Landscape construction apprenticeships can add value in any environment

As Australia adjusts to major social and economic changes, landscape gardeners will be ready to grasp any emerging opportunities.

Landscape gardening, greenkeeping and nursery work have been popular over the past few years. The government’s joboutlook.gov.au, which uses 2016 census data to spot long term trends, forecasts future growth for all three occupations.

Recently, as international travel restrictions have kept us at home, there has also been renewed interest in urban and commercial landscapes. Whatever the future holds, the sector will have an important role to play – and it will need innovative and skilled landscape workers.

Why horticulture and environment apprenticeships are important

Central to future success will be Australia’s TAFE system and its ability to train, upskill and reskill the next generation of landscape workers. Apprenticeships, in particular, will be vital because they link training with on-the-job learning and future career opportunities in industry.

Holmesglen’s horticulture and environment courses span areas including landscape construction and design, parks and gardens and sports turf management. Apprentices of all ages learn about site assessments, design, plants, trees, providing advice, proposals, budgets and constructing landscapes.

“It’s so important to nurture and encourage the next generation of landscapers to be the best they can be. Every business relies on the staff who work for them. Apprentices become the next business owners and in turn grow the landscape industry,” says Holmesglen’s Apprentice Support Officer, Robert Stewart.

How an apprenticeship can help you to grow in a new direction

Charles Kautoke is completing the AHC30916 Certificate III in Landscape Construction apprenticeship at Holmesglen. Describing his landscape construction journey as a “coming of age”, Charles made a career change from hospitality and communications.

“Working outdoors is something I really enjoy. You work at different places and on different jobs, it’s something new with every job,” he says.

The Holmesglen Certificate III gives learners skills that include how to build brick, concrete and stone structures, install drainage systems, and construct soil profiles. With training pathway options in horticulture and landscape design, Charles feels a landscape construction apprenticeship and on-the-job training go “hand-in-hand.”

How innovation and sustainability are giving new apprentices an edge

As the coronavirus pandemic affects the property and construction sectors, apprentices will be able to draw on their classroom and practical training to innovate and add value. Charles works on hardscapes, pools, and front and backyards across different residential settings. He sees the value this work can add to people and places.

“When you own a house, you want your garden and backyard, or pool, to look great – there is definitely a trend in that aspect. Especially when you see other people doing it. I think there are a lot more options now for those little extras that people can add to their homes.”

On-campus training complements on-thejob work by giving apprentices knowledge of site planning, using different materials and health and safety processes. This also leads to a continued focus on sustainability, and its benefits to society.

“Especially when it comes to water management, you’re always trying find ways to reduce waste and trying to recycle. We always try to find new materials that are recyclable or from recycled elements. There is definitely a place for sustainability in the work we do.”

Holmesglen

- Established in 1982

- One of the largest TAFE providers in Victoria

- Recognised for horticulture and environment training Courses in landscape construction and design at Glen Waverley campus

- Offers apprenticeships and non-apprenticeships

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOLMESGLEN'S HORTICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT COURSES, VISIT HOLMESGLEN.EDU.AU OR CALL 1300 639 888