College Farmer / Landscaper / Handy Person
Department of Education Victoria – Bundoora VIC
1d ago, from Department of Education & Training Victoria
¿Our job is not to prepare students for something, it is our job to activate our students to prepare themselves for anything.¿
Adapted from AJ Juliani.
Bundoora Secondary College is a year 7-12 college located in a quiet residential area of Bundoora, a northern suburb of Melbourne. The school is innovative, caring, and takes great pride in knowing every member of its community as individuals and learners.
The site is adjacent to Gresswell Forest and includes playing fields, a developing school farm with animal paddocks, productive gardens, and indigenous flora plots. It is accessible by foot, bike, car, school buses, and public transport, and has strong partnerships with Melbourne Polytechnic, Latrobe University, RMIT Bundoora Campus, and other universities.
BSC is a Child Safe school and expects all employees to contribute positively to a child-safe environment.
BSC is experiencing strong growth with a new curriculum program and vertical structure – the PACE21 (Passion and Choice, Empowerment 21st-Century Skills) program. It empowers students to choose their own learning pace and focuses on broad, challenging education that develops 21st-century skills for future education, training, work, and community participation.
We seek staff who are curious, flexible, and generalist in philosophy and thinking. Students are not bound by traditional year-level classes; instead, the school is broken into three cohorts with a vertical structure that supports flexibility and choice across the learning program.
Rigour remains a core value; high expectations of students are maintained and progress is routinely reported against the BSC Great Student matrix and the Victorian Curriculum skills continuum.
We are a diverse and inclusive community, living by our values of Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Relationships, and Rigour. Students have an authentic voice in everyday decision making.
Learning takes place in well-equipped air-conditioned buildings, including a library resource centre, ECA Centre, arts and technology areas, science rooms with 3D printers, robotics, and advanced digital technology.
Traditional co-curricular programs such as sport, drama, music, excursions, camps, art exhibitions, and student leadership are integrated into the curriculum.
Parents are welcomed and encouraged to participate in all college activities and collaborate with teachers.
We involve the community in developing educational programs, policies, and supportive environments, reflected in house teams and wellbeing structures.
Positive links are established with neighbouring primary schools to ease student transitions.
Bundoora Secondary College – where students experience education by choice.
Selection Criteria
SC1: Demonstrated ability to work independently and efficiently in general maintenance, gardening tasks, and repairs, including animal care.
SC2: Demonstrated ability to work and communicate as part of a team and regularly liaise with contractors on the school site.
SC3: Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.
SC4: Demonstrated ability to identify and assess potential risks, provide advice and support to management, and work within OHS policy and guidelines.
SC5: Demonstrated ability to work with and guide young adults.
Role
JOIN A LEADING SCHOOL IN URBAN AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
Bundoora Secondary College (BSC) is seeking a passionate and adaptable urban farmer to help lead the next phase of development for BSC Greenwood Farm – an innovative educational and community initiative focused on sustainability, food systems, and hands-on learning.
This is a unique opportunity to work on the ground with students, staff, and community partners to build a thriving food production program.
About the Role
The urban farmer will:
Run daily operations of BSC Greenwood Farm, including animal care, food gardens, and conservation areas.
Undertake infrastructure development, from fencing and enclosures to composting systems, hydroponics, irrigation, and tool maintenance.
Mentor students through hands-on learning projects.
Collaborate with the local community on events and projects.
Help prepare the farm for the delivery of accredited VET certificates (e.g., Cert II in Horticulture).
Responsibilities
Farm & Environmental Program
Undertake daily farm operations: planting, animal care, harvesting, and composting.
Implement sustainable systems.
Maintain farm tools and machinery.
Assist in lessons and mentor students with a passion for food production.
Promote the program through engagement with schools and community.
Assist with planning of farm infrastructure development.
Groundskeeping & Maintenance
Carry out routine maintenance.
Conduct end-of-day safety checks.
Support the college maintenance team when required.
Hands-On Student Engagement
Work with small groups of students in practical learning projects.
Encourage responsibility and collaboration.
About You
You are a hands-on problem solver who values purpose, sustainability, and education. Strong physical stamina and the ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions are essential.
Essential Experience & Skills
Experience in gardening, horticulture, or urban agriculture.
Skilled with tools and small-scale infrastructure.
Experience with basic animal care (poultry, goats).
Ability to work independently.
Strong time management.
Basic computer skills.
Current Working with Children Check and driver's licence.
Physical stamina for outdoor work.
Desirable
School or youth-setting experience.
Construction skills.
Knowledge of sustainable practices.
Why Join Bundoora Secondary College?
Hands-on learning in agriculture and sustainability.
Community partnerships with Banyule City Council and Local Food Connect.
Commitment to food security and youth pathways.
Who May Apply
Individuals with the aptitude, experience, and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community it serves. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability, and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.
The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via (email protected)
Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
Child Safe Standards
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department's exemplar available at:
DE Values
The Department's employees commit to upholding the Department's values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The Department's values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the Department values is available at:
Conditions of Employment
All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at
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