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How to Become A Nursery Assistant

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What is a Nursery Assistant

A Nursery Assistant gets hands-on with plants every day. They help grow and care for plants in commercial nurseries and garden centres across Australia. It’s an active, outdoor career that suits people who love nature.

The job involves watering and weeding, transplanting seedlings, setting up growing sites, and adjusting irrigation systems. You don’t need years of experience to start. Most employers will train you on the job.

Around 6,300 Nursery Assistants work across Australia, and demand for the role is stable (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). With part-time and full-time roles on offer, it suits school leavers, career changers, and anyone who enjoys physical outdoor work.

If you enjoy being outside and working with your hands, this is a great first step into horticulture.

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Career Outlook for Nursery Assistant

Around 6,300 people work as Nursery Assistants in Australia (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). About half work full-time and half work part-time. The median age is 38, and women make up 56% of the workforce. This shows it’s a career open to all ages and backgrounds.

Job demand is stable. As Australians keep investing in gardens, green spaces, and landscaping, nurseries stay in steady demand. Entry-level pay starts at around $50,000 a year under the Fair Work Horticulture Award (Fair Work Ombudsman, 2024-25). With experience and extra skills, you can earn up to $72,000 or more.

The most natural next step from this role is to become a Nurseryperson. That brings more responsibility and better pay. From there, workers can move into supervisory roles, specialist horticulture, or even run their own nursery business over time.

On this Article

Introduction

Average Salaries

Resources

Steps to Become a Nursery Assistant

Step 1: Explore nursery work and check your fit

Visit local plant nurseries to see what the role involves. Ask if you can do a short volunteer shift or work experience placement. The work is physical and done mainly outdoors. You need good fitness and a genuine interest in plants. Most employers expect at least Year 10 or equivalent. No other formal entry requirements apply at this stage.

Step 2: Complete the Certificate II in Nursery Operations (AHC20724)

Enrol in the Certificate II in Nursery Operations (AHC20724) at a TAFE or registered training organisation (RTO). This qualification takes around 12 months full-time or up to 2 years part-time. It covers plant propagation, irrigation management, pest and disease identification, and nursery site preparation. You can complete it as a paid traineeship, earning a wage while you study.

Step 3: Apply for entry-level or traineeship positions

Apply for Nursery Assistant or nursery hand roles at commercial nurseries, garden centres, or wholesale growers. Many nurseries offer traineeships linked to the AHC20724 qualification. Contact your local nurseries directly and check Australian Apprenticeships Centres for traineeship listings. Most entry-level positions do not require prior experience.

Step 4: Complete an agricultural chemical handling qualification

Nursery work often involves using pesticides and fertilisers. Most states require workers to hold an agricultural chemical handling qualification before they can apply chemicals. Complete the ChemCert course or an equivalent unit through a registered RTO (confirm current unit codes on training.gov.au). The training takes one to two days and is widely recognised by nursery employers.

Step 5: Advance to the Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30122)

After 1 to 2 years of experience, enrol in the Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30122) at a TAFE or RTO. This takes 1 to 2 years part-time and opens the door to Nurseryperson and supervisory roles. It covers advanced plant production, irrigation, pest management, and team leadership. This qualification is the main pathway to higher pay and career growth in horticulture.

What does a Nursery Assistant do?

A Nursery Assistant spends most of their day outdoors or in greenhouses, doing hands-on plant work. They water and weed plants, prepare growing sites, load and unload supplies, and adjust irrigation systems. They also help propagate and transplant seedlings to keep nursery production on schedule. The work changes with the seasons and the plants being grown, which keeps the job varied and active.

Tasks

A Nursery Assistant does a wide range of tasks in and around commercial plant nurseries. Their work is hands-on and physical, with a focus on plant care and nursery site management. Every task helps keep plants healthy and nursery operations running smoothly.

  • Propagating plants from cuttings, seeds, or grafts
  • Transplanting seedlings into larger pots or growing beds
  • Watering plants by hand and adjusting automated irrigation systems
  • Weeding and removing unwanted plant growth from growing areas
  • Setting up growing plots using hand tools and small machines
  • Loading, unloading, and moving nursery stock and equipment
  • Adjusting shade cloth, misting systems, and ventilation for optimal growth
  • Keeping work areas clean and removing green waste

Skills for Success

To do well as a Nursery Assistant, you need physical fitness and a love of working outdoors. The job involves a lot of hands-on activity, from carrying supplies to tending plants. Stamina and a willingness to get your hands dirty are essential from day one.

You don’t need years of prior experience. Most skills are picked up on the job. Good attention to detail helps you spot unhealthy plants early. Employers look for people who work well in a team, follow instructions, and show up reliably.

Skills & Attributes

  • Physical fitness for active outdoor work
  • Attention to plant health and growth
  • Basic knowledge of plant propagation
  • Safe use of hand tools and machinery
  • Understanding of irrigation systems
  • Pest and disease identification
  • Time management and reliability
  • Teamwork and ability to follow instructions
  • Attention to detail
  • Safe chemical handling and hygiene practices
  • Adaptability to changing weather and conditions
  • Basic numeracy for measuring and mixing

Average Salaries

A Nursery Assistant in Australia earns around $58,000 a year on average. This is based on industry salary data and Fair Work Horticulture Award rates (Fair Work Ombudsman, 2024-25). Entry-level workers earn from about $50,000 a year under the Award. Pay can reach $72,000 or more with experience and higher skill levels.

min $50 K

max $72 K

av $58 K

About the author

Laura Atkinson - Course Finder Groups
Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.