Working as a field officer in a national park
Field officers are responsible for conserving the parks and reserves of their area. They protect natural and cultural heritage, maintain park facilities, and give information and advice to park visitors and people who live nearby.
Work performed
A field officer carries out works programs in national parks and reserves. These include:
- protecting Aboriginal sites and historic places, through such things as erosion control, fencing, revegetation, building maintenance and repair
- conserving landscapes, plants and animals, through measures like stormwater and erosion control, fencing, bush regeneration and weed control, and animal pest control
- cleaning, maintaining and upgrading park facilities, such as toilets and showers, picnic and camping areas, recycling stations, signs, walking tracks, roads and carparks
- working with community volunteers on bush regeneration, clean-up days, and other park conservation activities
- helping carry out hazard reduction burns in the park, both to allow the regeneration of native plants and to protect people and property
- assisting in emergencies, such as bushfires, whale strandings, and lost or injured park visitors
- operating and maintaining vehicles, heavy machinery, other equipment and workshops
- giving information, advice and assistance to park visitors and members of the local community.
The work done by field officers is highly varied, and they need to be flexible, learning and applying a wide range of skills. Because their work often has tight financial constraints, field officers need to be imaginative in finding cost-effective solutions.
Decision-making and communication
Field officers are given their tasks by a senior field officer. They are expected to be able to work without constant supervision, following DECC procedures and policies when faced with minor maintenance problems. If financial decisions need to be made or works programs altered, field officers need to get formal approval from their regional office.
Because much of their work happens out in parks and reserves, field officers will often encounter visitors and neighbouring landowners. They give information and advice, and will take appropriate action if people are found breaking regulations.
Field officers liaise with contractors and monitor their work. They also deal with firefighting organisations, staff from other government agencies, and volunteers helping with such things as bush regeneration and whale rescue.
Knowledge, skills and experience
A field officer must have skills and experience in managing natural and cultural heritage. They must be able to maintain visitor facilities (such as walking tracks, signs, roads, shelters, buildings, sewage systems and fences), and must be experienced in operating and maintaining plant and equipment.
In addition to these skills, field officers must be flexible and organised, working well in a team environment or alone with minimal supervision. They must be able to rise to the varied challenges of their job – whether that means hopping in a light aircraft, fighting bushfires or wading out to help a stranded whale. They need to have a current driver's licence.
Because they frequently give out information and advice, field officers should have a good knowledge of parks, conservation issues and recreational opportunities in the local area.
Vacancies
Vacancies are advertised on the NSW government jobs website and in The Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph. Look for the 'NSW Government' section of the classified advertisements.