Assistant Biosecurity Officer

APS 2 - $61,889 - $65,954 per annum plus superannuation
- Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
- Mickleham, VIC
- _Enhance Australia’s agriculture & environment through regulation and partnership._
- _Two non-ongoing vacancies - possibility of ongoing employment in next 18 months._
- _Work with plants in a state-of-the-art facility._

**Who we are**
The Post-Entry Quarantine Group (PEQ) is responsible for the post arrival quarantine of plants and animals at the Mickleham Post-entry Quarantine Facility located on the outskirts of Melbourne. The Mickleham PEQ Facility is purpose built for accommodating high risk plants, horses, cats, dogs, ruminants, birds and bees while undergoing post-entry quarantine. Working in partnership with plant scientists and veterinarians, we ensure that all plants and animals passing through the facility meet all necessary requirements to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirements for their safe import and that the health and welfare of the plants and animals is maintained throughout the period of their stay in PEQ.

The Plant Team are responsible for the management of high risk imported plants. The team provide high level plant husbandry whilst monitoring for biosecurity pests and diseases. The team work closely with our operational scientists in providing diagnostic services.

**The Jobs**
The role of an Assistant Biosecurity Officer - Plant at the PEQ consists of working across our plant compound and assisting in the management of the biosecurity risk associated with imported plants. These roles can be physically demanding and involve working with plants and lifting, pushing, carrying and cleaning equipment. The duties of these roles will include some or all of the following:

- Undertaking plant husbandry duties, including the watering of plants.
- Assisting Biosecurity Officers to maintain work areas to effectively manage biosecurity risks and plant health.
- Assisting Biosecurity Officers to move plants and equipment in glasshouses.
- Assisting Biosecurity Officers in the preparation of plants for release.
- Assisting Biosecurity Officers in obtaining information to assist in client communications.
- Contributing to the management of biosecurity risks associated with imported plants.
- Preparation of the work areas including those in the glasshouse, laboratories and broader plant compound.
- Assisting in managing biosecurity waste.

**Please note** that this recruitment process will initially be used to fill **two non-ongoing vacancies for an initial period of twelve months** with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years in total. These non-ongoing positions **may become ongoing in the next eighteen months**. Should a position become ongoing then the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- A sound knowledge of plant husbandry principles.
- Experience with cleaning and disinfection tasks.
- An understanding of biosecurity and quarantine principles.

**Eligibility and other requirements**
The successful applicants must:

- hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence
- note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work
- note that the position may require them to participate in an on-call roster (for which an appropriate restriction allowance will be paid) and be available to perform duty outside standard hours
- note that you may be required to perform occasional out-of-hours and weekend work
- wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department’s uniform policy
- wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures
- note the requirement to perform work duties in a PC2 environment under challenging conditions at times, including undertaking personal decontamination measures which may include showering in and out and the removal of jewellery and piercings.