Human demand on the environment continues to have a massive impact on farming properties, bushland, coastal and forest areas. Looking after Australia's natural resources needs an understanding of how ecosystems work.

Such knowledge will lead to career opportunities as bush crew supervisor, catchment and land manager, environmental officer, landcare coordinator and park ranger.

You will gain skills in:

• flora and fauna
• biodiversity values
• soils and erosion control
• revegetation and restoration
• mapping
• pest plants and animals
• other threats to natural systems

All staff agrees that undertaking field work gives you a much better understanding of the environmental issues faced at both the local and wider level. So you can expect a variety of field work and excursion opportunities as well as the occasional overnight camp.

Courses are held in the natural surrounds of the Epping and Fairfield campuses, while you will gain important understanding of environmental issues through regular field work and extended trips:

• weed mapping at Plenty Valley Parklands
• revegetation at the Growling Frog Golf Course
• flora and fauna surveys on private property and parklands at Wedderburn and Kinglake
• kangaroo count at Woodlands Parkland
• bird survey at Mill Park Lakes
• stone tool making at Yan Yean
• tours to the Little Desert, Western District and Kinglake