Careers

It's hard to believe that we clean our teeth with rocks; use minerals for transport; wear animal hair, and live in houses made from trees, but most of what we rely on each day such as food, clothing, housing and transport comes from natural resources harvested or extracted by primary industries.

Primary industries touch our lives in so many ways each day. In fact the agriculture, mining, fishing and forestry industries provide approximately 30% to 40% of the employment in NSW areas and are key financial drivers of regional economies, generating 40% to 50% of economic activity in this state.

Working with plants, animals, the environment and people to grow, harvest, sustain and manage our natural resources is the job of the people who work in primary industries.

Use this page to discover some of the many professional and rewarding careers in primary industries.

For primary students

• What do you do? Geologist ( PDF, 1.9 MB)
• What do you do? Forest Ecologist
• What do you do? Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer
• What do you do? GIS operator ( PDF, 313 kB)
• Working as a Forester

For secondary students

Choose an industry sector that interests you to begin exploring primary industry careers.

• Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Seafood
  How about working to grow, harvest, process, manage or protect natural resources by being an Agricultural Engineer, Beekeeper, Farmer, Farm Manager, Farm Hand, Winemaker, Botanist, Nurseryperson, Forester, Ranger, Wood Machinist, Fisheries Officer, Aquaculture Farmer or Master Fisher. Find more careers and information here.
• Tocal College
  Tocal College, comprising CB Alexander Campus near Maitland and the Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre at Yanco, offers a range of courses for school leavers to work on and manage farms and is a national leader in distance education for landholders. Tocal College is part of NSW Department of Primary Industries.
• Mining and Drilling
  

  A geologist field mapping a quartz vein.
  
  Do you have an interest in ancient landscapes or finding mineral resources? Check out these careers: Geologist, Mining Engineer, Geophysicist, Metallurgist, Miner, Geoscience Technician, Mineral Exploration (Drilling), and Seismic Drilling. Find more careers and information here.
• Environmental and Animal Management
  What about something with an environmental edge? Try some of these careers on for size - Natural Resources Manager, Ranger, Horticultural Assistant, Agricultural and Resources Economist, Veterinarian. Find more careers and information here.
• Scientific Research and Technical Services
  Like finding solutions or coming up with new ideas? Test these careers: Cartographer, Archaeologist, Chemist, Cultural Heritage Officer, Laboratory Worker, Marine Biologist, research Officer, Technical Writer, Geophysicist. Find more careers and information here.

Working in primary industries - career profiles

• Andrew - District Fisheries Officer
• Phil - Geologist
• Simone - Geologist/Editor
• Peter - Veterinary Officer
• Alex - Harvest Planning Forester
• Karlee - Student at Tocal College
• Hugh - Student at Tocal College
• Fabiano - Research Officer

Work experience

• Agriculture (http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/students/work_experience)

Publications

• Careers in Forest Management
• Tocal College (CB Alexander campus) course prospectus ( PDF, 1.2 MB)

Links

• See the Careers section on the 'Links' page.

This page makes use of myfuture, Australia’s careers and information service - a joint initiative between Australian State and Territory governments.