Advanced Certificate in Parks & Leisure (Environment)

Professional training to a high level for parks or leisure industry managers. Learn the science, management and technical components that underpin a successful career for managers, technicians, consultants and other industry professionals.

Course Code: VEN036
Fee Code: AC
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 900 hours
Qualification
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Learn to be Responsible for Public Green Spaces

Each town and city has a range of parks and other green spaces which are available for public use. Often when you go to a town you have not visited before, the quality and presentation of those green spaces leaves a lasting impression on you. If the parks and streetscapes are attractive and well maintained with lots of trees and greenery you are more likely to think that the residents care about their local environment.  

This course prepares students for roles in parks and leisure management. It includes the study of a broad range of leisure facilities and different approaches to managing those resources. Students also learn valuable horticulture knowledge and skills along the way. 

DEVELOP A CAREER IN PARKS & LEISURE or RESORTS MANAGEMENT

Would you like to care and manage parks, natural parks, holiday and recreation resort facilities? Then this is the course to do. This course provides training for people to work in the management and development of recreation and park facilities and services. It is relevant to all types of situations including municipal parks, national parks, tourist parks, commercial landscapes, resorts, etc.

CORE and ELECTIVE MODULES

This learning bundle involves both core studies and electives. Core modules are compulsory, electives are chosen to suit your particular specialisation or work needs.

a) CORE MODULES (6)

b) ELECTIVES (3)

STUDY SEQUENCE
The core modules would normally be completed before anything else. Beyond that it is possible for you to determine your order of studies.

Note: Fees cover all tuition and "essential" texts.
They do not include fees for any Industry conferences or seminars which are attended.

Note: Course fee does not include exam fees

 

 

 

Modules

Core ModulesThese modules provide foundation knowledge for the Advanced Certificate in Parks & Leisure (Environment).
 Horticultural Research I BHT118
 Nature Park Management I BEN120
 Turf Care BHT104
 Horticultural Resource Management BHT203
 Leisure Facility Management I BRE205
 Amenity Horticulture I BHT324
 
Elective ModulesIn addition to the core modules, students study any 3 of the following 37 modules.
 Aquarium Management BEN105
 Arboriculture I BHT106
 Bookkeeping Foundations (Bookkeeping I) BBS103
 Botany I (Plant Physiology And Taxonomy) BSC104
 Carpentry BSS100
 Ecotour Management BTR101
 Engineering I - Machinery & Equipment BSC105
 Food & Beverage Management BTR102
 Horticulture I BHT101
 Horticulture II (Plant Knowledge) BHT102
 Landscaping I BHT109
 Leisure Management 1 - Marketing BRE103
 Leisure Management II - Human Resources BRE104
 Soil Management (Horticulture) BHT105
 Arboriculture II BHT208
 Cleaning: Domestic and Commercial VTR207
 Conservation and Environmental Management BEN201
 Engineering II - Engineering Applications BSC205
 Environmental Waste Management BEN202
 Event Management BRE209
 Horticultural Research II BHT241
 Irrigation (Gardens) BHT210
 Leisure Management III - Administration BRE204
 Nature Park Management II BEN207
 Playground Design BHT216
 Project Management - Special Offer BBS201
 Sports Turf Management BHT202
 Trees For Rehabilitation (Landcare Reafforestation) BHT205
 Zoo Keeping BEN208
 Amenity Horticulture II BHT325
 Bush Tucker Plants BHT328
 Ecotourism Tour Guide Course BTR301
 Horticultural Marketing BHT304
 Leisure Facility Management II BRE306
 Leisure Management IV - Policies & Procedures BRE305
 Operational Business Management I (Horticulture) BHT326
 Operational Business Management II (Horticulture) BHT327
 

Note that each module in the Advanced Certificate in Parks & Leisure (Environment) is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.


WHAT DOES A PARKS MANAGER DO?

There are many different types of parks, and that means there can be many different types of parks management jobs.

Large organisations may employ a senior manager, and a series of deputy or sub managers. Smaller organisations may only employ a single manager.

Parks managers need to be knowledgeable in a wide range of things; from horticulture to managing the sustainable use of land resources; to management and planning in areas of staffing, finance and day to day operations. 

Parks managers may be responsible for small or large areas of parkland, in urban or rural areas, and either public owned or privately owned facilities. The role of the parks manager will ultimately depend upon the types and sizes of facilities they care for. These may include:

  • Wilderness areas

  • Urban Parks

  • Countryside parks

  • Wildlife parks and zoos

  • Holiday resorts

  • Tourist Theme Parks

 

 

Meet our Principal John Mason

John Mason has years of experience as a horticulturalist and park manager. After graduating from Burnley Horticultural College in 1971; Mr. Mason established a nursery and landscape business in Melbourne. After two years in private enterprise he took up the position of Superintendent of Parks and Gardens for the Shire of Melton. During three and a half years at Melton, he designed and built 42 new play areas (prior to his appointment, this 200 square mile municipality boasted less than 10 playgrounds).

In mid of 1977 Mr. Mason moved to the City of Essendon to become their first Director of Parks and Recreation. In a little over a year at Essendon several innovative projects commenced, including Montgomery Park.

Late in 1978 he was offered a new position (part time) with the Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Victoria; to promote and develop the concept of community groups building their own playgrounds through voluntary labour and use of recycled and donated materials. A little over two years (and more than a hundred playgrounds later) he left this position (due to withdrawal of government funding) to establish an Australian branch of Playground Clearing House Inc. (Paul Hogan's American Community Playground Organisation).
In the early 80's, John also worked for a period as Superintendent of Parks for the City of Heidelberg.

Whilst successfully operating Playground Clearing House for several years, Mr. Mason founded the Australian Horticultural Correspondence School (now ACS Distance Education) and a freelance consultant in park planning and management.

ACS Distance Education now offers over 600 different courses.

John Mason is a former Australian National representative for the International Playgrounds Association, former Victorian Secretary and Vice President of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, President of the Latrobe University Biology Society, and member of many professional bodies, including:

  • A fellow of Parks and Leisure Australia (formerly The Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation)

  • Fellow of the Australian Institute of Horticulture

  • Fellow of the (UK) Institute of Horticulture

  • Member of the Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation


Principal of ACS Distance Education, John Mason, is fellow of the CIH.
Principal of ACS Distance Education, John Mason, is fellow of the CIH.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
Member Nursery and Garden Industry Association.
Member Nursery and Garden Industry Association.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).


What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course is aimed at providing you with a solid understanding of the subject. It has been designed to take 600 hours, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and more. When you complete the course, will have a good understanding of the area/ industry you want to work in.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exams (8-9 exams) and you will be able receive your course certificate- an Advanced Certificate. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.


What if I change my mind?

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.




Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Jacinda Cole (Horticulturist)

B.Sc., Cert.Garden Design. Landscape Designer, Operations Manager, Consultant, Garden Writer.
She was operations manager for a highly reputable British Landscape firm (The Chelsea Gardener) before starting up her own landscaping firm. She spent three years working in our Gold Coast office, as a tutor and writer for Your Backyard (gardening magazine) which we produced monthly for a Sydney punlisher between 1999 and 2003. Since then, Jacinda has contributed regularly to many magazines, co authored several gardening books and is currently one of the "garden experts" writing regularly for the "green living" magazine "Home Grown".

John Mason (Horticulturist)

Parks Manager, Nurseryman, Landscape Designer, Garden Writer and Consultant.
Over 40 years experience; working in Victoria, Queensland and the UK.
He is one of the most widely published garden writers in the world.

Rosemary Davies (Horticulturist)

Leading horticultural expert in Australia.
Rosemary trained in Horticultural Applied Science at Melbourne University. Initially she worked with Agriculture Victoria as an extension officer, taught horticulture students, worked on radio with ABC radio (clocking up over 24 years as a presenter of garden talkback programs, initially the only woman presenter on gardening in Victoria) and she simultaneously developed a career as a writer.
She then studied Education and Training, teaching TAFE apprentices and developing curriculum for TAFE, before taking up an offer as a full time columnist with the Herald and Weekly Times and its magazine department after a number of years as columnist with the Age. She has worked for a number of companies in writing and publications, PR community education and management and has led several tours to Europe.
In 1999 Rosemary was BPW Bendigo Business Woman of the Year and is one of the founders and the Patron, of the Friends of the Bendigo Botanic gardens. She has completed her 6th book this year and is working on concepts for several others.
Rosemary has a B Ed, BSc Hort, Dip Advertising & Marketing





Tutors

Meet some of the tutors that guide the students through this course.

Cheryl McLardy

Cheryl has spent two decades working in agriculture and equine industries, across England, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. Formerly: Sports Horse Stud Groom, Stable Manager, Yard Manager, Equine industrial Training Manager, FE Distance Learning Manager at Warwickshire College

Michael Brugman

Mike is a graduate of Rhodes University and has experience in the Earth Science field. His working experience includes working as a consultant in geology, environmental and atmospheric science.

More recently he has been focused on research and academia including research interests in areas such as air quality and carbon emissions.

Graham Anderson

Graham Anderson B. Mech Eng (hons) Dip. Health

Graham has spent his life in the farming and agriculture industry, particularly carving a niche in the avocado sector with experience ranging from tissue culture, to nursery management to fruit marketing. He has an engineering qualification and an extensive range of mechanical skills which are now diversifying to an understanding of our internal mechanics in health and psychology with qualifications underway.

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