Nursery Worker

• Certificate II in Horticulture
• Certificate III in Horticulture

Being surrounded by the forest green leaves of trees or the perfumed petals of gardenias, may seem like a holiday to some, but its what nursery workers get to enjoy every day. Nursery workers are engaged in the growing and selling of plants. Production nursery workers cultivate plants from seeds or cuttings and care for them until they are ready for sale. Retail nursery workers then step in and care for plants awaiting sale in retail nurseries.

Not quite the career you are looking for? Please try the related course profiles below:

Outdoor

Farm hand,  Horse Trainer,  Aircraft Pilot,  Police Officer,  Travel Consultant (Domestic and International),  Child Care Worker,  Miner,  Mineral Processing Operator,  Viticulturist and Vineyard Hand,  Horticultural Tradesperson (Gardener),  Animal Attendant,  Nursery Worker,  Farmer and Farm Manager,  Livestock Buyer/Livestock Farmers,  Sports Coach,  Aquaculture Farmer and Technician,  Caravan Park/Camping grounds Manager,  Private Investigator,  Landcare Officer,  Telecommunications Technician,  Automotive Electrician,  Ecotourism Guide,  Park Ranger,  Shearer,  Jockey,  Cartographer - Surveyor,  Boilermakers/Welder,  Painters and Decorator,  Environmental Scientist / Environmental Project Officer,  Bricklayer

Practical and Manual

Set Builders, Props Makers, Scenic Artists,  Lighting, Sound, Staging, Vision Technicians,  Food and Beverage Attendant,  Aluminium Shipbuilder,  Baker and Pastry Chef,  Miner,  Mineral Processing Operator,  Chefs,  Viticulturist and Vineyard Hand,  Jeweller and Gem Cutter,  Horticultural Tradesperson (Gardener),  Animal Attendant,  Nursery Worker,  Farmer and Farm Manager,  Butcher,  Livestock Buyer/Livestock Farmers,  Sports Coach,  Aquaculture Farmer and Technician,  Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic,  Automotive Electrician,  Shearer,  Kitchen hand,  Landscape Gardener,  Artist,  Automotive Spray Painter,  Cabinet Maker and Furniture Maker,  Aircraft Maintenance Engineer,  Boilermakers/Welder,  Automotive Technician,  Plumber,  Electrician,  Wool Hide and Skin Classers,  Painters and Decorator,  Signwriter,  Carpenter,  Management Consultant,  Computer Service Technician,  Bricklayer

Approximately 30% of nursery workers have Certificate II or Certificate IV and 13% have Bachelor Degrees. While there are 53% of workers who have no post school qualifications it is recommended that you gain the available qualifications to have the best possible chance of employment.

To become a nursery worker, you need to complete a traineeship in Horticulture (Nursery) or an apprenticeship in Horticulture (Nursery Person), or undertake Certificate level training in horticultural related courses through TAFE or a private training organisation. For further information on New Apprenticeships, please contact the New Apprenticeship Hotline of 1800 673 097. The off the job training for both traineeships and apprenticeships is available through a number of TAFE Colleges and private training organisations. Please check out the TAFE and NTIS sites below for further information.

TAFE SA offer the following courses to help you find employment in this occupation; Certificate II, III or IV and a Diploma Horticulture. Still Unsure! Then enrol in a short course also offered through TAFE SA such as Propagation and Nursery Practices. For further information about these and related courses go to the TAFE SA website http://www.tafe.sa.edu.au.

You may also be able to commence vocational education and training in school, while you complete your secondary education. For more information on this option, please contact your vocational education coordinator.

Robotic equipment, used to seed and pot plants, have been introduced into some of the larger nurseries and will eventually decrease the overall demand for workers, especially in larger production nurseries. In the meantime, demand for nursery workers tends to be very seasonal, increasing significantly over the holiday periods and in the springtime. Work may be found in wholesale, production or retail nurseries or in department stores selling plants and gardening products. Some nurseries may have both retail and production outlets. There are also employment opportunities in related horticultural fields such as bushland regeneration, landscape gardening and turf management (though not strictly a part of the nursery industry). ''Turf management is a huge and growing area. All bowling greens, golf courses and local governments require this expertise. You may end up as a curator of a golf course or the curator of AAMI stadium,'' says Barry Waldeck, owner of a nursery.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing,  Retail Trade

To be updated.

Whether working in production nurseries or retail outlets, nursery workers play an important role in the maintenance of plants. Their time is spent weeding and pruning and removing any dead or damaged leaves from the plants so that new growth can occur. In cases where there are no automated irrigation systems, nursery workers hand water and fertilise plants, making sure that they receive the correct concentration of fertiliser and the right amount of water. They also identify plant diseases and determine the best way to eliminate them, so that plants don't have to be thrown away. Some plants just love the sun, so having them tucked away in the greenhouse is not going to help them grow. Nursery workers need to understand the environmental conditions that suit particular plant varieties, including factors such as the PH level of soil (acid or alkaline). Rapid changes in pest control, plant breeding and propagation techniques means that there is a constant need for updating of skills and knowledge. No matter whether you're working in propagation or retail, the work is often physically demanding and carried out in varying weather conditions. ''Being a nursery worker isn't for everyone!'' warns Shaye, a local nursery worker. ''Its hard, physical work and you definitely have to be an outdoors person, someone who doesn't mind getting their hands dirty.''

''You need to keep up with new plant releases and tune in to the gardening shows on television. Its very common to have customers request a plant they saw on 'Backyard Blitz' the day or week before,'' says Shaye. Customer service is a big part of the job of retail nursery workers. They are constantly dealing with questions from customers who expect polite, friendly and informed responses to questions like ''How do I grow this plant?'' or ''Which pot do you think will go best with this cactus?''

As a nursery worker, you must enjoy practical and mechanical activities. You also need to be able to undertake manual and heavy work and work safely with chemicals and machinery. Nursery workers may be required to work for long hours and they also work outdoors in all sorts of weather conditions.

Like any store, retail nurseries must be kept clean. A retail nursery worker sweeps the floors and ensures that displays of plants and other products are presentable at all times. It also helps if you have good communication skills and a fashionable and artistic eye for advising clients about what's going to look good around their home. Major changes in the industry are also starting to impact upon the skills requirements for nursery workers. Cash registers are becoming computerised and stock is bar coded, so nursery workers also have to be competent in the use of computers.

For further information, contact:

Nursery and Garden Industry of SA Inc
505 Fullarton Rd Netherby SA 5062
Ph: (08) 8372 6822
Fax: (08) 8372 6833
Internet Address: http://www.ngia.com.au

National Council of the Australian Institute of Horticulture
Unit 1C 260 Manns Rd West Gosford NSW 2250
Ph: (02) 4325 4088
Fax: (02) 4324 2563
Email: national.office@aih.org.au
Internet Address: http://www.aih.org.au

Agri-Food Industry Skills Council
Ph: (02) 6286 4944
Email: ablewitt@bigpond.com

Most retail nurseries are open 7 days a week, from around 7am to 7pm. Due to the long hours, there is a high demand for casual workers. Workers are paid either the Horticultural (Nursery) award or employed under workplace agreements. Salaries under the award begin at around $22,000 per annum and can advance to $26,000 or more. Those owning their own business may earn considerably more.

For further information about all TAFE SA Courses, phone 1800 882 661 or email tafeinfo@saugov.sa.gov.au