Need A Change of Air? - Become an Arborist

The rat race! A majority feel they are in it and don't like/enjoy their day job, but they either don't know what else to do or they are simply too scared to make a move.

Let's get real. You really only do live once. If you're lucky you will make it to 80 odd years of age. That's 80 summers, 80 winters, 80 autumns and just 80 springs. When you think about it like that, life all of a sudden, seems a lot shorter! So why do we waste our time working a job we hate?

If you're a fan of the outdoors, and done shy away from a little physical labour and could see yourself making a difference to the community and enjoying it… Then maybe becoming an arborist in Sydney is for you.

        

Types of Arbor Jobs

The climberJust as it sounds, pruning and removing trees in confined spaces (in suburbia) requires an arborist to scale the tree using a harness and ropes. It's a bit like rock climbing. Once up the tree, they work with the crew on the ground (groundies) to tie of branches 1 by 1 and cut with a chainsaw and then lower them to the ground.

This job is for the fitness freak (or those of you who want to be fitter, stronger and a little more toned. There are no two ways about it… its hard work. You can't be scared of heights and thinking on your feet is a given (well thinking while swinging from branch 30 foot from the ground)

This truly is a rewarding part of the job, the views the smells, the feeling of being at one with nature really are second to none... It's life changing.

 

The groundies

Groundies are there to assist in the removal of tree. Although being a climber can be physically challenging, it's fair to say the groundies to a bulk of the heavy labour. Dragging branches, on the chainsaw all day. It can be hard work, but at the same time it really is fun. 

Like any job, your work mates make the job fun, and with the right crew on the ground the jobs a blast. And as far as hard labour goes, the rule of thumb is, the bigger the company, the less labour there is. That's because bigger companies go for productivity and tend to splash out on machinery to make the work easier and to plough through the work faster.

Get in with a crew that has a bobcat and a crane and the works a breeze.

 

The consulting arborist

This is the 'professional arborist'. Their sole purpose is the advise home owners and council the best course of action when dealing with trees. Just say a home owner wants a tree to be removed and because they are building a new pool. An arborist is needed to write a report about the health, vitality, vigour and amenity value of said tree and advise council on whether to give permission to remove or not.

This job is by no means labour intensive, but these days you need to have a diploma in arboriculture to do it. There a lot more study involved.

 

Qualifications

You can get started at TAFE in arboriculture with certificate 2. Then 3 then jump straight to 5. It's just 1 day per week or 2 nights per week.

So if you are looking for a change of air, love working outdoors and you really do want to see the forest for the trees, arboriculture is well worth a second though as a career change.

 

Source : articlesbase.com