Personalised for LOCAL students.
Local student means; you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.
Personalised for INTERNATIONAL students.
International student means; you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.

Diploma of Sports Turf Management

Code: AHC51019

Sorry, this course is not available for international students.

If you are a local student you may be eligible.

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Overview

Campus
Campus
Duration

2 years part time

Next Intake

March

Next Intake

March

Grow your career in sports turf management

Our AHC51019 Diploma of Sports Turf Management expands your knowledge of sports turf management, offering the skills to manage the biggest and best sporting grounds around the world. The turf management industry anticipated to grow by 15% over the next five years, offering thousands of job opportunities for highly skilled greenkeepers and managers.

Combine highly-specialised knowledge and industry connections

Our industry-based based teachers will teach you how to design and develop systems for irrigation, drainage, water treatment and chemical use, how to plan and manage sports playing surfaces, how to diagnose and manage soil and plant health, and how to analyse and trial new materials. You’ll train at industry-standard levels, using our state-of-the-art facilities. Melbourne Polytechnic offers our sports turf management students the opportunity to join industry bodies essential for networking and career advancement, including the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Sports Turf Association. You’ll also have the opportunity to be nominated for internships at elite sports grounds across the globe, and apply for the Future Turf Managers program, based in the United States.

Maintain an internationally in-demand career

Turf managers are essential to all sporting venues. A AHC51019 Diploma of Sports Turf Management will qualify you to apply for a broad range of roles across turf management for golf courses, cricket pitches, bowling greens, sports fields and turf farms. You might work as a golf course or turf wicket curator, a bowling greenkeeper, a sporting venue groundskeeper or consultant, an irrigation assistant or even within local government or independently as a consultant, specialising in maintenance of recreational turf, preparation of sports playing surfaces or recreational and sports turf facility management.

Career Pathways

Where will the Diploma of Sports Turf Management AHC51019 take me?

As a graduate you will already be employed in the Turf Management industry, but will have extended freedom for movement within the industry and be qualified to work in establishment and maintenance of recreational turf, preparation of sports playing surfaces, management of recreational and sports turf facilities, provision of advice on turf irrigation, pest and disease control and management practices.

  • Sporting Venue Consultant
  • Turf Wicket Curator

Study Pathways

Upon completion of this course you may seek degree-level qualifications in Agriculture/Sports Turf major.

A man in a hat and headphones sits comfortably in a lawnmower cutting the grass
To everyone at Melbourne Polytechnic, thanks for all your hard work and especially Doug Agnew whose personality made being in the classroom such fun. I’m looking forward to a great career in this wonderful industry.
Darren Wardle
Outstanding Apprentice/Trainee of the Year 2024 and Certificate III in Sports Turf Management (Apprenticeship) AHC31319 Graduate

Course Details

Delivery methods

  • Practical Work

How you will study

Each course has a dedicated learning method that is designed to let you thrive in your studies.

On-campus / Virtual classroom

A blend of both face-to-face and virtual learning with scheduled classes taking place on-campus and in virtual classrooms. Visit the How You'll Study page for more information.

Class Schedule

Wed - 1pm - 8.30pm

Assessment Methods

This is a competency-based course where assessment is based on your ability to achieve unit outcomes. There is the opportunity for workplace delivery and assessment of competencies and assessment methods include demonstration of skills, test and assignments, folios, oral activities, third party reports and research assignments.

Units of Study

The hours displayed are nominal, actual classroom hours delivered may differ. Please contact us for the latest student contact hours information.

Code Subject Elective Hours
AHCBAC513 Apply plant biology to agronomic practices Core 90
AHCBUS511 Manage enterprise staff requirements Core 140
AHCBUS518 Prepare and monitor budgets and financial reports Core 140
AHCCHM501 Develop and manage a chemical use strategy Core 80
AHCIRG507 Audit irrigation systems Core 100
AHCLSC504 Survey and establish site levels Core 110
AHCPCM402 Develop a soil health and plant nutrition program Core 90
AHCPCM501 Diagnose plant health problems Core 120
AHCTRF505 Plan the establishment of sports turf playing surfaces Core 150
AHCTRF506 Manage sports turf renovation programs Core 100
AHCTRF507 Develop sports turf management programs Core 110
AHCTRF508 Manage sports turf facility assets Core 95
CPCPPS5027A Design irrigation systems Core 120
CUAACD302 Produce computer-aided drawings Core 50

Recognition of Prior Learning

You can seek Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) where your work experience or qualifications of an advanced and related nature have been undertaken. RPL is individually assessed based on evidence submitted by the student to the teaching department. Applications for RPL will be assessed by relevant Melbourne Polytechnic trainers, academics and where appropriate, industry experts.

Attend an Information Session

Our information sessions will give you an in-depth look at your chosen area of study and answer your questions about your course.

Fees & Costs

Tuition Fees
Government subsidised fee Non-subsidised fee
Tuition fee $9100 $19800
Maximum annual amenities $250 $250
Total payable $9350 $20050
Per year $0
Per semester $0

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.

Displayed course fees are indicative only. There are many variables that impact the total amount of your full course costs including qualification for government subsidies, concessions or recognition of prior learning. Tuition fees do not include the cost of student amenities or material costs.

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. Contact us to find out if you’re eligible for a Government subsidy.

Melbourne Polytechnic offers a range of payment options to help you pay your tuition fees, so you can get on with your studies.

Fees displayed are effective for new applications received on or after 1st of November. Tuition fees do not include textbooks, course materials or overseas student health insurance and visa fees.

After initial deposit, international students are able to pay tuition fees in installments, four times per year.

For more detailed information please read the International Student Fees.

Fees explained

The fees for those ineligible for a government-funded enrolment. 

Check your eligibility here.

The cost of tuition for those eligible for government funding.

Check your eligibility here.

Additional expenses

The Student Services and Amenities Fee is charged at forty cents (40 cents) per student contact hour and is capped over a twelve (12) month period, effective from the enrolment date, to:

  • $250 for full fee-paying students; and
  • $175 for concession-paying students studying Certificate I, II, III, or IV.

Amenities fees are used to improve non-academic services including libraries, counselling services, student support, and recreational activities.

A list of equipment and reference material you need to provide will be distributed at the start of the course. You will need your own personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety boots (steel capped), gloves, sun hat, hi vis vest, sunscreen, a USB flash drive, and writing materials.

Requirements

  • To enrol in this course you must be employed in the turf industry.
  • Applicants should also have completed a Certificate III in Sports Turf Management.

Academic:
Australian Year 11 equivalency
English:
Academic IELTS 5.5 overall with no individual band below 5.0, or equivalency.

Next Steps

We're really excited for you to join the Melbourne Polytechnic community and we look forward to supporting you on your education journey.

The first step to enrolling is completing the application short form from the Apply Now page.

You'll then receive a link to complete a few more personal details.

It is a mandatory government requirement for all prospective students to complete an online literacy and numeracy assessment.

Once you are ready to enrol, you will be invited to attend our Skills and Job Centre, or come to campus to complete your enrolment in person.

For Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas, you may be eligible for a VET Student Loan. Read more about them here.

If you need assistance with your application and the next steps, you can contact one of our Education and Course Advisors on 1300 635 276 or follow a step-by-step guide to enrolling for vocational education local students.

A teacher wearing a Melbourne Polytechnic lanyard, teaching students outdoors. An overlay text reads "Victorian Training Awards - Winner, Large Training Provider of the Year 2024"

We're Victoria's Large Training Provider of the Year

Study with Melbourne Polytechnic, proud winner of Victoria’s 2024 Large Training Provider of the Year! Recognised for our innovative programs, industry partnerships and commitment to student success, we’re here to help you build the skills for a thriving future.

Recognising Organisations

Nationally Recognised Training

Nationally Recognised Training This course is government accredited and has national recognition.

You are currently looking at information for local students

Local student means; you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.