Help grow the plants that shape Australia’s gardens, parks, and green spaces.
Nursery Hand
As a Nursery Hand, you’ll play a hands-on role in the country’s plant supply — caring for seedlings, preparing orders, and supporting nurseries that power the landscaping and horticulture industries.
Salary Range
$25 – $35/hour (Rates vary depending on experience, role type, location and any specialist skills)
Recommended Training
Certificate III in Nursery Operations
Job Listing (Coming Soon)
Browse current job openings and take the next step in your landscaping career.
Job Overview
Nursery Hands support the daily care and handling of plants in both retail and wholesale nurseries. It’s a hands-on, practical role that keeps plants healthy and nurseries running — from watering and weeding to loading trucks or helping customers. Depending on your role, you might work in plant production, assist with dispatch, or help customers in a retail garden centre. You’ll be part of a team that supports the broader green industry, supplying plants for landscapes, gardens, revegetation and more. This job suits people who like staying active, working outdoors or in greenhouses, and being part of a team that grows something real.
Tasks & Duties
Water, weed, fertilise, prune and care for plants
Pot up seedlings and re-pot maturing plants
Label and organise stock for sale or delivery
Pick and prepare orders for wholesale or retail customers
Load customer vehicles, trucks or trolleys
Assist with stock rotation and plant presentation
Help customers with plant selection or sales (in retail nurseries)
Keep nursery areas clean, safe and well-organised
Work as part of a nursery team under the guidance of growers or supervisors
How to Become a Nursery Hand
You don’t need formal qualifications to get started, but training can boost your skills, confidence, and long-term job opportunities in the nursery or horticulture industry
Common Training Pathways:
- Certificate II in Horticulture (AHC20422) A practical entry-level course covering plant care, nursery tools, safety, and basic garden operations. Great for school leavers or new starters
- Certificate II in Nursery Operations (AHC20724) Nursery-focused entry qualification that teaches potting, plant care, safe work practices, and basic nursery operations
- Certificate III in Nursery Operations (AHC31124) The trade-level qualification for nursery workers — includes propagation, pest control, irrigation, plant health, and dispatch.
- Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30722) A broader horticultural option for those looking to build plant care and maintenance skills beyond nursery environments.
- Certificate IV in Nursery Operations (AHC40624) Ideal for experienced nursery staff progressing into leadership, supervision, or advanced plant production roles.
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
Nursery Labourer, Garden Centre Assistant
Skilled
Qualified Horticulturalist, Nursery Worker, Production Assistant, Plant Sales Assistant, Team Leader,
Advanced
Propagator, Nursery Grower, Nursery Manager, Plant Buyer, Horticultural Consultant, Business Owner
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.
- Forklife Licence Common in wholesale operations
“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
This is a physical, outdoors-based role suited to people who:
- Enjoy working with plants and being on their feet
- Are physically fit and comfortable lifting or bending
- Have good attention to detail when labelling or organising stock
- Communicate well and work well in a team
- Are safety-conscious and follow site procedures
- Are reliable, punctual and motivated to learn
- Have basic customer service skills (in retail nursery roles)
It’s a rewarding job where you’ll see your work grow — quite literally — every day.
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