Park Management A (Introduction) Online Course
| Full Fee | $595.00 incl GST - Best Value! |
| Payment Plan | $800.00 incl GST |
Exam Optional
Tutor Support Yes unlimited by email
Qualification Certificate
If your dream is to work outdoors with nature or animals; this course is best for you.
Get the skills you need in order to make right decisions, big and small.
Appropriate for anyone working with or want to work with, national parks, wilderness parks or wildlife parks. Park Management I provides you with practical skills and knowledge to manage the challenges experienced in a rewarding position that is more of a lifestyle than a job.
Students who study Park management A should continue on to Park management B and should also consider ‘value adding’ to their skills by undertaking further courses such as adventure tourism, eco tour management or tour guiding or wildlife management or zoo keeping.
Course Aims:
- Explain the importance of the interrelationships between various components of a natural environment within an ecosystem.
- Develop management strategies for soils within a natural ecosystem.
- Develop management strategies for plant maintenance practices, in nature parks.
- Design a nature park, or a section within a nature park.
- Develop management strategies for the control of weed problems in a nature park.
- Develop management strategies for the rehabilitation of degraded sites in a nature park.
Get Free Info Pack
Complete the form below and we'll send you a free info pack.
Detailed Course Outline
Each course is made up a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online. Click below to read about each of the lessons and what you will learn.
There are 12 Lessons in this course:
Introduction to Nature Parks
- Role of nature parks
- National parks
- Zoos and wildlife parks
- Reserves
- Role of community groups in nature parks
- Using indigenous plants
- Benefits of indigenous remnant vegetation
- Naturalised plants
- Plant identification: plant reviews
Basic Ecology
- Ecology and its application
- Constituents of an ecosystem: biotic and abiotic
- Ecosystem function
- Heterotrophic vs, autotrophic
- Ecological concepts
- Ecology relationships
- Climatic zones
- Climate: soil: vegetation interrelationships
- Plant association
- Living things
- Classification of animals
- Plant classification
- Using keys
- Botanical families for different genera: a framework for identifying plants
Soil Management in Nature Parks
- Soil Management Overview
- Earthworks in nature parks
- Soil degradation
- Erosion
- Causes, types and control of erosion
- Salinity
- Sources of salinity
- Control methods for soil salinity
- Soil acidification, and causes
- Compaction of soil
- Chemical residues
- Soil and plant growth
- Naming the soil
- Improving soils
- Sampling soils
- Nutrient availability and pH
- Fertilizers and nutrient components
- Terminology
Plant Maintenance
- Plant maintenance in nature parks
- Plant selection
- Economics of planting
- Ongoing costs
- Longevity
- Aesthetic criteria for plant selection
- Natural gardening techniques
- Using hardy, pest free plants
- Planting for a succession
- Equipment: a more sustainable and natural approach
- Avoiding problem materials
- Disposing of waste
- Composting
- Planting procedure
- Staking plants
- When to plant
- Machinery for park maintenance: overview
Design of Nature Parks I
- Nature park design
- Landscaping procedure
- Pre planning information
- Landscape plans
- Design procedure
Design of Nature Parks II
- Designing animal enclosures
- Cages and pens
- Open range enclosures
- Designing and siting animal enclosures
- Specifications and contracts
Weed Management in Nature Parks
- Characteristics of weeds
- Weed control options
- Chemical control
- Biological control
- Non chemical control
- Plants which take over
- Environmental weeds
Pest and Disease Management
- Pest and disease control: chemical and non chemical
- Using chemicals safely
- Understanding plant pathology
- How to inspect plants for suspected problems
- Insect biology and classification
- Laws related to chemical use
- Types of poisons
- Understanding toxicity
- Review of main types of plant pests
- Review of common fungal problems affecting plants
Culture of Indigenous Plants
- Growing indigenous plants in nature park
- Plant establishment: direct planting, direct seeding, natural regeneration
- Planting design
- Planting techniques: pocket planting, slope serration, wattling, planting arid sites, direct seeding, spray seeding
Tree Management in Nature Parks
- The role of trees
- Tree maintenance plan
- Arboriculture (overview)
- Safety for tree surgery
- Tree surgery techniques
Turf Care in Nature Parks
- Introduction
- Choosing turf grasses
- Feature lawns
- Picnic areas
- Areas for sport, gardens, parks
- Establishing a new lawn
- Review of turf varieties
- Turf maintenance procedures
- Topdressing
Rehabilitation Problems and Solutions
- Land rehabilitation in nature parks
- Site plan information needed
- Site management plan
- Soil problems on degraded sites
- Dry areas, overcoming dry soils, managing sandy soils
- What causes wet areas
- Overcoming problems with wet areas
- Factors affecting rehabilitation: debris, mass plantings, water, topsoil, exotic organisms
When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It's okay if you don't want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.
Course Tutor(s)
Theja Abayarathna
Bachelor of Science (Zoology) (Hons), M.Phil. PhD (UTS) current.
I am currently doing my PhD in Environmental Science at the University of Technology Sydney. My research is centered around the effects of climate change on the hatchling velvet gecko population in Australia. This involves collecting wild gravid geckos and incubating their eggs under laboratory conditions. Through exposure to a variety of incubation temperature treatments, I have operationalized my investigation which aims to determine the effect of higher temperatures on hatchling geckos. I am currently in stage 3 of research, which comprises writing a thesis and developing manuscripts for publishing. Prior to my present endeavors within the scientific field, I have also successfully completed a B.Sc. degree, majoring in Zoology, (specialised field: Wildlife Management) with first-class honors and an M.Phil. Degree in Life Sciences. My passion has always been teaching and thus I have worked for seven years as a lecturer at various universities. I love helping students with their own studies.
How It Works
1. Learn Online
Get access to your course content anywhere, anytime and study at your own pace.
2. Get Help & Support
Connect with other like-minded students and get help from the teacher whenever you have a question.
3. Receive Certificate
Graduate from your course knowing that you have what it takes to reach your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! We offer great payment plans, however full payment up front is the cheapest. You can choose the best payment plan for you from the course page, or call us on 07 55368782 to talk to one of our course consultants for a custom plan.
Can I study from anywhere in the world?
We have many international students. Careerline's range of courses are suitable for any one, anywhere in the world.
Do I get a discount if I enroll in a second course?
Yes. You may claim a 5% fee discount when you enroll in a second course, and a further 10% off a three-course package.
Do I have to sit an Exam?
No. If you are enrolled in a Certificate course (100hrs), the exam is optional. You will be issued with a certificate which proves that you are competent in all units, if you choose not to sit the exam.
Do you have set start dates?
There are no set start dates, you may start at any time. Our courses are all self-paced. As our home page says, ‘Courses for Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’. ‘Anytime’ includes the start time of your choice. However, we do encourage our students to submit assignments on a regular basis. Wherever possible, we suggest developing a study routine.