Australian nurseries have reported that house plants and vegetable seed sales are sky rocketing as people find joy in growing their own food as well as set up their home offices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.i 

TAFE NSW teacher, John Atkins says this increase of at home gardeners will likely translate to an increase in demand for TAFE NSW horticulture courses this year as interest in the industry grows.  

Although nurseries are a common employment avenue for graduates of TAFE NSW horticulture classes, Mr Atkins says the opportunities working in the horticulture industry are endless. 

“Some of the world’s most amazing places have parks and gardens which need someone to maintain them.  

“TAFE NSW helps hundreds of thousands of people every year get the job they want and be in a career they love. We’ve had graduates go on to work in wildlife parks, theme parks, national parks, sporting fields, botanic gardens and the list goes on.” 

Jack Mitchell is a TAFE NSW graduate who followed the untraditional route of using a Certificate III in Parks and Gardens to secure his dream job at Coolmore Stud, located in Jerry’s Plains. The stud has a reputation of producing some of the highest quality racehorses in the world. 

Mr Mitchell graduated from TAFE NSW Kurri Kurri in 2019 and is “thrilled” to now be able to work in his dream location as a gardener. 

“Coolmore Stud is a truly breathtaking place to be all day, I am very lucky to work where I do. The experience I get every day is amazing and I never stop learning. 

“Studying through TAFE NSW allowed me to connect with nature in a way that not all people can, by giving me a thorough understanding of all of the natural aspects in an outdoor setting.  

It’s a huge bonus that the setting I get to visit every day has the best views and the best horses in the world.”  

Over the past five years the number of horticulturalists grew sharply, a trend the Australian Government Job Outlook predicts will continue, with around 14,000 jobs opening nationally in the years to 2023. 

Coolmore Stud Head Gardener, Bruce Murray says his employee is fully equipped with the practical skills to work across the stud’s 9,200 acres. 

“There is a high standard here in horses and in the grounds, so we very often hire from TAFE NSW because of their reputation for first class training and production the highest quality of graduates.” 

For more information about the Certificate III in Parks and Gardens or any other courses at TAFE NSW Kurri Kurri, please visit www.tafensw.com.au or call 131 601.  

Media contact: Sarah Lievore, TAFE NSW Media Officer, sarah.lievore1@tafensw.edu.au  

i The Guardian, Coronavirus gardening boom overwhelms seed suppliers in New Zealand and Australia, April 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/08/coronavirus-gardening-boom-overwhelms-seed-suppliers-in-new-zealand-and-australia