Botanist (VIC)

Education and Training:

To become a botanist you usually have to study botany or horticulture, forest or plant sciences at university. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your VCE. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics are normally required. A number of universities in Australia offer degrees in these areas. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements. Contact the universities you are interested in for more information as requirements may change.

Related Courses:

While the following courses are related to this occupation, they may not necessarily lead directly to employment, nor provide the most direct pathway to the occupation. Courses which provide preliminary or informal training, as well as those which provide additional job skills following initial qualifications may also be listed.

*Course is offered by more than one institution. Click link for details.

Employment Opportunities:

Botanists are employed by universities and research organisations, as well as in industries such as horticulture. Other major areas of employment include state, territory and federal government departments and organisations concerned with conservation, wildlife management, environmental control, fisheries, national parks, vermin and noxious weeds. There is growing employment with environmental consultancy firms, especially in the areas of mining and environmental restoration.

Employment opportunities for botanists are influenced by levels of government and industry funding for environmental research and development, and the growing community awareness of environmental and conservation issues. Demand for plant physiologists, agronomists and plant pathologists is also influenced by trends in the horticultural and agricultural industries.