Kickstart your career outdoors — and get paid while you learn.
Apprentice – Parks & Gardens
As a Parks & Gardens Apprentice, you’ll learn to care for vibrant green spaces — from local parks to rooftop gardens — while gaining a nationally recognised horticulture qualification.
Salary Range
$18 – $28/hour (Entry-level Award wages; increases with experience and year level.
Recommended Training
Certificate III in Parks and Gardens
Job Listing (Coming Soon)
Browse current job openings and take the next step in your landscaping career.
Job Overview
As a Parks & Gardens Apprentice, you’ll help bring landscapes to life — maintaining the plants, lawns, and public spaces that support healthy, active communities. Whether you’re planting flower beds, mowing turf, or pruning trees, you’ll build hands-on skills in horticulture and outdoor care. Training combines real-world work with study through a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO), guided by qualified mentors. This is a rewarding career for people who enjoy physical, creative work and want to see real results from their day. Time spent in green spaces has also been shown to support mental well-being, reduce stress, and boost mood, making this one of the most feel-good trades around.
Tasks & Duties
Mowing, edging, and maintaining lawns, sports fields, and turf areas
Pruning trees, shrubs, and hedges — including specialist amenity pruning techniques
Planting and establishing garden areas, with a focus on soil improvement and plant nutrition
Identifying common plants and understanding how to care for them
Controlling weeds and managing pests or plant diseases using safe, approved methods
Operating powered equipment and garden machinery (like ride-on mowers, brushcutters, and blowers)
Applying environmentally sustainable work practices
Inspecting park or garden facilities and keeping public spaces clean and safe
Attend training sessions, complete assessments, and apply your learning on the job
How to Become a Parks & Gardens Apprentice
Start your career in landscaping with a paid apprenticeship while completing a Certificate III in Parks and Gardens (AHC31021) — the nationally recognised qualification for this pathway.
Delivered through a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO), this course combines full-time, hands-on work with structured study over 3–4 years. You’ll build skills in plant care, turf management, pruning, pest control, and maintaining green spaces — all while learning on real job sites with professional guidance.
This qualification prepares you for skilled roles in horticulture and parks maintenance, and sets you up for further progression into leadership or specialised green industry careers.
- Certificate III in Parks and Gardens (AHC31021) The core trade qualification for this role — delivered through an apprenticeship and focuses on horticulture, plant care, turf management, and environmental maintenance.
Career Progression & Pathways
Many professionals start in parks and gardens and build long-term careers in plant care, greenkeeping, turf management, and team leadership, or branch out into their own garden maintenance businesses.
Starter
Apprentice, Grounds Assistant
Skilled
Landscape Maintenance Technician, Horticulturist, Turf Technician
Advanced
Site Supervisor, Irrigation Specialist, Team Leader, Trainer & Assessor, Horticultural Consultant, Green Infrastructure Coordinator, Business Owner – Landscape Maintenance
Already Working in Landscaping or Horticulture?
If you’ve been working in garden or grounds maintenance, you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This process allows experienced workers to have their skills formally assessed and credited toward the qualification, helping you fast-track your pathway to becoming qualified.
Speak with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to explore your RPL options.
Other Key Considerations
- White Card (Construction Induction) Required to work on school, council, or public infrastructure sites.
- Driver’s Licence Helpful for travelling between job sites or operating equipment like trailers and ride-on mowers.
- First Aid Certificate Often preferred for roles involving public spaces, schools, or recreational facilities.
- ACDC Licence (QLD) This may be supported if weed control is part of your role.
- Professional Industry Membership Joining an industry association like Landscape Queensland can connect you to professional networks, mentorship opportunities, and support services throughout your career.
“Working in parks and gardens gives you a sense of pride. You’re part of creating spaces where families, communities and wildlife can thrive.”
Skills, Attributes & Experience
You don’t need experience to get started — just the right attitude and a willingness to learn. These are the qualities that make a great Landscape Tradesperson:
- Curious about horticulture, sustainability, and how plants grow
- Reliable, motivated, and open to learning new techniques
- Focused and able to follow instructions from start to finish
- Physically capable and happy working outdoors in all weather
- Observant and creative, with pride in presentation and detail
- Comfortable working independently or as part of a team
- Looking for a job with meaning, visible results, and everyday wellbeing benefits
You’ll see the results of your work every day and know your efforts are helping people reconnect with nature and enjoy the outdoors.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Take our interactive career quiz to discover which landscaping pathway best matches your skills and interests.
Take the Career Quiz