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
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:
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Wilderness areas
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Urban Parks
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Countryside parks
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Wildlife parks and zoos
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Holiday resorts
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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:
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A fellow of Parks and Leisure Australia (formerly The Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation)
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Fellow of the Australian Institute of Horticulture
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Fellow of the (UK) Institute of Horticulture
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Member of the Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
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