Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, Australia

Home




Study horticulture at one of the world’s most respected Botanic Gardens!

The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney is currently recruiting apprentice horticulturists. As an apprentice horticulturist you will receive some of the best horticultural training in Australia, and receive a horticultural qualification recognised throughout Australia and the world.

Apprentice horticulturists at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney receive training in a range of areas, including:

  • Maintenance, curation and development of botanical gardens and parklands
  • Arboriculture - principles and the practical care and maintenance of one of the world’s great collections of trees
  • Turf culture
  • Propagation and maintenance of a wide range of plants in the Garden’s plant nursery
  • Maintenance and curation of a diverse collection of tropical plants grown in the glasshouses and the Sydney Tropical Centre
  • The philosophy and practice of plant record keeping for a botanic garden.
  • An understanding of the principles of sustainable horticulture
  • Apprentices may gain further practice on a chosen speciality in their final year, such as arboriculture, nursery practice or collection management, and are also able to undertake further relevant formal study.

Apprentice horticulturists are employed for up to four years, and are paid while they learn - commencing salary is currently $24,445 in first year, whilst fourth year apprentices currently earn $46,174 per annum. All uniforms, tools and TAFE enrolment fees are paid for by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. Apprentices, like the rest of the horticultural staff, work a 38-hour week with the benefit of a nine-day fortnight. Apprentices study Parks and Gardens Certificate III at TAFE one day per week, and receive their practical training at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney.

Graduate apprentices have gone on to careers as horticulturists, consulting arborists, small business owners and landscape designers. Some have completed further studies and forged careers as scientists; teachers; and senior parks and gardens managers. No matter where your life’s journey takes you though, a horticultural apprenticeship at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will reward you with an enduring appreciation and understanding of the natural environment, and the ability to grow just about anything!

‘A perfect start, and a perfect grounding to start my own design studio - it opened the doors to a far broader world of horticulture than I could ever have imagined’ - Myles, apprentice 1997-2001.

‘It was one of the best adventures and learning experiences I have had in my life’ - Dee, apprentice 2008-2012.

‘Looking back, my time as an apprentice at the Garden was just an amazing job, and I was so lucky to be there’ - Bruce, apprentice 1981-1985.

How to Apply

Applications close Sunday 28 October 2012

Candidates must apply online at http://www.jobs.nsw.gov.au/

Here’s how to find the Horticultural Apprentice positions advertised on the jobs.nsw website: click here

 Apprentices
^Back To Top
Web CMS by Squiz