Apprentice - Parks & Gardens

Salary:                                  $584.20 to $803.30 per week (dependent on age) Plus 11.5% Superannuation

Position Status:                   Four Year Apprenticeship

Hours of Work:                    7am to 4pm (during summer 6:30am to 3:30pm), 38hour week with an RDO each fortnight

Closing Date:                       5.00pm Sunday 22 September 2024

About the Opportunity

Are you looking to kickstart your career in Cowra and obtain a nationally recognised qualification whilst receiving on the job training? Then an apprenticeship with Cowra Council may be the opportunity for you! Our program offers local school-leavers the unique chance to make a start on their working lives. An exciting opportunity exists for a highly motivated and enthusiastic recent local school graduate to join the Parks & Gardens team at Cowra Council and complete a Certificate III in Parks & Gardens.

This role represents a great opportunity for a hands on, self-starter who is willing to learn on the job and is looking to commence their career in the Parks & Gardens industry where you will be:

• Learning trade knowledge and skills.
• Working towards completing an apprenticeship in conjunction with a nationally recognised training plan through internal and external training.
• Working with your hands gaining real life, on the job experience.
• Working as part of a team to ensure safe, continuous and environmentally responsible operations.

This position undertakes labouring duties associated with the maintenance of our Park & Gardens. Duties include, but are not limited to, horticulture, mowing, whipper snipping, brush cutting, mulching and weeding, turf preparation, irrigation work, spraying, planting and tree maintenance, flower bed preparation including planting and attending to flowers as well as the operation of small plant and equipment associated with the role including chainsaws, ride on mowers & tractors.

The successful applicant will undertake a Certificate III in Parks & Gardens and complete a four year apprenticeship. Apprentices will be required to travel to Orange once every three weeks for their training. 

To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:

• Relevant work experience or demonstrated prior knowledge will be highly regarded.
• Willingness to contribute toward the success of your team.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong work ethic with a commitment to health, safety and environmental work practices.
• The ability to follow direction and procedures, while showing initiative. 
• Either hold or be working towards a Driver’s licence. (applicants will need to be able to travel to Orange for training)
• Either hold or be working towards a White Card.

Please note we are willing to accept applications from students who wish to commence at the beginning of 2025 or after the completion of their school year in 2024. 

Position Details

• $584.20 to $803.30 per week (dependent on age) Plus 11.5% Superannuation. 
• Four Year Apprenticeship
• 7am to 4pm (during summer 6:30am to 3:30pm) 38 Hour week with RDO every fortnight.
• Employment conditions are in accordance with the Local Government (State) Award.
• Candidates must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this position.

Position Description

Please click on the link for a full copy of the Position Description;

Further Enquiries

For any further enquiries please contact Supervisor - Parks & Gardens, Justin Smith on 0407 548 597.

How to Apply

Before you apply for this position, please read the position description carefully to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position. You will be required to answer questions relating to the selection criteria on the online application below, your answers will be accessed and rated, so please ensure you take time in providing your answers and give examples of demonstrated experience when requested.

You will also be asked to attach your current resume which should include two referees. Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume. A cover letter is not mandatory, but may be added if so desired.

Cowra Council is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion.  If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise at time of application. 

Applications Close: 5.00pm, Sunday 22 September 2024

Pre-employment Screening

In the event you are shortlisted for an interview, and are then selected to progress to the next stage following interview, you must be prepared to undergo the following pre-employment screening processes as part of the selection process:

• A pre-employment physical examination, including hearing, drug & alcohol assessments.
• Please include two referees in your resume for reference checking purposes - please ensure your referee details are current.
• Provide the applicable Working with Children Check number if the role applied for requires a Working with Children Check.
• Council may also check authenticity of certificates and qualifications.

Privacy Statement

As part of the recruitment process, Cowra Shire Council will be collecting information about you. This information is private information for the purposes of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act. This information will be included in the recruitment file and only accessed by members of the Recruitment Selection Panel. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Council aims to ensure fair, equitable and non-discriminatory consideration for all applicants, regardless of sex, ethnic or racial origin, or physical disability.