. This program offers the training component for the Parks and Gardens traineeship. NMIT also offers the non-apprenticeship general Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens) through the Horticulture Department.
Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery)
Non-industry and International Students
This Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery) is offered as a full-time, non-industry based course available to local and international students. The course provides training in a range of skills necessary for employment in a retail nursery. Underpinning these skills will be a sound knowledge of plant identification, merchandising, as well as pest and disease identification and control. NMIT also offers the Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery) as an apprenticeship to local students through the Horticulture Department.
Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery)
Apprenticeship and Non-apprenticeship Streams
This Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery) is offered as an apprenticeship to local students. The Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery) provides training in skills for working in a retail nursery. Underpinning these skills will be a sound knowledge of plant identification, merchandising, as well as pests and diseases, and their control. There is a strong emphasis on the development of practical skills, using the campus-based retail nursery located in Fairfield. NMIT also offers a non-industry full-time course to local and international students through the Horticulture Department.
Certificate II in Horticulture (Turf)
Develop skills required for the establishment and maintenance of recreational turf surfaces. Learn to perform a broad range of tasks including how to operate turf machinery and ride-on vehicles, or prepare turf surfaces for play. Turf management is a highly specialised profession for which our communities will always have a need.
Certificate III in Horticulture (Turf)
Learn to perform a broad range of tasks including irrigation installation, pest control and preparation of sports turf playing surfaces for sports including football, cricket or golf. Turf Management is a highly specialised profession for which our communities will always have a need. NMIT offers the Certificate III in Horticulture (Turf) as an apprenticeship to local students through the Horticulture Department.
Diploma of Horticulture (Turf)
Develop the advanced knowledge and skills required to manage the establishment, design and maintenance of recreational turf surfaces. Learn routine tasks and high-level functions, ranging from pest and disease management, to the design of irrigation systems and management of sport turf facilities. Turf management is a highly specialised profession for which our communities will always have a need.
Certificate III in Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery)
Apprenticeship
The Certificate III in Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery) is offered as an apprenticeship to local students through the Horticulture Department. This NMIT program provides training in the skills necessary for working in a wholesale nursery. Students will gain a good understanding of plant propagation, plant identification, pest and disease identification and control, as well as the other skills necessary to work in a wholesale nursery.
Certificate III in Irrigation
Develop skills to perform tasks ranging from installation of irrigation and drainage systems to operation of fertigation equipment. Finding suitable water conservation and management solutions is becoming increasingly vital for our very survival and irrigation management plays a critical role in meeting this challenge. This course will help develop a range of necessary skills required for employment in the agribusiness and irrigation construction industries.
Diploma of Ornamental Horticulture
The Diploma of Ornamental Horticulture is offered to students through the Horticulture Department and incorporates the Certificate IV in Horticulture. This course addresses higher-level horticulture technical skills, especially ‘plantsmanship’ and sustainable practices for those who wish to pursue a career in the industry. NMIT also offers the Diploma of Ornamental Horticulture on a part-time basis to industry clients with a previous horticulture, or allied qualification and/or significant industry experience who wish to enhance their career prospects.
Available Short Courses (1)
Chainsaw Operation and Safety
In untrained hands a chainsaw can be an ineffective tool, not to mention extremely dangerous. Appropriate and safe use of a chainsaw is a specialist skill requiring specialist training. This one-day course will teach you the basics of operation, safety and maintenance. Completion of the nationally recognised unit RTC2304A Operate and Maintain Chainsaws will earn you credit towards attaining the Certificate II in Horticulture.
