Technical Officer

This is a permanent full-time position commencing Term 4, 2025

The Role

The Western Australia College of Agriculture – Harvey (WACOA – Harvey) is seeking an enthusiastic person with experience in the amenities horticulture industry to join the team as an Agricultural Training Officer.

The ideal candidate would be someone with industry experience who is keen on passing on their passion and experience to upper-secondary school age students in a specialised Agricultural College setting. Our students are the next generation of farmers and industry leaders, and we are looking for the right people with the right attitude (with or without the usual qualifications) to help them get there.

Agricultural Training Officers assist in the management and operation of one of the farm enterprises and conduct training and assessment in that context. As such the successful applicant will have specific industry skills in developing and maintaining amenities (parks and gardens) settings and will have (or be supported to develop) a range of generic skills such as handling livestock and operating machinery.

Agricultural Training Officers manage their sections and work alongside students to assist them develop knowledge and skills in the particular enterprise. The Horticulture Training Officer works in conjunction with a small team of horticulture trainers and farm management personnel to manage and maintain the College grounds which includes lawned areas, oval and garden beds. The successful applicant will also be involved assisting other team members in horticultural tasks related to vegetable, citrus and grape growing.

The successful applicant will assist in the preparation and delivery of training programs and the instruction and supervision of groups of Year 10 to 12 students in a workplace environment. Additionally, they will ideally have the ability to work as part of a vibrant close team, have strong organisational skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships with young adult students and other staff.

Agricultural Training Officers work a set Monday to Friday roster but also share in weekend and after hours' overtime to cover livestock welfare needs and other essential farm tasks. They are paid 150 hours of commuted overtime per year, equating to an additional 15% salary on top of the base rate. Annual leave must be taken during school term breaks.

Applicants for this position will be assessed against the level 1 selection criteria. To reach level 2, Agricultural Training Officers must hold a Certificate III in Agriculture (or equivalent) and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Don't worry if you don't have these qualifications because if you are the successful applicant we will upskill you within the first 6 to 12 months of your employment.

Please note: The successful applicant will have the opportunity to have their skills and experience further assessed after commencement, which may result in an adjustment to their salary level. This assessment will be determined against the eligibility criteria outlined in the Job Description Form (JDF), in the context of the role's responsibilities and expected outcomes.

Below are the salary levels applicable to this role:

Level 1.3, $69,256 - Level 1.4, $72,068 per annum (pro-rata) (PSCA % commuted allowance (PSCA 2024)

Level 2, $73,954 - $79,292 per annum (pro-rata) (PSCA % commuted allowance (PSCA 2024)

Level 3, $83,114 - $89,226 per annum (pro-rata) (PSCA % commuted allowance (PSCA 2024)

Onsite accommodation may be available if required for the successful applicant to take up the position.

About the School

The WACOA - Harvey is a co-educational school for students in Years 10, 11 and 12. As a specialist Agriculture and related trades training school, students come from across Western Australia with most boarding on site. Students apply to attend the College for the real-life learning environment and with a genuine interest in our programs and what these can do for their future job prospects. As a result, our students choose to be at the College and want to learn.

The College is located in Wokalup, 8kms south of the Harvey town centre, on a 900ha farm run on a semi commercial basis. The farm runs several sections which provide students with real life working experiences in horticulture (parks and gardens, vegetables, citrus and vines), beef, sheep, dairy, poultry, pigs, farm workshop and general farm maintenance.

Harvey is a 1.5-hour drive south of Perth, a 20-minute drive to the coast, and a 40-minute drive to the city of Bunbury. The area is well supported with a range of sporting and recreation opportunities, schooling options, shopping and medical services. It is a great place to live.

To learn more about our College and what we offer, we encourage you to visit our website at 

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the JDF (Accessible upon selecting the 'Apply' option).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Stephen Watt, Principal on or emailing 

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education's Screening Unit before you start.

Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Application Instructions

Apply online in two easy steps:

Step 1: Select Apply for Job

Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one (1) being your current line manager.

Step 2: Attach your documents

Your application should include:

• A CV of up to three (3) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position

• An up to three (3) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the JDF

• Demonstrated experience and competency in supporting agricultural enterprises specific to the requirements of the college or school.

• Demonstrated good written and oral communication skills with interpersonal skills appropriate for working with young people in an educational environment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide a skill demonstration to others.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively without close supervision as a member of a team.

It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.

Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education's Recruitment team on for assistance.

Advertised Vacancy Number: IPS/SS991248

Suitable applicants may be considered for similar vacancies arising within the next 12 months following this selection process. This may include circumstances where the successful applicant declines or vacates the position.

The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Friday, 12 September 2025