TAFE NSW is meeting the demand for skilled workers in the agriculture industry, which is expected to grow by over 5% in the five years to November 2026, through its delivery of agriculture courses to the next generation of green thumbs.

The owner of an international award-winning herbal tea business credits TAFE NSW for helping her change careers and start a new life with her two young daughters in Gumbainggir (Yamba).

After Australian Medicinal Herbs’ humble beginnings at the local market, owner Elle Jenkins’ herbal teas have earned prestigious industry accolades, including an Award of Merit for Growing, Harvesting and Marketing of Medicinal Herbs in Australia from the Australian Institute of Horticulture, where she has since been invited to join as a council member. Elle’s tea also took silver at the International Tea Awards, earning the TAFE NSW Wollongbar graduate the title of second-best Herbal Fruit Infusion Tea in the world.

Elle, 40, left the NSW Police Force after a career spanning 17 years following an incident that led her to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Elle followed her love of horticulture and enrolled in a Certificate II in Production Nursery, followed by a Certificate III in Production Horticulture and a Certificate IV in Agriculture at TAFE NSW Wollongbar.

“I experienced PTSD after attending a shooting on Christmas day and it took me a year after I left the force to heal and rebuild my life. So much of my identity was wrapped up in being a cop and I had to work hard to rediscover who I was and what I wanted to do.

“Working with the NSW Police Force was extremely rewarding, but after so long I wanted to change up my career options. I thought horticulture was a lovely path to wander down, so I decided to go to TAFE NSW to learn more,” Elle said.

Through her initial experience at TAFE NSW, the horticulture seed was planted for Elle.

“At TAFE NSW, I learned plants could be used as medicine, and my teachers supported my interest in this space – we even grew herbs at the campus to explore different propagation techniques.

“I gained so many practical skills at TAFE NSW, learning about different propagations, soils, and binomial names. I started successfully growing my own herbs at home and began making teas. The Certificate IV was helpful with strategic planning for business and start-up operations, which helped me turn my casual interest into a thriving business. I would never have been able to take my product to market without these skills,” Elle said.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the export value of horticulture production in Australia is set to reach a new record of $17.8 billion in 2024–25, thanks to favourable seasonal conditions, like those in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.

TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Horticulture, Rob Davies said there were strong job outcomes for Horticulture graduates.

“Job opportunities for TAFE NSW graduates range from working at a nursery to opening your own gardening services business,” he said.

“The Northern Rivers region supplies to a lot of the Sydney and Melbourne markets due to our warmer and more consistent climate. There are big employers in this region and it’s an exciting time to be entering the industry,” Rob said.

With strong female enrolments in all Horticulture courses, Rob Davies said the industry profile is diversifying. “That stereotype that it’s a male industry just doesn’t exist anymore,” he said.

All agriculture courses are currently fee-free.

Media contact: Emily Graham, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, emily.graham40@tafensw.edu.au, 02 7921 3756.