Nursery Trainee

Blacktown City is a growing and thriving city, located halfway between Sydney City and the Blue Mountains. With 450,000 residents, we are the largest and most diverse city in NSW, spread across 54 suburbs. Blacktown City is vibrant, dynamic and multicultural, home to a large First Nations community and people from more than 180 different birthplaces and languages.

With $24.8 billion regional economy, Blacktown City is also home to 35,000 businesses. Working at Blacktown City Council provides widespread, exciting professional opportunities. Our Council is leading the transformation of Blacktown City and Western Sydney. We are implementing a vision for a modern city, full of opportunity for our residents and businesses.

Our Council is led by highly skilled and experienced professionals, working with talented and passionate teams across a diverse range of business units. We are delivering high quality, customer-focused services, experiences, and facilities, and leading a program of strategic planning, activity and investment.

Blacktown City Council strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans and people with disabilities.

About the opportunity

Are you looking to start your career in the nursery or horticulture industry? An exciting opportunity is here for you!

This traineeship provides a combination of on-the-job work experience and attendance at TAFE completing a Certificate II in Horticulture, which when combined gives you a competitive advantage for future professional roles.

The position involves assisting in the daily operation of our nursery, producing plants from seed and cuttings to maintaining advanced trees.

We are looking for a person to join our nursery team and work alongside professionals in the industry. This a term contract, full-time opportunity for up to 12 months, with 1 day of TAFE per week and the remaining 4 days will be on-the-job training, commencing January 2026.

Qualifications and experience 

Essential: 

• Applicants must be minimum 15 years of age or older
• No longer at school or home-schooled
• If currently enrolled in school or home-schooled must:
  • Have completed year 9 or equivalent
  • Provide written approval to proceed from either a school principal or NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) or an authorised person acting in lieu of a school  principal.
• No experience required
• Ability to obtain a class C driver’s licence when able to
• Applicants must be an Australian citizen or be eligible to work in Australia (evidence required).

Desirable:

• Physically fit and healthy to perform outdoor manual labour work
• Relevant experience in accordance with requirements outlined in the position description
• Ability to demonstrate a passion for plants, horticulture, nursey and outdoor work
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service
• Ability to work within a team environment and under supervision
• Availability to work flexible working hours.

Remuneration and benefits

The salary and conditions of employment are in accordance with Blacktown City Council’s Enterprise Agreement.

• Trainee rates apply 
• 38-hour working week
• Rostered Day Off (RDO) every fortnight
• Employee benefits such as leave entitlements (where applicable), 12% employer contribution payable to your nominated superannuation fund, Fitness Passport, gym membership discounts, and social clubs.

Our commitment to safety

Blacktown City Council is committed to safety. We have introduced alcohol and other drug testing at the pre-employment phase, and via a series of random and cause testing.

We are a child safe organisation that supports and promotes the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.

Position description 

Click here to view or download the position description.

Apply now using our fast and easy-to-use online application process:

1. Have your resume and any other relevant documentation ready to attach. 
2. Have a personal email address ready to use and complete your application without 'logging out' of the system.
3. Review the questions and decide on your responses before commencing your application.
   
   Best of luck.

Closing date:           Friday 9 January 2026, 11.59 pm    

Contact officer:       Belinda Riley on 02 9830 9722

Internal ref:              BCC1834