We are super lucky in Australia that we live amongst some of the world’s most beautiful and diverse natural landscapes.
Protecting, maintaining and working with these landscapes is a massive priority for many individuals and organisations – and with very good reason. Looking after them is our responsibility.
For National Biodiversity Month, we thought it’d be a great idea to bring you a round-up of what careers in this area could look like and one of the employers we’ve partnered with who have a significant focus on promoting and protecting biodiversity across Australia.
What is Biodiversity?
If, like us, you have a general understanding of what ‘biodiversity’ means but are curious about a full definition, look no further!
We were keen to understand what this means, and thankfully National Geographic were happy to step up with a great definition:
“Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans.”
What is Biodiversity Month?
National Biodiversity Month takes place throughout September each year. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness and education around biodiversity across Australia and celebrate the plants and animals we share our environments with.
Australia’s biodiversity is rich and unique; home to more than 500,000 animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else – Australia is one of the world’s ‘megadiverse’ countries.
We all have a responsibility to ensure we look after the lands we call home and to make sure we live and work in ways that continue to support the natural biodiversity of our environments as much as we can.
5 Diverse Careers in Biodiversity to Explore
Any career that supports natural and diverse environments could be considered a career in biodiversity – but what does that look like in real-world terms?
Through our industry partners and research, we’ve come across some exciting roles that fit the bill!
Let’s take a look:
1. Environmental Consultant
As more businesses seek to understand how they can work better with the environments they operate, they may hire an environmental consultant to provide best practice advice and guidance.
Environmental consultants know about different environmental areas and what’s needed to protect, maintain and manage the biodiversity in those areas. They may work with construction companies and urban planners, local councils and conservation groups to ensure everyone acts in the best way possible to protect or put systems that continue to support biodiverse areas.
Environmental consultants may also recommend repairing and reclaiming back land that has been treated poorly to re-encourage and re-introduce animal and plant life to thrive.
2. Conservation Officer
Conservation officers work in various environmental areas to evaluate, manage, maintain and make recommendations on the habitats of different wildlife and to keep them safe where needed.
They work in partnership with local councils and building developers to understand the nature of different environments and make recommendations on how to maintain them for different species where appropriate.
The role is often a mix of working in the field and office, writing policies and recommendations based on your work.
3. Outreach & Education Officer
Wildlife, environmental, and conservation groups also do a lot of work with schools to help raise awareness and education so that new generations can continue to support and protect our biodiverse lands.
Outreach and education officers lead in developing and delivering educational programs for people of all ages to help them better understand the biodiversity and environmental needs of the places and areas they live and interact with. They generally aim to help others learn more in proactive, engaging and supportive ways so we can all do our bit.
The role needs excellent communication and people skills and a passion for passing on information in educational but fun ways.
4. Agricultural Consultant
Agricultural consultants work with farmers to address various issues or concerns, such as improving crop or livestock production, dealing with weeds or pests, improving soil health, and managing business processes.
Agricultural consultants usually work across various locations, providing individualised and tailored support to farmers and businesses who need their expertise.
The role requires a specialist knowledge-set, usually coupled with experience working across different agricultural and farming practices, to build relationships with workers in the industry.
5. Oceanographer
Oceanographers study water, sea life, weather and climates to preserve the natural resources of oceans and coastal waters. These experts monitor and report on environmental changes’ impacts and make recommendations for policy to help improve natural conditions.
They also contribute to predicting weather patterns, determining plate tectonics shifting, and caring for broader patterns of wildlife impacted by the oceans and waterways.
Employer Spotlight: Nutrien Ag Solutions
Here at Explore Careers, we love partnering with employers who are leaders in their respective fields – and know that being a ‘leader’ means having the specialist skillset and knowledge to support all areas of a specific industry.
Nutrien Ag Solutions tick all the boxes for us on that front!
Reaching every corner of Australia, Nutrien Ag works with farmers to solve the challenges of growing food and fibre challenges.
With thousands of employees and customers in rural and regional Australia, Nutrien Ag is a vital part of the communities in which we live and work. There are unique challenges and incredible opportunities that go hand in hand with life in a regional community.
We recently had the opportunity to chat with Sam, a Livestock Trainee with the innovative agricultural company, and we learned a thing or two about how Nutrien Ag is supporting farmers to work with the land and support the environments they operate in!
Check out Sam’s talk today for more on this agricultural leader, and remember to check out their employer profile!
