Bring your career to life: choose horticulture
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A career in horticulture is more than a job. It’s your chance to play a part in caring for the health of our planet when it needs it most. Your work will contribute towards a healthier, happier society for all of us. You’ll be entering an industry that is full of opportunity and variety; once you start learning you’ll never stop.
We’re growing a better tomorrow and need your help. Watch the video.
Download a copy of our horticultural career brochure to learn how to bring your career to life.
Choose a career for life
You will enter an exciting and diverse industry full of opportunity; one that allows you to move through different fields, learning as you go, enjoying a career for life. The only question is where to start?
For the outdoors enthusiast
Horticulturist, Horticultural Consultant, Horticultural Manager, Horticultural Technician, Nursery Assistant, Nursery Grower, Arborist, Bushland Officer, Floriculturist, Forestry Worker, Gardener, Green Wall/Roof Specialist, Groundskeeper, Irrigation Technician, Landscape Gardener, Parks Officer, Plant Breeder, Plant Propagator, Retail Nursery Worker, Sports Turf Curator, Tissue Culture Specialist, Turf Grower
For the scientists
Horticultural Researcher, Horticultural Scientist, Agronomist, Biosecurity Officer, Botanist, Educator Entomologist, Environmental Scientist, Extension Officer, Plant Pathologist
For the tech lovers
Engineer, IT Engineer, Machinery Operator, Mechanic, Precision Agriculture Consultant, Research & Development, Robotics Technician, Spray Technician, Tractor/Forklift Operator, Welder
For the environmentalist
Horticultural Therapist, Horticultural Consultant, Arborist, Biologist, Botanist, Forestry Worker, Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Natural Landscape Manager, Urban Forester
For the creatives
Horticultural Journalist, Brand Specialist,
Graphic Designer, Landscape Architect,
Landscape Designer, Marketer, Plant Blogger,
Radio Broadcaster, Social Media Strategist
For the leaders
Business Manager, Business Owner, Grower Integration Manager, Human Resources Manager, Open Space Manager, Pest Health Manager, Plant Production Manager, Product Development Manager, Purchasing Officer Retail Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Urban Forest Manager
For the number crunchers
Accountant, Agricultural Economist, Contract Manager, Logistics Scheduler, Occupational Health and Safety Representatives, PayrollOfficer, Quality Assurance
Enjoy all the benefits
Choosing horticulture will provide you with so much more than just a job:
- Work in incredible outdoor spaces
- Enjoy a closer connection to nature
- Learn from the best and never stop learning
- Create and nurture new life
- Work with like-minded individuals
- Enjoy the physical and mental benefits of working with greenlife
- Be at the cutting edge of technology
- Enjoy flexible work practices
Not to mention providing for others
- Be part of the solution to eliminate climate change
- Play your part in the essential food supply chain
- Protect native habitats, flora and fauna
- Bring imagined landscapes to life
- Contribute to the wellbeing and joy of others
- Push the boundaries of science and technology
Listen to the experts
You’ll be joining a proud and passionate workforce. Victoria’s horticulturalists are skilled, innovative and experts in their field.
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s what some of the characters from our industry had to say about choosing horticulture.
Mani Swift - Apprentice Grower, Ball Australia
"Beginning my career in horticulture was a great decision. I am coming towards the end of my apprenticeship and have loved every second of it. Being able to do what you enjoy as a job makes you look forward to work every day and the opportunities that have risen in this field of work so far have been amazing."
Bonnie-Marie Hibbs - Horticulturist, TV Presenter,
Nursery Ambassador at
Gardenworld
Aged 15, I took a leap of faith to begin a career in horticulture and have never looked back. Horticulture is an industry full of variety and opportunity. A combination of hard work and a willingness to ‘have a go’ has led me to become a published writer, television presenter, nursery ambassador and a magazine editor; and there’s so much more to look forward to.
Ben Scoble - Nursery Manager, Speciality Trees
"A keen interest in plants, especially trees, led me into the
nursery industry from landscape gardening; 20 years later that interest hasn’t
wavered. The Horticulture Industry continues to regularly provide me with
diverse opportunities to fuel that interest. It has sent me all over the world and introduced me to
amazing technologies, people and places. Now I work amongst 60 acres of
trees in a picturesque location and my job satisfaction is always at a high
knowing the trees we produce can significantly impact us and the environment we
live in."
Join an industry going from strength to strength
Horticulture in Australia is booming. Gardening, sustainability, wellbeing and food production have all captured the public imagination, leading to unparalleled growth of our industry.
The Victorian industry is worth over $1.6 billion, employing over 11,000 people and producing over 1/3 of all plants in Australia. You’ll be entering Australia’s horticultural powerhouse.
Learn to grow today
Horticulture industry education and training is hands-on and practical. You’ll be learning from the best every day. And once you start learning you can keep adding to your qualifications as you work. Once you’re up to speed in one field you can start digging a little deeper and become a specialist in other areas.
There are two main pathways to enter the horticulture industry: applying for a role within a business or gaining a formal qualification from an educational institute.
Vocational Pathway
Horticulture businesses prefer to hire apprentices/workers into general roles and upskill them internally. Workers will gain experience across the business before moving into skilled roles in a specific stream of work.
Explore existing NGIV member employment opportunities at: www.ngiv.com.au/employment
Educational Pathway
There are a host of hands-on horticultural courses delivered across Victoria, supporting you to learn the theoretical and practical foundations to succeed in
our industry.
Search “horticulture” courses at: www.skills.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway to find the right course for you.