Hawkesbury River County Council has offered hands-on weed control traineeships for over 12 years – an opportunity for would-be weeds managers to kick-start their careers.
The Council has trained over 19 graduates since 2012, and all now have careers within the sector.
Hawkesbury River County Council (HRCC) represents four key local Councils in Western Sydney and is responsible for weed management within the Hawkesbury-Nepean region.
Council General Manager, Chris Dewhurst, says that more staff are now needed to tackle weeds – and the weed control workforce has grown exponentially as a result.
“I would say the weeds management sector has at least doubled in size in the last 25 years. This is mostly due to an increasing awareness of the impact of invasive species on both the environment and economy,” he said.
Despite remaining a small industry, weeds management requires highly specialised labour, leading to staff shortages. Time-intensive training can be a barrier to entry for many, with Weed Control Officers requiring TAFE credentials and other specialised certifications that can take a year or more to complete.
“Our traineeship program is unique to HRCC. Given how specialised the sector is, it’s difficult to recruit qualified staff for weed control roles, so we like to say we grow our own by taking people on board and helping them build their skills – with the option to stay and work with us once they’ve completed the program,” said Mr Dewhurst.
“Weeds management offers a highly fulfilling career path for those looking to work in the natural environment. Every day brings something different at HRCC – whether it’s identifying and removing different weed species, investigating properties for prohibited plants, or providing practical weed control advice to the local community.
“Anyone who’s interested in entering the weeds management sector will find that it’s an incredibly rewarding career. Not only are there opportunities for growth and progression, but the work is critical for our environment, and many find the opportunity to work in nature a major drawcard,” he said.
Before his career change, 31-year-old James Francis (pictured) was working in the corporate sector as a debt collector – a job that he says he found deeply unfulfilling.
“I was something of a ‘digital bounty hunter’. If people owed the company money, it was my job to find them online and get in touch with them. This job wasn’t a good fit for me – I was working in a concrete jungle disconnected from nature, and it made me realise that above all else, I wanted my career to have a positive impact on the world around me,” he says.
As a lover of hiking and bushwalking, Mr Francis enrolled to study Conservation and Ecosystem Management at his local TAFE in Richmond. The course was offered under the NSW Government’s Fee-Free TAFE initiative which provides free courses relating to industries that are facing skills shortages.
While he waited for the course to commence, he discovered that Hawkesbury River County Council’s Windsor depot was just minutes away from his home – and that they offered a flexible program where he could work as a Weed Control Trainee while completing his study.
At TAFE, Mr Francis learned essential skills like plant identification, environment types and different weed control techniques. Out in the field, he supported HRCC’s Weed Control team by surveying land, applying pesticides and contributing to regular reporting.
“My TAFE course began eight months into my traineeship, so thanks to HRCC, I had a head-start and had already built some industry knowledge. Once the course began, I could put all the theory I had learned into practice,” he added.
Once Mr Francis completed the one-year traineeship, he quickly ascended the ranks. Now second in command within the weed control team, he helps lead the other Weed Control Officers in the field, contributes to planning and reporting, and ensures that his team complies with work health and safety guidelines.
The Council has taken on two more Weed Control Trainees since Mr Francis completed the program, and he now offers them guidance during field work. As the program continues, he expects more and more trainees to sign up.
“I’m really happy with my career change. Entry into my TAFE course was very competitive due to the high demand for training, which goes to show how quickly weed control, bush regeneration and conservation are growing as professions,” he said.
