Working outdoors among natural flora and fauna, enjoying the fresh air and meeting people from around the world. There are few occupations that allow people such luxuries, but working as a park ranger does.

There are about 75 park rangers in Western Australia. Only about 10 percent of park rangers work in the Perth metropolitan area. The remainder are employed in all of the State's other regions.

Each year, about 130 training places are offered in the Certificates II, III, IV and Diploma in Conservation and Land Management.

The vast areas of land that comprise the State's national parks, scenic areas, historic sites, nature reserves and other recreational areas are managed by park rangers.

As Diversified As The Flora

According to Yanchep National Park Ranger, Paul Tholen, park rangers promote awareness, understanding and appreciation of the natural and cultural features of a park. They also assist in rehabilitation projects, monitoring waterways, roads and tracks, and the condition of local flora and fauna as well as ensuring that endangered species are protected. For example, park rangers at Yanchep National Park and the local Girl Guides, recently undertook a rehabilitation project that involved planting eucalypt trees to ensure a plentiful supply of gum leaves and homes for the koalas in the park!



Park rangers also pay attention to feral (non native) animal control and check that the park's public facilities and amenities actually work.

''Essentially, we ensure that the park is pristine. This involves general maintenance duties such as collecting rubbish and cleaning the park's amenities. We also liaise with the general public answering any of their enquiries and we regularly conduct interpretative (ecotourism) tours. Night and day, we take people through the caves or introduce them to the koalas in the park,'' says Paul.





Public Misdemeanours

Park rangers also advise visitors of park rules and regulations, and enforce these when necessary. They may have to deal with people who exceed an area's speed limit or disturb the public in some way. Directing parking, controlling traffic and collecting fees from campers and visitors are also part of their job description.

Fires are not uncommon during the summer months, so park rangers also supervise and coordinate fire management procedures, including firefighting, if necessary.



Community Spirit

The park rangers at Yanchep National Park have a mentoring program underway for young people in the community who may be feeling a little unmotivated. Park rangers take them under their wing by organising voluntary work for them.

Not Just The Great Outdoors!

Although park rangers spend most of their time outdoors, they do have office duties, such as answering calls from the general public or from government organisations interested in some aspect of the park's management.

Rangers also prepare, review and implement reports and submissions about development proposals and environmental impact assessments.



In Western Australia, park rangers are employed by CALM at centres throughout the State. Rangers employed by CALM may be classified as forestry, reserve or national park rangers.

According to other industry representatives such as Kings Park Acting Senior Park Management Officer, Alan Pearse, park rangers require more sophisticated management skills than in the past.



''Rangers no longer see themselves as enforcers of rules, but as managers of park activities. We contribute our ideas when events such as the Australia Day Skyworks are held at Kings Park. We also assist in the smooth running of these events on the night.''



As far as other technical skills are concerned, a sound understanding of local flora and fauna is imperative to this occupation. A working background in environmental management or recreational park experience will stand applicants in very good stead.

First aid skills are also needed. Park rangers may need to assist a bike rider who has fallen in a recreational area or tend to someone with a snake bite.

On a personal level, you will need to be able to interact with people from all walks of life. Because park rangers also have to communicate with people who are 'not so pleased' about a parking fine for instance, they have to know how to handle 'heated' situations.

During summer you can generally expect to work from 7am until 6pm and between 8am and 5pm in the cooler months.

The starting salary for rangers is about $27,000 per year and this may go as high as $50,000 for senior rangers. It takes about 12 years to reach that senior level.

There are no specific educational requirements needed for entry into this occupation, however, employers may look favourably upon applicants who have undertaken a relevant course.

Various TAFE colleges offer the Certificates II, III and IV in Conservation and Land Management. The Diploma of Conservation and Land Management is offered through the Murdoch, Albany and Denmark campuses of TAFE.

Entry requirements for the courses vary. For more information, contact the relevant institution or check out the TAFE site below.

Most of the universities in Western Australia offer environmental science degrees. To gain entry you will need to have successfully completed Year 12 and prerequisites may include chemistry, biology, applicable or calculus mathematics.

For more information, please contact the tertiary institution of your choice or check out the Universities site below.

	TAFE Colleges
	Homepage links and contact details for all TAFE Colleges in WA.
	TAFE Handbook
	An online guide to full time TAFE courses available throughout WA.
	Universities
	Homepage links and contact details for all Universities in WA.

Department of Conservation and Land Management
Hackett Drive Crawley WA 6009 Phone: (08) 9442 0300

Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Fraser Avenue West Perth WA 6005 Phone: (08) 9480 3600

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So much can happen on any one day for Kings Park's Acting Senior Park Management Officer, Alan Pearse, and one work day is never the same as the next.

''Some mornings a foot patrol through the park might be quite routine. Other days you might encounter a dugite in need of urgent medical attention, or a group of German tourists who want you to tell them all about the Blackboy tree.''

It's this variety coupled with the chance to work mostly outdoors that makes Alan confident he has found his ideal job.

''I love the outdoor life and the park itself. It's also pretty special because your job is so close to nature. You can be out enjoying the first rays of sunshine even though you're at work.''

Alan's path to becoming a park ranger began about 14 years ago when the qualified carpenter landed himself a job as a handyman in the nursery section of the park he works in today.

Soon afterward, a park ranger position was advertised, Alan applied, and the rest they say is history. When you think about it, Alan has really just made the switch from a nursery to somewhat of a nursery en masse!

Since then, Alan says he has seen the emphasis of the park ranger's role shift from enforcement to park management. If you've ever watched the Australia Day Skyworks Show from Kings Park, you're sure to have noticed how well behaved the crowds generally are and been impressed with the relative ease it takes to get your parked vehicle out of Kings Park after the show. Park rangers like Alan have likely played a significant role in ensuring that such logistical exercises goes according to plan.

''We've got a pretty hectic schedule ahead of us with the Wildflower Festival and Garden Week just around the corner,'' says Alan.

The job does have its stressful moments. A typical day usually involves issuing a warning to someone who is speeding, or to someone who has decided to 'help' themselves to the park's prized natural flora.

However, Alan wouldn't swap his job and says,

''I really feel as if the rangers at Kings Park have the best of both worlds. We do what traditional park rangers do but our work environment is a little bit different. We're surrounded by bushland but we're also so close to the city.''