GORGEOUS CAMPUS AND GREAT FRIENDLY WORKERS THERE. GOOD CANTEEN WITH GREAT COFFEE.
The campus itself is really nice, lovely good parking, friendly - and really supportive team of fellow students, and easy to find your way around. Nice area. For me, 12 mins from home.
Now: The course:
A busy six months but you learn a lot. Most topics covered were of true interest to me, ie propogation of plants, pest and disease (biosecurity), environmental factors etc. Fantastic. Loved the online courses through MyLearning. Loved my fellow students who stood by me through thick and thin, me being the oldest one in the group and struggling with some health stuff.
This is my own personal experience and I'm saying it as it is. I do have some people who acknowledge my situation but I'm not calling anyone out. The majority of the teachers were wonderful. As a mature student (or personality) I did have trouble with one (and I have heard that a lot of mature aged students get bullied in institutions when they go back to learn, but I wouldn't classify this as that, but more a clash of personalities) who kind of would go off topic to talk about personal stuff, how this or that was done by said teacher, or be shown pics of the person's family who started his life's love of gardening, and things that person did that kind of were part of our learning but not on specific topic, told us about their life in general, favourite drink (that was second to introduction on the very day we started), partner personality and what they did going out or where they were off to that night etc, BUT did not want to know anything re the students and if we were not coming to class, why was not needed, just that we could not attend. I guess too because I asked or picked up on some stuff early in the piece (try at signing up) this teacher had it in for me, so, away from the class, if we connected at any time this person would treat me very differently to what would be said to me in front of others. It was hard. I'd go home in tears. This teacher's knowledge was about 90 per cent there, but things like a "fascination" on a tree was actually a "fasciation" (no N) and there were times names of plants were incorrect. Now, generally speaking, because of COVID and everyone having to learn on line stuff, things like online or on campus stuff, and what link was what to whom, were often changed at the last minute. I nearly went to the Dept of Ed and am still considering doing so. You have to be on the ball but as someone who is very very deep into research (more than practical stuff) I found it difficult to be on top of things when given inaccurate information. Others had no problem, they just want their certificate and to do gardening. Also, being younger maybe they're more flexible and easier going than myself. I was there to learn a majority of stuff simply for myself and to work in perhaps a nursery place, but not carting huge wheelbarrows of stuff or do super hard stuff for my age (I struggle with a bad arm and back) but, truly, if you want to be a gardener or a landscaper and learn about grass and stuff, tree diseases (I was more into the plant disease but learned enough to go to the council and advise of a very sick gorgeous flowering gum in North Bendigo on a side street that needed help), then, go for it. Frustrating trying to fit in the one day off school to attend excursions that did not come up till half way thru first term, so if you have that day of no school organised for other things, try to keep up with what you miss. I did advise ahead, but seemed excursions were then made on that one day I had off (said teacher knew this) and I do believe that sometimes weekend are easier for said excursions, but probably not even taken into consideration. The head of all three campuses however, is really diplomatic and nice, and the other teachers were terrific. Very learned, on topic and keen to help.
Certificate III Horticulture
