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The Flower School

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

COURSE COMMENCEMENT
Q) WHEN CAN I START MY CERTIFICATE III STUDY PROGRAM?
Courses commence at the start of any of the intake dates throughout the year. We offer full-time, part-time, and remote study options.  Please contact us via email or phone, or visit HERE to find out when our next intake is.
Q) WHAT IS MY TIME COMMITMENT & HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO COMPLETE THE COURSE?
FULL TIME:
Commitment Our full-time class runs over 3 days per week (Monday – Wednesday) from 9:00am – 4:00pm allowing for 19.5 hours of class time with a half-hour lunch break. Duration Full-time students: Allow 19 weeks (6 months) to finish the course, plus study breaks.
PART TIME:
Commitment
  • We have two part-time study options to choose from:
  • One day (Thursday) each week running from 9:00am – 4:00pm, including a half-hour lunch break. This allows for 6.5 hours of class time each week.
  • Tuesday night class each week running from 6:00pm – 9:00pm, plus 13 Saturdays running from 9:00am – 4:00pm, including a half-hour lunch break. This allows for approximately 18.5 hours of class time a month.
Duration Part-time students Thursday: Allow 40 weeks to finish the course, plus 3 blocks of study breaks. Part-time students Tuesday night + Saturdays: Allow 40 weeks to finish the course, plus study breaks. Note: All our study breaks fall during the QLD school holidays.
Q) WHAT IS PHASE ONE PHASE TWO?
Certificate III in Floristry is broken into two phases:
PHASE ONE:
  • Phase one is to ease you into the course. You will learn all the basic practical floristry knowledge, botanical care, and recognition of flowers and plants.
PHASE TWO:
  • In phase two, you will learn more advanced floral arrangements – getting you ready to become a qualified florist.
Note: Students who have completed a Certificate II in Floristry in the past few years may be eligible to join Phase two of the Certificate III (please contact us for more information).
Q) ARE THERE ANY TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS?
Please allow 10-12 hours per week as the minimum commitment to complete homework assignments. The course covers a lot of in-depth theory; therefore, you will need to be able to allocate plenty of time to complete all theory assignments. For example, one of the units has a project – Recognise flower and plant material, which requires students to study 70 flowers and plants. To complete this course, you must be able to allocate time to finish the project.
Q) WHAT DO MY FEES INCLUDE AND WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN MY FEES?
What my fees include: All in-house training: face-to-face, or via zoom (conditions apply) Workbooks Flower market tours and industry field trips What is NOT included in my fees: Flowers are not included in the course fees. It is an important process to learn how to select the right flowers and foliage. For full-time students, we recommend allowing from $100.00 per week for the duration of the course. For part-time and night/Saturday students, we recommend allowing from $50.00 per week for the duration of the course. You will need to allow more for your final piece – Create a promotional display or stand Materials – a list will be provided to you upon enrolment. Replacement of lost or misplaced workbooks. If you miss a class or lesson or want to repeat a class or lesson, a make-up lesson can be arranged, this is subject to availability; however, a fee will apply. Please see the student handbook for our policies and procedures.
Q) DO I HAVE TO PAY MY FEES UPFRONT OR DO YOU OFFER PAYMENT PLANS?

We offer payment plans for both our full fee and subsidy students. We cannot accept payment in full – under ASQA’s policies and procedures clause 7.3. RTOs cannot accept more than $1500.00 upfront unless alternative fee protection has been put in place.

All students who are eligible for the concession student co-contribution fee are required to pay their fees in full prior to the course start date.

An enrolment fee of $400 is required to secure your place in the class. Please email or call our friendly staff for further payment plan information.

Q) WHAT IS THE CERTIFICATE 3 GUARANTEE, AND HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM?
The Certificate 3 Guarantee supports eligible individuals to complete their first post-school certificate III level qualification and increase their skills to move into employment, re-enter the workforce or advance their career. To be eligible for the Certificate III Guarantee, you must: Be a Queensland resident Be aged 15 years or over, and no longer at school (with the exemption of VET in Schools students) Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency Not hold, or be enrolled in, a certificate III level or higher qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training). Eligible students need to contribute to the cost of their training through a co-contribution fee. Please see our fees page on our website for the amount that you will need to contribute to your training. For more information, visit the website below: Certificate 3 Guarantee
Q) ARE THERE ANY PREREQUISITES OR DO I NEED ANY EXPERIENCE TO JOIN THIS COURSE?
THERE ARE NO FLORISTRY SKILLS REQUIRED TO STUDY A CERTIFICATE II OR CERTIFICATE III IN FLORISTRY.
To study a Certificate IV in Floristry you will need to be able to:
  • demonstrate floristry industry experience in applying the skills and knowledge you have gained in the Certificate lll in Floristry. This is achieved via:
    • providing a portfolio of evidence outlining how the skills and knowledge gained in the Certificate III in Floristry have been applied in an industry context, OR
    • 12 months post qualification industry experience. Please contact us if you think you may be eligible to study our Certificate IV in Floristry.
Q) I DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS MY FIRST LANGUAGE. WILL I BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS CERTIFICATE?
Everyone is welcome to join our course, however, enrolment into the course does not automatically guarantee that a student will have the skills to complete all elements of the course.  Floristry is mostly visual so most students with English as a Second Language can develop the practical skills required to become a florist. There are theory and written elements of the course, which can be more challenging. All prospective students attend a consultation with one of our friendly staff upon enrolment, so you will be able to discuss any concerns you have during this interview.
Q) WHAT LLN – LANGUAGE, LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS WILL I NEED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL FLORISTRY?
To be able to work effectively in the floristry industry you will need: A sound command of written and oral English for effective communication with customers and colleagues alike. For example, providing customer service in a flower shop, understanding a client’s needs, i.e. quoting for wedding flowers and other functions or events. Year 10 or equivalent numeracy skills so you can calculate the value of flowers to be used in a bouquet and manage all retail transactions. Physical attributes of working in your workday is likely to include unpacking flowers, lifting buckets, flower care and handling, maintaining the store display and standing for long periods. When designing floral arrangements, you will be using your hands for fine wiring and making large bouquets.
Q) DO YOU OFFER SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS?
We endeavour to support students with special learning needs. A meeting will be organised with the student and the School to determine the best way to respond to specific learning needs.  This might involve private tuition, taking a class more than one time, and/or reading material prior to attending a class.  These arrangements will be put in place on an individual basis and might incur extra cost to the student.  Our aim is to provide a supportive learning environment for all students.
Q) WHAT IS RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)? 
If you have completed floristry study at another institution or have experience working as a florist, you may be eligible for exemption for some, or all, units of competency of this qualification. Please contact us via email or phone for more information regarding the RPL process and to find out if you are eligible.
Q) DO YOU OFFER WORK EXPERIENCE?
Unfortunately, we do not offer work experience. However, we strongly encourage students to seek work experience within the industry. Quite often in the busier times of the year, for example Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, we have florists come to us looking for help.  We post these opportunities on our closed Facebook page for our students to access.
Q) IS THERE ANY VET FEE-HELP AVAILABLE?
VET FEE help is only available for students studying DIPLOMA courses and above.
Q) CAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENROL IN OUR COURSE?
The Flower School is not accredited (CRICOS) to accept  International Students. However, we can accept full fee students with a working holiday visa to Australia. If you are in Australia already on another visa and want to study with us, you may like to view our short Career Course bundle.
Q) WHERE CAN FLOWERS BE PURCHASED?
The Flower School will provide each student with a student ID card to enable you to purchase flowers at wholesale cost. Flowers are purchased from a variety of flower suppliers around Brisbane.  Our tutors will guide you to the best places to purchase your flowers.
Q) IS THERE ANY PARKING AVAILABLE?
The school is located in a commercial area with plenty of parking along the street. Students are only able to park in the complex to drop off and pick up their flowers, foliage, and arrangements. Those with a disability are welcome to park in front of the building.
Q) WHEN DO I RECEIVE MY CERTIFICATE?
Graduation day is the last day of the course. You will receive your certificate on this day provided you have paid your fees in full and successfully completed all practical assessments and theory assignments and been marked as competent in all units.  An electronic copy of your certificate will also be emailed to you.
Q) AM I ABLE TO STUDY AT THE FLOWER SCHOOL IF I DO NOT LIVE IN QUEENSLAND?
Yes!  We offer our remote study option to students who do not live in Queensland via live streaming into the classroom. Please contact us via email or phone to find out more information.
Q) DO YOU OFFER APPRENTICESHIP or TRAINEESHIP OPTIONS?
We welcome traineeships. It’s an exciting start to your floral journey.  Please visit the link below to find out more information regarding traineeships.  Please contact us for more information. Please click here for information apprenticeships and traineeships

CREATING AND INSPIRING FLORISTS OF THE FUTURE