The Hills Shire Council

Apprentice Horticulturist

Do you enjoy being outdoors? Are you passionate to kick start your career in Councils Parks & Gardens industry? Do you have the drive to improve yourself and skills as you learn off some of skilled and highly experienced Groundspersons in the industry? Council is planning to participate in the Government’s A fresh Start for Local Government Apprentices, Trainees and Cadets program. We are seeking those who have an interest in completing an apprentice to obtain a Certificate III in Parks and Gardens whilst gaining on the job experience.

Completing your Apprenticeship with us:

At The Hills Shire Council, we live our values of Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty, Leadership and Safety through the work that we perform for the Community. We are committed to an inclusive, diverse and supportive workplace culture where our people and customers feel respected and valued. Council also prides itself on being a Child Safe Organisation that is committed to promoting the health, safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people in our community.

The apprenticeship includes:

• Assist in the delivery of programs and activities
• Assists with maintenance of standard operating procedures and processes
• Participate in maintain open spaces, including tasks such as lawn mowing, brush cutting and general cleaning
• Participate in chemical management
• Participate in conducting a daily maintenance check of plant and equipment and report issues
• Participate in delivering and collecting materials/clients or employees
• Participate in operating plant and equipment

What we are seeking in applicants:

1. Must have full Australian working rights to be considered for this position
2. Committed to complete a full time 4 year apprenticeship, including practical studies
3. Completed Year 10, 11 or 12 and a strong interest in horticulture (Desirable)
4. Good attention to detail with the ability to follow instruction
5. Committed, reliable, punctual with a positive attitude and willingness to learn
6. Love working hands-on and comfortable to undertake manual labour

Benefits of working with us:

• 4-year, earn while you learn apprenticeship starting from $30,378.40 - $47,845.20 per annum plus Superannuation paid weekly, whilst working to obtain a Certificate III in Parks and Gardens (Note: As per the Local Government (State) Award 2023 wages are subjected to qualifications & age)
• Ongoing mentoring supporting throughout your apprenticeship by a qualified supervisor
• Supportive team culture and engaging work environment
• Opportunity to earn a Performance Bonus (Up to 2% annual salary) + Organisational Bonus (up to $2K)
• You will also have access to Learning & Development opportunities, Active Social Club, Additional Leave, Aquatic and Fitness membership discounts and free Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Uniform is provided and relevant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Next Steps:

Please review the Position Description available on Council’s Careers Page, Careers at Council  and submit your application online by 5pm on 31 December 2024.  As applications will be assessed upon receipt, early submission is encouraged, and you may be contacted prior to the closing date.

You can also request adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to be made or if you need any other assistance with submitting your application please feel free to contact the HR team at hr@thehills.nsw.gov.au.

People with disabilities, who meet the selection criteria, are encouraged to apply. If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made or if you need any other assistance with submitting your application, please feel free to contact the HR team at hr@thehills.nsw.gov.au Offers of employment will be subject to following pre-employment checks: Language, Literacy & Numeracy (LLN) Testing, Reference Checks, Identity Check,, Medical checks (including Drug and Alcohol Screening), and Criminal History (for those aged over 18 yrs old). We assess applications on merit and suitability related to the inherent requirements of the position. Only people with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.