FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
COURSES
Why study horticulture?
Who are these courses designed for?
Which course is right for me?
I just want to learn about growing orchids. Do I have to do a course?
STUDYING
How is the course delivered?
How long will it take me to complete the course?
How will I be assessed?
Are there classes to attend?
What sort of support will I have while studying?
Can I study online?
How do courses from The Orchid Academy differ from those offered by TAFE?
QUALIFICATIONS
What qualification will I earn?
What is the Australian Qualification Framework?
Does Certificate III cover the same material as Certificate II?
Do I need to complete Certificate II before I can study Certificate III?
Can I get recognition for prior study or experience?
Will my qualification be recognised overseas?
FINANCIAL
How much will the course cost?
Can I pay in instalments?
Will I be able to receive financial support while studying?
ANSWERS
Why study horticulture?
Recent studies link plants and flowers to our life satisfaction and emotional well-being.
We depend on plants for our very life. If we don’t have plants, we have no oxygen, nothing to store the carbon, no filters in our world to help remove the poisons we put into the atmosphere, nothing for our animals to eat and therefore nothing to eat ourselves. Without plants we have no beauty, no fragrance, no greenery, no background, in fact we are missing the very essence that gives meaning to our lives.
We must keep the world’s plant communities alive, thriving and increasing to keep ourselves alive and to keep our society prospering. To do this, we must know how to grow plants. It is essential for the world’s well-being that those who know how to grow plants teach others. Study Horticulture with us and you, too, will learn.
Who are these courses designed for?
Our accredited horticultural courses are designed for students seeking employment as nurseryhands, gardeners, assistants in public park & garden work and in the layout and upkeep of, for example, high rise and body corporate gardens. The courses are also suitable for students seeking employment as superviser, manager or overseer or seeking to start their own business within the horticultural industry.
Our accredited orchid growing courses are designed for students seeking specialised knowledge to enable them to seek employment in the orchid industry at any level, including caring for an orchid section in a general nursery (e.g. Bunnings), or for those intending to set up their own orchid business. These courses are eminently suitable for participants who wish to work in the orchid industry in developing countries such as Vietnam at both employee level and at managerial/future trainer level.
Which course is right for me?
The information page for each course includes a description of who the course is suitable for as well as a detailed list of topics that will be covered. Read these for more detail or feel free to contact Robert the course trainer to discuss.
I just want to learn about growing orchids. Do I have to do a course?
If you just want to learn about orchids you can apply to study just one or more units in our Orchid Growing courses and pay a pro rata fee. Let us know which units you would like to study and we will provide a quote.
Alternatively, you could consider ordering a copy of course trainer Robert’s book ‘Orchids In Your Garden’.
How is the course delivered?
The courses are delivered as Distance Education by correspondence. The material for each unit consists of an assessment and a workbook which explains how to perform the various elements necessary to become competent in that unit and why each competency is necessary. Students complete each assessment as a measure of their competency in each unit. Each assessment contains a number of activities to be performed and a number of questions to be answered.
We will discuss presentation of “face to face” courses overseas for employer groups if so requested.
How long will it take me to complete the course?
For any of the accredited courses, students should allow 12 to 18 months to complete the Certificate. One benefit of Distance Education is that you can study in your own time at your own pace.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed in accordance with the Australian Qualifications Training Framework standards. You will be required to complete and provide evidence of some practical exercises and complete a series of questions and answers in order to be assessed as competent in each unit you undertake. There is no “pass” or “fail”. A student who does not achieve the required level of competency in a particular unit has the opportunity to try again.
Are there classes to attend?
There are no classes to attend, all study is Distance Education by correspondence. We will discuss presentation of “face to face” courses overseas for employer groups if so requested.
What sort of support will I have while studying?
Support is available from your trainer Robert Friend during normal hours to answer your queries, assist you and discuss any problems you may be having with any topic by phone, fax or email. You will receive printed workbooks for each unit which are written in plain English and include all material necessary to achieve competency in that unit.
Can I study online?
At the present time online study is not available although we will be posting articles from time to time on our website which may assist you.
How do courses from The Orchid Academy differ from those offered by TAFE?
Although the qualifications earned are identical to those issued by a TAFE Institute, our courses differ from TAFE courses for two reasons. First, because they are presented as Distance Education allowing you to study at your own pace and at your own place rather than being part of a class where the learning pace is that of the slowest student. Second, your trainer Robert Friend is available during normal hours to answer your queries, assist you and discuss any problems you may be having with any topic by phone, fax or email. You can ask questions in private without the inhibitions you might feel in front of a TAFE class.
What qualification will I earn?
The qualification for each of the certificate courses will be a Statement of Attainment or a Certificate of Completion issued in accordance with the protocols of the Australian Qualifications Framework. These are nationally recognised and carry a lot of weight overseas. See each course’s information page for specific details of qualification names and codes.
What is the Australian Qualification Framework?
The AQF is a government controlled system to provide training in various industries. More information is available on the AQF website.
Does a Certificate III course cover the same material as a Certificate II course?
Some units in Certificate III courses cover some of the same material as Certificate II but in more detail and from the point of view of a manager/superviser rather than that of an employee.
Do I need to complete a Certificate II course before I can study Certificate III?
No.
Can I get recognition for prior study or experience (RPL)?
You can get recognition for both prior study and experience. Qualification for RPL is assessed on a case by case basis. Just send us evidence of your prior learning or experience for our consideration.
Will my qualification be recognised overseas?
Australian Qualifications are recognised overseas. The Australian Government sets particularly high standards for accredited training packages by world standards. Students completing either Certificate should be proud of their achievement and should be capable of being employed as horticulturists anywhere in the world. Abundant opportunities exist to assist in horticultural industries in developing countries.
How much will the course cost?
Each of the first four courses costs A$3,475.00. We offer a payment plan and the discount for paying in full is now $350.00 – up from $300.00.
Can I pay in instalments?
You can pay by instalments. We have a payment plan administered through EziDebit and will provide details on request.
Will I be able to receive financial support while studying?
You may be eligible for government assistance. You will need to check with your local Centrelink office. We are registered with Centrelink for Education Payments our number being 4P877 and with the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service.
.jpg)
