**_Do you have a passion for working outdoors and city presentation?_**

As a Horticulture Apprentice, you will support the Open Spaces team and gain practical skills in parks and reserve maintenance to keep our open spaces well presented and maintained. Based at our Oak Flats Services Depot, you will have the opportunity of rotation in the areas of open spaces, parks and gardens, turf/sportsfield maintenance, greenkeeping, nursery, tree maintenance and bush regeneration.

You will complete a Certificate III in Horticulture (Parks and Gardens) Course at Yallah TAFE to gain and develop practical knowledge and skills associated with the presentation of our city.

This opportunity will commence in January 2025 and is open to school leavers, mature age applicants, second year apprentices and/or those who have already commenced their Certificate III in Horticulture.

**_ This is more than a trade... _**Our apprenticeships cover theoretical & practical requirements of on the job and off the job training. After completing your apprenticeship you will have formal qualifications with four years of practical experience with ability to gain your MR truck licence, forklift ticket, loader competency and more.

Council's Cadet, Apprentice and Trainee (CAT) Program aims to grow Council's skilled workforce capacity by creating job opportunities and a talent pipeline for specialised roles and to develop future leaders by providing employment opportunity and professional development experiences that support and complement a related course of external tertiary study. Council’s cadets, apprentices or trainees receive ongoing training, guidance and support from workplace mentors while completing a nationally recognised qualification.

For more information on our CAT program, click **_here_**.

**About us**:
Shellharbour City, located in the Illawarra region, is just 80 minutes south of Sydney and is home to over 76,000 people in a city that spans 154 square kilometres. It's an area of great natural beauty - stretching west from the picturesque coastline to rolling pastures, set against the majestic backdrop of the Illawarra escarpment.

Our dedication to be financially sustainable in an evolving environment, while striving for a great organisational culture and committing to employing staff who embrace our Core Values, has made Shellharbour City Council an employer of choice.

We have been recognised with a wealth of state and national awards in 2019, 2020 & 2021 including our 5 star Civic Centre building, Museum space and City Library, Winner in 2021 for Small Regional Airport of the year, and recently being presented an AR Bluett Memorial Award for Most Progressive Metropolitan and Regional Council in NSW.

**We offer**:
Shellharbour City Council offers a high performing and sustainable organisation to deliver outcomes for the community through leadership, collaboration and innovation. We have exciting, rewarding career opportunities and flexible working arrangements and work/life balance in a relaxed coastal lifestyle.
- Temporary Full time up to 4 years (or for the duration of the apprenticeship)
- 38 hours per week with access to a 9 Day-fortnight
- Salary range from $584.20 per week (for a 16 year old) up to $803.30 per week (for someone aged 18 or over)
- Plus 11.5% superannuation
- On the job training
- Compulsory course costs are paid by Council
- Approved leave to attend TAFE
- Great culture with a strong, values led and progressive team
- Access to local government benefits such as; LSL after five years, three weeks sick leave per annum, Fitness Passport, Provident Fund activities and more.

**Please Note**: This position requires a Pre-placement Medical Assessment.

For further information about the position, click **here** for the position description.

**Contact**: Geoff Arthur, Open Spaces Manager on 0421 044 124.

**Closing date**: Sunday, 13 October 2024 at 11:30pm.

Your Resume and qualifications can be attached on the NEXT page.

For further information about the selection process including tips on how to address the selection criteria, please view our Guide To Applying.

Shellharbour City Council are an equal opportunities employer and promote the following;
We are a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. It is the responsibility of all employees to ensure that they treat our Community, Councillors, Customers and each other with respect and professionalism without regard to non-relevant criteria or distinctions.

We are committed to being a Child Safe Organisation. Our commitment promotes the rights of all children and young people to be safe from harm when interacting with our services and spaces. To realise our vision for a child-safe Shellharbour, we know that we must work together to ensure our children are given every opportunity to be safe, happy and thrive.

**_ Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Sustainability represent who we are and what we expect