Gardens and Grounds Instructor

Role overview

This permanent full-time position is based at Pardelup Prison Farm in Mount Barker, Western Australia. The recruitment process may also be used to fill fixed-term or permanent garden instructor roles at Albany Regional Prison if similar openings come up.

About the organisation

The Department of Justice is a people-centred public sector organisation focused on helping build a fairer and safer community. It offers varied career opportunities across Western Australia, with roles that can make a meaningful difference to local communities and the people served.

About the role

The Gardens and Grounds Instructor is responsible for maintaining the grounds, gardens, turf and related outputs needed to support prison operations. The role also includes delivering hands-on instruction, accredited training and supervision to prisoners working in this area, along with a supervisory responsibility for other staff.

Salary and employment details

Classification: V3WT2. Salary: $89,654 to $97,144 per annum, plus 12% superannuation (POA). Position number: 010329. Work type: Permanent - Full Time. Location: Pardelup Prison Farm. Closing date: 2026-07-07 at 4:30 PM.

Attachments

The notice refers to the following documents: Applicant Information Pack.pdf and Job Description Form - Gardens and Grounds Instructor.pdf. Adobe Reader is needed to view and print the PDFs.

Eligibility

For permanent appointment in the Western Australian public sector, applicants must be Australian citizens or hold permanent resident status in Australia. Successful candidates must also hold a Certificate III in Horticulture or an equivalent qualification.

Application requirements

Applicants are asked to provide a detailed resume or CV that highlights transferable skills, relevant experience and key achievements. They must also include proof of a Certificate III in Horticulture or equivalent, contact details for two recent work referees with one ideally being a current line manager, and a statement of no more than four pages addressing the role-specific responsibilities and job-related requirements listed in the JDF, supported by examples.

Role-specific and job-related requirements

The role-specific responsibility listed is Production. The job-related requirements named in the advertisement are Horticulture Operations, Computer Skills, and Information and Knowledge Management. Any remaining JDF requirements will be assessed later in the recruitment process.

Benefits and opportunities

Employees may access learning and development programs and receive five weeks of annual leave. The attached Applicant Information Pack contains additional employment benefits.

Subsequent vacancies

Candidates assessed as suitable but not selected for this vacancy may be considered for similar future vacancies within the Department of Justice for up to twelve months. During that period, permanent, fixed-term, full-time and part-time appointments may be offered at Albany Regional Prison and Pardelup Prison Farm.

Contact information

For more information about the position, contact Chamesh Wijerathna, Business Manager, on (08) 9851 3704 for a confidential discussion.

Equity, diversity and support

The Department of Justice states a commitment to a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion, and it actively supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, youth, people of diverse sexualities and genders, women, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and other diversity groups.

Aboriginal job seekers may contact the Aboriginal Workforce Development Team at aboriginalworkforcedevelopment@justice.wa.gov.au or (08) 9264 1700 for culturally appropriate advice. Applicants with disability who need adjustments or accessibility support during selection may contact the hiring manager or the Diversity and Inclusion team at WorkforceDiversity@justice.wa.gov.au or (08) 9264 1700 for a confidential discussion.

Application process and conditions

Applications must be submitted online. Late applications will not be accepted, so candidates should allow enough time to complete the process. If technical help is needed with the online application, the RAMS Helpdesk can be reached at ramshelpdesk@bigredsky.com or 1300 733 056.

The department also notes a smoke-free policy that has already been implemented across all women’s prisons and the Corrective Services Academy, with the remaining prison sites expected to transition over the next 12 to 18 months.