Latest release
Minor Group

842 Garden and Forestry Workers

OSCA - Occupation Standard Classification for Australia
Reference period
2024, Version 1.0

842 Garden and Forestry Workers

Perform a variety of routine tasks in propagating and cultivating plants, planting and maintaining gardens, assisting with the management of forests, including conservation, and assisting with installing, servicing and maintaining irrigation systems.

OSCA skill level

The occupations in this minor group have a skill level corresponding to the qualifications and experience below.

  • Skill Level 4: AQF Certificate II, AQF Certificate III, or at least one year of relevant experience
  • Skill Level 5: AQF Certificate I, or compulsory secondary education
Unit Group

8421 Garden Labourers

Assist in cultivating and maintaining gardens.

OSCA skill level

The occupations in this unit group have a skill level corresponding to the qualifications and experience below.

  • Skill Level 5: AQF Certificate I, or compulsory secondary education
Occupation

842131 Garden Labourer

Assists in cultivating and maintaining gardens.

Specialisation

  • Lawn Mower

Skill level: 5

Main tasks

  • Loads, unloads and moves garden supplies and equipment
  • Assists with preparation of garden sites and plots using hand tools and machines
  • Assists with planting and transplanting flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns
  • Assists with propagating, planting and potting seeds, bulbs and cuttings
  • Maintains gardens by watering, weeding and mowing lawns
  • Cleans and maintains garden tools and equipment
Unit Group

8422 Horticultural Nursery Assistants

Assist in propagating, cultivating and harvesting plants in a horticultural nursery. May also assist in propagating and cultivating plants for forestry purposes.

OSCA skill level

The occupations in this unit group have a skill level corresponding to the qualifications and experience below.

  • Skill Level 5: AQF Certificate I, or compulsory secondary education
Occupation

842231 Horticultural Nursery Assistant

Assists in propagating, cultivating and harvesting plants in a horticultural nursery. May also assist in propagating and cultivating plants for forestry purposes.

Alternative title

  • Nursery Worker (Horticulture)

Skill level: 5

Main tasks

  • Loads, unloads and moves nursery supplies and equipment
  • Prepares nursery sites and plots using hand tools and machines
  • Assists with propagating and transplanting plants
  • Tends plants by hand watering and weeding
  • Adjusts mist irrigation systems, shade and ventilation
Unit Group

8429 Other Garden and Forestry Workers

This unit group covers Garden and Forestry Workers not elsewhere classified. It includes Bush Regenerators, Forestry Workers and Irrigation Assistants.

OSCA skill level

The occupations in this unit group have a skill level corresponding to the qualifications and experience below.

  • Skill Level 4: AQF Certificate II, AQF Certificate III, or at least one year of relevant experience
  • Skill Level 5: AQF Certificate I, or compulsory secondary education
Occupation

842931 Bush Regenerator

Restores and maintains the health of degraded bushland by carrying out works such as weed removal and control, restoring native vegetation through planting and seeding, and implementing erosion control measures.

Skill level: 4

Main tasks

  • Clears and removes weeds, and implements weed control strategies to prevent the spread of invasive species
  • Implements erosion control measures to prevent soil erosion
  • Plants and seeds native vegetation to restore bushland
  • Assists in the preparation and maintenance of tools, equipment and herbicides, and ensures they are secured when not in use
  • Assists in the removal or stockpiling of rubbish and vegetative debris
  • Assists in the preparation of reports on daily work activities, including time sheets, site conditions, site monitoring and the preparation of species lists, and assists in the preparation of site reports for clients
Occupation

842932 Forestry Worker

Assists with cultivating, maintaining and protecting plantation and private native forests.

Specialisation

  • Tree Planter (Forestry)

Skill level: 4

Main tasks

  • Maintains forest roads, buildings, facilities, signs and equipment
  • Kills weeds, fells and de-barks non-productive trees, and thins young plantations
  • Collects seeds and cones, and cultivates and plants seedlings for reforestation purposes
  • Applies fertilisers and pesticides to individual trees and general forest areas
  • May engage in fire prevention, control and suppression activities
  • May assist with measuring and recording data for maintaining and enhancing the health and productivity of forested areas, such as seedling survival surveys
Occupation

842933 Irrigation Assistant

Assists Irrigation Designers and Irrigation Technicians to install and service irrigation and/or fertigation systems.

Alternative titles

  • Irrigation Orchard Hand
  • Irrigation Worker

Skill level: 5

Main tasks

  • Assists in the installation of irrigation and/or fertigation systems
  • Assists in the testing, calibration, servicing and maintenance of irrigation and/or fertigation systems
  • Assists in the repair and replacement of irrigation and/or fertigation system components
  • Assists in the monitoring and scheduling of irrigation and/or fertigation system activities and performance
  • Assists in the collection and analysis of data related to irrigation and/or fertigation systems
Occupation

842999 Garden and Forestry Workers nec

This occupation group covers Garden and Forestry Workers not elsewhere classified.

Skill level: 5

Occupations in this group include:

  • Hunter-Trapper
  • Indoor Plant Technician
  • Seed Collector
  • Weed Controller