IRCs now submit comprehensive Skills Forecasts to the AISC every 3 years, with abridged annual updates submitted in the intervening 2 years.
Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management IRC
Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping
Overview
This page provides information and data on the Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping sector, which is a component of the Amenity Horticulture and Conservation industry. The Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping sector comprises five sub-sectors:
- Arboriculture
- Landscape Services
- Gardening Services
- Turf and Sports Turf Management
- Retail Nursery and Nursery Production.
The Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping sector includes companies that conduct the following activities:
- Tree-care operations
- Lawn care and maintenance of plants and shrubs
- Landscape construction including provision of retaining walls, paths and drainage systems
- Turf growing and harvesting
- Growing and selling trees, shrubs, ornamental plants and bulbs.
Vocational education and training (VET) is required in the sector for occupations such as:
- Gardeners
- Greenkeepers
- Arborists
- Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators
- Garden and Nursery Labourers.
Nationally recognised training for the Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping sector is delivered under the AHC – Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.
For information on the Conservation and Land Management and Production Horticulture sectors please visit the respective pages.
Information sourced from the Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast and the Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast.
All data sources are available at the end of the page.
IRC and skills forecasts
IRC and skills forecasts
Employment trends
Employment trends
There is insufficiently detailed data on employment in the Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping sector to provide an accurate analysis of employment trends.
For employment data, please refer to the Amenity Horticulture and Conservation industry cluster page.
Training trends
Training trends
Training snapshot
There were close to 10,720 program enrolments in Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping-related qualifications during 2019 and 2,670 completions. Enrolments and completions rose in 2019 compared with the previous year, but did not return to the levels recorded between 2015-2017. As with previous years, most enrolments were at the certificate III level. Over a half of the qualifications were in landscaping (53%), with a further 19% in parks and gardens.
Landscape Gardener was the main intended occupation for Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping-related qualifications. Other intended occupations for the training included Gardener (General), Arborist and Greenkeeper (among others).
For enrolments during 2019, 59% of training was delivered by TAFE institutes with a further 34% delivered by private training providers. Most of the training was government-funded with a small proportion financed via domestic fee-for-service arrangements.
Students located in the Eastern states of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria made up 90% of enrolments. Training was mainly delivered in Victoria (32%), New South Wales (29%) and Queensland (29%).
During 2019, there were almost 2,940 apprenticeship and traineeship commencements and over 1,230 completions in Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping-related qualifications. Commencement numbers have been relatively steady since 2014 although there has been a slight increase over the last two years.
The main intended occupation of the apprenticeships and traineeships in 2019 was Landscape Gardener followed by Gardener (General), Greenkeeper and then arborist. A little under 40% of the apprenticeships and traineeships were reported in New South Wales with a further 35% in Victoria and 18% in Queensland.
For more data specific to your occupation, industry or training package, visit NCVER’s VET students by industry. If you are prompted to log in, select cancel and you will continue to be directed to the program.
For more data specific to your region visit NCVER’s Atlas of Total VET.
If you are interested in extracting NCVER data to construct tables with data relevant to you, sign up for a VOCSTATS account.
Industry insights
Industry insights
Industry insights on skills needs
The Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast outlines the challenges the landscaping industry is tackling to modernise licensing arrangements in response to customer demand and driven by changing trends and products. Landscaping businesses widely accept the need for change. Regulators, which are governed by and refer to existing Training Package content, require adequate technical qualifications be established before allowing licensing development or expansion of businesses’ scope of permitted. As such, Landscape units will be reviewed in 2020 and extensive changes to some relevant qualifications are expected to be recommended.
Another area of focus within the wider Amenity Horticulture and Landscaping sector is attracting and retaining skilled nursery workers, and the Nursery Industry Career Path Development Strategy and Action Plan sets out the industry’s five pillars to develop an effective skilled workforce.
Links and resources
Links and resources
Below is a list of industry-relevant research, organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.
Relevant research
Nursery Industry Career Path Development Strategy: Industry Strategy and Action Plan – Hort Innovation
Nursery Industry Career Pathways: Report – Hort Innovation
Industry associations and advisory bodies
Australian Capital Tree Community
Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association
Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association
Australian Institute of Horticulture
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers
Australian Society of Horticultural Science
Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists
Interior Plantscape Association
International Society of Arboriculture
Invasive Plants and Animals Committee
Landscape Queensland Industries Assoc. Inc.
Landscape Industries Association of Tasmania Inc. (LIAT)
Landscaping Industries Association WA Inc. (LIAWA)
Landscaping Australia Incorporated
Master Landscapers Association
Master Landscapers of SA (MLSA)
New South Wales Arborist Association
Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (Greenlife Industry Australia)
Northern Territory Arboriculture Association
Queensland Arboricultural Association
South Australian Society for Arboriculture
Sports Turf Association Australia
State and Territory Weed Management (Government)
Sustainable Gardening Australia
The Tree Guild of Western Australia
Tree Contractors Association Australia
Turf Grass Association of Australia
Victorian Tree Industry Organisation
Wildflowers Industry Network NSW Inc
Employee associations
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
Australian Workers' Union (AWU)
Data sources and notes
Data sources and notes
Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Students and Courses from the following training package or qualifications:
- AHC – Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package
- Arboriculture
- AHC20510 - Certificate II in Arboriculture
- AHC20513 - Certificate II in Arboriculture
- AHC20516 - Certificate II in Arboriculture
- AHC30810 - Certificate III in Arboriculture
- AHC30816 - Certificate III in Arboriculture
- AHC41916 - Certificate IV in Arboriculture
- AHC50510 - Diploma of Arboriculture
- AHC50516 - Diploma of Arboriculture
- AHC60516 - Advanced Diploma of Arboriculture
- AHC80116 - Graduate Diploma of Arboriculture
- RTF20203 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RTF30203 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RTF40203 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RTF50203 - Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RUH10298 - Certificate I in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RUH20298 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RUH30298 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RUH40298 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RUH50298 - Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- RUH60298 - Advanced Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture)
- Landscaping
- AHC21610 - Certificate II in Landscaping
- AHC21616 - Certificate II in Landscaping
- AHC30910 - Certificate III in Landscape Construction
- AHC30916 - Certificate III in Landscape Construction
- AHC42016 - Certificate IV in Landscape
- AHC50610 - Diploma of Landscape Design
- AHC50616 - Diploma of Landscape Design
- AHC52016 - Diploma of Landscape Project Management
- RTF20403 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Landscape)
- RTF30403 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape)
- RTF40403 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Landscape)
- RTF50403 - Diploma of Horticulture (Landscape)
- RUH10498 - Certificate I in Horticulture (Landscape)
- RUH20498 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Landscape)
- RUH30498 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Landscape)
- RUH40498 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Landscape)
- RUH50498 - Diploma of Horticulture (Landscape)
- RUH60498 - Advanced Diploma of Horticulture (Landscape)
- Nursery
- RTF20603 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery)
- RTF40503 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Retail Nursery)
- RTF40603 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery)
- RTF50503 - Diploma of Horticulture (Retail Nursery)
- RTF50603 - Diploma of Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery)
- RUH10598 - Certificate I in Horticulture (Nursery)
- RUH20598 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Nursery)
- RUH30598 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Nursery)
- RUH40598 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Nursery)
- RUH50598 - Diploma of Horticulture (Nursery)
- RUH60598 - Advanced Diploma of Horticulture (Nursery)
- AHC20710 - Certificate II in Production Nursery
- AHC20716 - Certificate II in Production Nursery
- AHC20810 - Certificate II in Retail Nursery
- AHC20816 - Certificate II in Retail Nursery
- AHC31110 - Certificate III in Production Nursery
- AHC31116 - Certificate III in Production Nursery
- AHC31210 - Certificate III in Retail Nursery
- AHC31216 - Certificate III in Retail Nursery
- AHC40610 - Certificate IV in Production Nursery
- AHC40616 - Certificate IV in Production Nursery
- AHC40710 - Certificate IV in Retail Nursery
- AHC40716 - Certificate IV in Retail Nursery
- AHC50810 - Diploma of Production Nursery Management
- AHC50816 - Diploma of Production Nursery Management
- AHC50910 - Diploma of Retail Nursery Management
- AHC50916 - Diploma of Retail Nursery Management
- RTF20503 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Retail Nursery)
- RTF30503 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Retail Nursery)
- RTF30603 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Wholesale Nursery)
- Parks and Gardens
- AHC20610 - Certificate II in Parks and Gardens
- AHC20616 - Certificate II in Parks and Gardens
- AHC31010 - Certificate III in Parks and Gardens
- AHC31016 - Certificate III in Parks and Gardens
- AHC40510 - Certificate IV in Parks and Gardens
- AHC40516 - Certificate IV in Parks and Gardens
- AHC50710 - Diploma of Parks and Gardens Management
- AHC50716 - Diploma of Parks and Gardens Management
- RTF20703 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RTF30703 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RTF40703 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RTF50703 - Diploma of Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RUH10698 - Certificate I in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RUH20698 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RUH30698 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RUH40698 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RUH50698 - Diploma of Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- RUH60698 - Advanced Diploma of Horticulture (Parks and Gardens)
- Sports Turf Management
- AHC20910 - Certificate II in Sports Turf Management
- AHC20916 - Certificate II in Sports Turf Management
- AHC20919 – Certificate II in Sport Turf Management
- AHC31310 - Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- AHC31316 - Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- AHC31319 – Certificate III in Sports Turf Management
- AHC40810 - Certificate IV in Sports Turf Management
- AHC40812 - Certificate IV in Sports Turf Management
- AHC40816 - Certificate IV in Sports Turf Management
- AHC51010 - Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- AHC51016 - Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- AHC51019 – Diploma of Sports Turf Management
- RTF20803 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Turf)
- RTF30803 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Turf)
- RTF40803 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Turf)
- RTF50803 - Diploma of Horticulture (Turf)
- RUH10798 - Certificate I in Horticulture (Turf Management)
- RUH20798 - Certificate II in Horticulture (Turf Management)
- RUH30798 - Certificate III in Horticulture (Turf Management)
- RUH40798 - Certificate IV in Horticulture (Turf Management)
- RUH50798 - Diploma of Horticulture (Turf Management)
- RUH60798 - Advanced Diploma of Horticulture (Turf Management)
This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.
Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:
- 2015 to 2019 program enrolments
- 2015 to 2019 program completions.
Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill-sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Location data uses student residence. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions, please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document.
Low counts (less than five) are not reported to protect client confidentiality.
Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. This can lead to situations where the total sum of proportions in a chart may not add up to exactly 100%.
AHC – Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package apprentice and trainee data has been extracted from the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, including:
- 2010 to 2019 commencements
- 2010 to 2019 completions
- 2019 apprentices and trainees in-training October to December 2019 collection, by qualification and state and territory of data submitter.
Updated: 28 Sep 2020