Technical Officer - Agriculture

Department of Education, Western Australia; Shire Of Kellerberrin; On-site; AUD 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

Boyup Brook District High School is seeking a practical, enthusiastic Technical Officer – Agriculture to support the daily operation and ongoing development of our School Farm. The role involves managing farm enterprises, maintaining infrastructure, and delivering hands-on agricultural training.

The successful candidate will work with students across Years 7–10, uphold safety and DOE policies, and contribute to farm plans and regional ties to agriculture.

Qualifications

• Experience and competency in supporting agricultural enterprises relevant to the requirements of the school.
• Good written and oral communication skills, with interpersonal skills appropriate for working with young people.
• The ability to prepare and deliver practical skill demonstrations.
• The ability to work effectively with minimal supervision and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the daily operation of farm enterprises and implementation of the farm plan.
• Maintain agricultural enterprises, which may include livestock management, cropping, horticulture, landcare, mechanics and infrastructure maintenance.
• Operate and maintain school equipment, including monitoring and ordering consumable resources in accordance with the farm budget.
• Prepare and deliver practical skill demonstrations.
• Where required, deliver agricultural training under supervision and assist with the assessment of skills in accordance with relevant school delivery plans and RTO requirements.
• Motivate and develop a positive work ethic in students, ensuring school and Department of Education policies are followed.
• Collect and maintain student performance data in accordance with relevant RTO and school assessment requirements and assist with the compilation of student reports where required.
• Maintain a strong focus on occupational safety and health requirements and safe work practices.
• Undertake rostered weekend farm duties and supervise student activities whilst on weekend duty.
• Assist students in preparing for competitions and displays at Agricultural Shows and Field Days.
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement and development of the School Farm and its agricultural enterprises.

Skills

Agriculture operations support

Communication skills

Practical demonstrations

Team player

Job description

This is a permanent part-time (0.4FTE) position commencing Term 1, 2027

Boyup Brook District High School (DHS) is a vibrant, Level 5 Independent Public School offering a dynamic learning environment for students from Kindergarten to Year 10. Situated on two campuses in the picturesque town of Boyup Brook, our secondary students (Years 7–10) learn on a dedicated high school campus just 700 metres from our primary site.

As a small rural school, we pride ourselves on strong relationships, high expectations, and a personalised approach to learning. Our students, drawn from families involved in farming, viticulture, and local businesses, benefit from a strong sense of community and connection to the local area. Our rich agricultural community provides wonderful opportunities to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences, industry knowledge and future career pathways.

Our School Farm provides a practical space for developing agricultural opportunities within the school. It comprises a 1.8-hectare paddock, a 0.3-hectare orchard, a large shed and two horticulture growing tents. These facilities support our Year 9 and 10 students undertaking Certificate courses in Agriculture and Conservation and Ecosystem Management, providing opportunities to develop practical skills and engage in small-scale agricultural enterprises, including livestock management, cropping and horticulture.

We are keen to continue developing the School Farm and strengthening connections with our region's rich agricultural industry. The successful applicant will play an important role in maintaining and improving the farm, supporting existing enterprises and exploring opportunities for further development.

Find out more about our school by visiting boyupbrookdhs.wa.edu.au or Schools Online.

The Role

We are seeking a practical, enthusiastic and self-motivated Technical Officer – Agriculture to assist with the daily operation and ongoing development of our School Farm.

Working under direction, the successful applicant will support the management of agricultural enterprises, maintain farm infrastructure and equipment, and contribute to the implementation of the school's farm plan.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the daily operation of farm enterprises and implementation of the farm plan.
• Maintain agricultural enterprises, which may include livestock management, cropping, horticulture, landcare, mechanics and infrastructure maintenance.
• Operate and maintain school equipment, including monitoring and ordering consumable resources in accordance with the farm budget.
• Prepare and deliver practical skill demonstrations.
• Where required, deliver agricultural training under supervision and assist with the assessment of skills in accordance with relevant school delivery plans and RTO requirements.
• Motivate and develop a positive work ethic in students, ensuring school and Department of Education policies are followed.
• Collect and maintain student performance data in accordance with relevant RTO and school assessment requirements and assist with the compilation of student reports where required.
• Maintain a strong focus on occupational safety and health requirements and safe work practices.
• Undertake rostered weekend farm duties and supervise student activities whilst on weekend duty.
• Assist students in preparing for competitions and displays at Agricultural Shows and Field Days.
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement and development of the School Farm and its agricultural enterprises.

Qualifications

• Experience and competency in supporting agricultural enterprises relevant to the requirements of the school.
• Good written and oral communication skills, with interpersonal skills appropriate for working with young people.
• The ability to prepare and deliver practical skill demonstrations.
• The ability to work effectively with minimal supervision and as part of a team.

A current Western Australian C-Class driver's licence is highly regarded, with a willingness to obtain other relevant vehicle licences as necessary.

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Melissa Reimers, Principal on [phone] or emailing [e-mail].

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.

Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Advertised Vacancy Number: IPS/SS1073150

Suitable applicants may be considered for similar vacancies arising within the next 12 months following this selection process. This may include circumstances where the successful applicant declines or vacates the position.

The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Monday, 23 November 2026