Garden and Forestry Workers

Garden and forestry workers perform manual labour in gardens, parks, nurseries, and forestry settings across Australia. They carry out tasks such as planting, pruning, weeding, mulching, and felling trees using hand tools and mechanical equipment. These workers maintain outdoor spaces and manage vegetation to meet horticultural, environmental, or safety standards.

Dig, turn, and prepare soil beds using spades, forks, and cultivators for planting and landscaping projects. Plant seedlings, trees, shrubs, and groundcover in gardens, parks, and revegetation sites according to landscape plans. Prune branches and limbs from trees and shrubs using hand saws, loppers, and pruning saws to maintain shape and health. Fell small to medium trees using chainsaws and handsaws while observing felling direction and safety protocols. Apply mulch, compost, and soil amendments to garden beds and around plantings using hand tools and mechanical spreaders. Remove weeds, leaf litter, and dead vegetation from garden beds, lawns, and forest floors using hand tools and blowers. Operate ride-on mowers, brush cutters, and edge trimmers to maintain grass verges, roadsides, and cleared areas. Collect, sort, and dispose of garden waste, tree cuttings, and vegetation debris according to local waste management guidelines.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education (ABS skill level 5). 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.

Your back, knees, and shoulders will take a beating from repetitive digging, lifting, and overhead work. Chainsaw work carries real injury risk if you're not constantly focused. Many positions are seasonal or contract-based, so job security can be patchy.

Some work exists with private landscaping companies everywhere, but regional areas have more steady forestry jobs. Remote work is not an option.

• Active Listeningcore
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Community Development
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Inventory Tracking
• Record Management
• Regulatory and Legislative Awareness
• Supplier 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