Fee-Free TAFE feeds Fiona’s passion for plants

“I take my hat off to anyone who has navigated a career change - it’s not for the faint-hearted. Going from the travel industry to horticulture was the biggest leap of faith I have ever taken,” she said.

“I can’t help but wonder why I waited so long. Nothing could have prepared me for how much horticulture would reveal my love for plants and landscapes, demonstrate my aptitude for study and ignite a desire to experience everything the industry offers,” she explains.

Fiona’s career change began by studying the Certificate II Horticulture (AHC20422) at TAFE Queensland’s Grovely campus, with the help of Fee-Free TAFE funding.

After graduating from the six-month course, Fiona used the money she saved from the Fee-Free TAFE funding to enrol in the Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30722) and continue learning about plant identification and care, landscape management, pruning and fertilising to maintain gardens and nurseries.

“The cert II gave me a start on my new career in horticulture, and the cert III further enhanced my skills and knowledge in an industry I’m passionate about,” she explained.

While studying and juggling her family life was challenging, Fiona found that the course’s balance of theory and practical hands-on training, delivered by supportive industry-expert teachers, accelerated her learning, putting her mind at ease.

“I was in class four days per week, undertaking practical training in the morning and learning theory in the afternoon. Because my teachers were industry professionals, they brought incredible knowledge, insights and experience to class. I learnt so much in a short space of time.”

The campus’s specialist facilities offered the perfect environment for her to absorb knowledge, including nursery propagation and potting, shade, mist and fog houses, machinery and a nursery retail centre.

“The Grovely campus is a beautiful learning space for hands-on learning, from landscape maintenance and soil testing to identifying different plants for different soil types and identifying native and introduced species; it’s such a wonderful space that I feel emotionally connected to it,” continues Fiona.

During her studies, Fiona focused on landscaping, particularly green infrastructure, with a particular interest in how it can change a cement space into something beautiful.

“It's art with environmental benefits to the building that improves people's productivity and mental health. I find the power of greenery amazing and wanted to explore that,” she explained.

Taking her interest one step further, Fiona successfully lobbied her teacher to install a green wall on campus, learning a lot along the way.

“When we asked if a green wall could be part of our studies, we weren’t aware of the work required – creating a vibrant oasis was our only concern,” explained Fiona.

“The willingness of the faculty to fund this initiative to enhance our learning was invaluable. While the students did the work, without the go ahead and funding, it would never have happened. So, when we got the go-ahead, our excitement turned into a journey of joy, satisfaction, stress and doubt.”  

The class then used the skills they’d learned to overcome the site’s challenges and protect it from temperature and wind extremes.

“Our final design came from a Facebook poll, and we collaborated on which sun-tolerant plants to use, colour combinations and pattern design, as well as installing artificial shade, irrigation scheduling, and potting media composition,” she explained.

Finally, the step-by-step breakdown of installation tasks taught everyone that no one person can ever be across every aspect of a project.

“Project management is the magic behind the scenes – this project was challenging, stressful and rewarding, and we needed our whole team to succeed,” she continued.

“Installation was challenging because of the heat, reconciling our oversights, and accepting our mistakes. But seeing our vision come to life, I’m happy to say we nailed it,” explained Fiona.

“Everyone brought different strengths to the project, and we all stepped out of our comfort zones to create something from nothing.”

This process taught everyone to trust their skills, manage their expectations and know that any issues could be solved within the team.

“Ultimately, the result is a stunning culmination of many ideas, trials, errors, a substantial amount of sweat and some tears.”

“This project revealed that, although my horticultural journey has just begun and my approach to tasks is sometimes different from others, my knowledge, skills, drive and determination to succeed will see me through,” concluded Fiona.