Arborist

An arborist assesses, maintains, and removes trees in urban and rural settings across Australia, applying horticultural and safety knowledge to protect tree health and manage risk. They climb trees, operate specialised equipment, and perform pruning, fertilisation, and felling work whilst complying with state-based work health and safety legislation and local council tree preservation orders. The role involves diagnosing tree diseases, planning removal or remediation strategies, and delivering arboricultural services to councils, private landowners, and commercial clients.

Assess tree health and structural integrity by inspecting for disease, pest damage, decay, and biomechanical defects using visual inspection and diagnostic tools such as resistographs or sonic tomography. Climb trees using ropes, harnesses, carabiners, and other certified climbing equipment to access branches and perform work at height in compliance with Safe Work Australia standards. Perform crown pruning, crown thinning, and deadwood removal using hand saws, chainsaws, and pole pruners to maintain tree health and reduce hazard risk. Fell trees using chainsaws and rigging techniques, calculating lean and drop zones to ensure safe removal whilst minimising damage to surrounding structures and vegetation. Operate elevated work platforms, aerial lifts, and cherry pickers for accessing tree canopies and performing maintenance on trees where climbing is not feasible. Identify and treat tree diseases, pest infestations, and physiological disorders by recommending appropriate treatments, fungicides, or insecticides and documenting treatment responses. Check compliance with local council tree preservation orders, development approval conditions, and heritage listings before undertaking any tree work. Prepare quotations and work specifications for tree maintenance, removal, or remediation services based on site assessment and client requirements.

The standard entry pathway requires a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in arboriculture first, which takes 1 to 2 years and costs money. The work is genuinely dangerous: you're climbing trees with chainsaws, working at height, and one mistake can kill you. The physical toll is real: repetitive strain injuries, back problems, and weather exposure.

In reality, most work concentrates in major city councils and their outer suburbs where tree management is heavy. Arboriculture is not remote work. Regional and rural areas have steady work but fewer employers. Private contractors operate everywhere but job density is highest in urban zones.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Active Listening
• Advise customers on types of flowers
• Advise on plant fertilizer
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Digital Literacy
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Process Improvement Identification
• Report Writing
• Research and Analysis
• Stakeholder Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026