A passion for plants leads Jaden to a horticulture career

With a passion for the environment, Jaden, an environmental science graduate, spent years working as a scientist in the United States.

“I loved doing what I was doing, but because a lot of company's environmental policies weren't strong, I couldn't keep a job, so I began working crisis mental health in the state of Oregon,” explains Jaden.

After a few years working in Oregon’s mental health services, Jaden and his wife moved to Australia, settling in Brisbane, where he began working as a National Disability Insurance Service (NDIS) Support Coordinator, but he was ready for a career change.

“My wife and I are big, succulent cactus collectors, and I enjoy caring for the plants. Caring for the plants in my backyard gave me so much joy that my wife suggested I enrol in horticulture with TAFE Queensland. Because it was offered Fee-Free, I could afford to study horticulture and work in a career doing what I love, and here I am.”

Jaden started his studies with Fee-Free TAFE funding as part of the Queensland Government's Good People. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.

It aims to connect, educate, and attract the people needed to meet the state's workforce demand in existing and new industry sectors and support continued economic growth.

With approximately 37,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education and training places available in 2024, the program will support Queenslanders to skill up to meet the state's current and future workforce needs by enabling them to complete selected qualifications at no or low cost.

Training at TAFE Queensland’s Mt Gravatt campus, Jaden studied the Certificate II in Horticulture (AHC20422) before enrolling in the Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30722).

“Both certificates amount to 12 months of study in a condensed, accelerated learning environment. We study theory in the classroom and then implement what we learned on Mt Gravatt’s sprawling campus.”

“I'm a hands-on learner, so putting the theory into practice by combining everything you're learning in the classroom gives you the whole picture. You pick it up quickly, which is great. I went from being afraid of propagating plants and having very little knowledge to now being very confident that I can care for an expansive garden,” he said.

“From soil nutrient deficiencies, fixing irrigation problems, plant identification and care, landscape management, propagating, pruning, and fertilising – I have many more skills I didn’t have before I started.”

Jaden cites the Mt. Gravatt campus for helping enhance his knowledge, with facilities and equipment that provide the perfect environment for developing his practical skills.

“We have access to orchards, vegetable gardens, native gardens, a retail centre, two shade houses, a propagation hut, a hedge maze to practice hedging on, and a turf area where we learn how to install and maintain turf.”

“We also have access to push and zero turn mowers, whippersnappers, leaf blowers, general hand tools and vehicles needed to maintain a nursery, garden or park.”

Rounding out Jaden’s training are his highly experienced teachers from the industry, who are giving him the guidance and support he needs to succeed.

“Having teachers who have worked in the industry who bring decades of knowledge and experience to the class is invaluable. Being able to ask them questions and pick their brains is great.”

“They also bring industry connections to the class and introduce us to different employers like Brisbane City Council, working with the parks or landscape maintenance, being the caretaker of a property or nursery.”

“I'm interviewing for a position working at a horse racetrack, which I never considered, but they need propagation, hedging and other horticulture maintenance, and when you think about it, it makes total sense; someone needs to take care of the track.”

Jaden has come a long way from being a scientist, but he’s thrilled that he’s made that career change to horticulture and is looking forward to his future.

“I came here with a passion for succulent sand cacti, but now I love all things horticulture, and I’ve developed a fondness for the topicals. The more I study, the more I enjoy this and want to work in this industry,” Jaden concluded.