Pauline Sullivan attended the very first Floriade in 1988. Now, the former public servant has turned her passion for gardening into her profession.

Ms Sullivan is one of five Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) horticulture students designing gardens for this year’s Floriade festival. Some 50 CIT students and apprentices are also building and maintaining the gardens.

CIT’s horticulture department has linked with Canberra’s industry partners in landscaping to give students the opportunity to get real job experience at Canberra’s prestigious tourism event.

Ms Sullivan was 54 when she left a 30-year career in the public service to venture into study at CIT.

“It was a little daunting returning to study – my son was an apprentice at the time – but I’ve enjoyed it so much. I’ve now got my own small business; I help older people with their garden maintenance. I’m their arms and legs as I call it.”

Imogen McMillan, 29, also switched to horticulture after starting in real estate. She now studies parks and gardens at CIT and is a second-year apprentice, working with Transport Canberra and City Services.

“CIT is great at teaching the skills, then we’re so lucky to have this opportunity to work with industry and high-end professional builders,” Ms McMillan said.

This year’s Floriade theme is Floral Wonderland, and students were encouraged to design gardens that would “stimulate childlike curiosity”.

“I had so many ideas, I had to rein myself in,” Imogen said. “It’s great that we can let our creativity flow, but the landscapers are also guiding us through it all so we know what’s realistic.

“Floriade is vibrant, it’s busting with colour and activity. This project is just like that, Floriade is happiness.”

To add interest to the garden builds, there is also a competition. All five gardens are designed by CIT students, but different landscaping companies will lead four of the builds. The other garden is being fully designed and built by CIT students. Celebrity landscape designer Jamie Durie will visit the gardens on Sunday morning to interact with students.

CIT Horticulture teacher Michael Blasch praised the industry collaboration.

“Giving our CIT students the opportunity to work so closely with industry is fantastic because a big part of our role at CIT is to give these students hands-on experience so they’re job-ready,” Mr Blasch said.

CIT thanks the following businesses for their support:

Build: Cool Climate Landscaping, Landculture, ONE Landscape, Revive Landscapes,

Supply: Aquaflow Irrigation, Canturf, Cinajus, Cool Country Natives, Stonehenge, Thor’s Hammer, Yarralumla Nursery, Alpine Nurseries, Andreasens Green.

Explore CIT’s course and career options in horticulture at https://cit.edu.au/courses/science_environment/horticulture