Careers In Bloom As TAFE NSW Moruya Students Visit Iconic Melbourne Garden Show
- The Beagle
- May 2, 2023
- 2 min read
A group of TAFE NSW Moruya students has had a priceless hands-on experience – and a number been offered jobs – during a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show this month.
The special excursion saw five TAFE NSW Moruya horticulture students network with some of the industry’s biggest names at the iconic event.
The students were also treated to a VIP guided tour of the show and hands-on demonstrations from TAFE NSW graduate, renowned horticulturalist and former presenter on TV’s Better Homes and Gardens, Jason Hodges.
TAFE NSW Moruya horticulture teacher Tim Dally said the visit was a powerful illustration of how TAFE NSW gave students hands-on, practical experience and connected them with industry and employers.
“This was a truly incredible experience and the scale of the gardens they were working on was far beyond what they’d get to touch in their ordinary jobs,” Mr Dally said.
“To be able to build a relationship with someone like Jason (Hodges) and to meet so many big players in the industry was also amazing.”
Mr Dally said a number of students were offered jobs at the show, highlighting the opportunities in the industry and the strong reputation of TAFE NSW training.
He said the TAFE NSW team helped construct both the Welcome Garden and Bamstone Garden at the event.
It comes amid a COVID-induced explosion in interest in gardening careers, as many locked-down residents discovered a passion for horticulture and decided to pursue a career in the field. According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, the nation’s gardening services industry is set for strong growth in the next year, generating annual revenue of nearly $3 billion by 2024.
Above: CAREERS IN BLOOM: TAFE NSW Moruya students had a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the recent Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.