What type of person should think about developing a forestry career in Queensland?
If you like the outdoors why not put your eco-friendly passion to work planting trees and managing forests? Think about applying for a forestry job and developing a long-term forestry career in Queensland.
What work is involved in a forestry career?
Work with your colleagues to sustainably plan and manage forests to enhance productivity and ecological outcomes. In general, jobs in this sector cover activities ranging from planting, weeding, pruning and pest management, to felling trees, fire management and road construction and maintenance.
A forester is one word to describe a myriad of professional roles, and is an occupation or profession in its own right – from strategy to management, science to research and beyond. You’ll find foresters in areas ranging from conservation to production, and at local to global scales.
Roles like Fire Protection Officer, Forest Scientist, Ranger, Forest Supervisor, Forest Manager etc. all come under the broad umbrella of “Forester”. Forestry can be many careers in one.
What type of person would thrive developing a forestry career in Queensland?
- Outdoorsy
- Adaptive & analytical
- Organised
- Practical thinker
- Good communicator
- Has computer skills
- Can manage projects
What are the duties and tasks invovled in a forestry career?
Depending on your particular job, your forestry role may focus on:
- Managing plantation forests for sustainable, commercial outcomes
- Managing native forests for conservation and sustainable production
- Managing forested lands for environmental services
- Developing new forms of forestry and forest industries to address land degradation
- Restoring landscapes and helping landholders diversify their incomes.
What are the personal requirements of someone interested in a forestry career?
Forestry is science based, so scientific aptitude is a given. Foresters tend to be passionate about their work, keen to promote a naturally sustainable industry and maintaining our natural environment.
Want a forestry career? Just some of the jobs open to you are:
- Forester
- Drone Pilot
- Science Forester
- Fire Protection Officer
- Cultivator
- Forest Scientist
- Forest Technician
- Nursery Manager
- Nursery Horticulturalist
And plenty more!
What should you study to start a forestry career?
There is no single pathway into working in forestry operations. Typically you will find people take a vocational education training route, and often undertake courses from TAFE such as:
- Certificate IV in Forest Operations
- Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management
- Certificate II in Forest Growing and Management
- Certificate III in Harvesting and Haulage
- Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management
- Diploma in Forest Operations
Alternatively at the tertiary level you could study:
- Bachelor of Forest Science
- Bachelor of Environmental Science
- Bachelor of Applied Science
Australia offers numerous undergraduate and postgraduate courses at universities and TAFEs to help you pursue a career in forestry. See the Forestry Australia website for an overivew of current courses.
Employers of Foresters include:
- State or territory forestry or national parks agencies
- Federal and State governments
- Private forestry or resource companies
- Community and conservation groups
- Universities and research organisations such as the CSIRO
- Corporations and investors seeking advice about assessing risks and managing opportunities
- International organisations such as the World Conservation Union, the World Bank and the Centre for International Forestry Research.