Careers in Natural Resource Management

Natural Resource Management involves the sustainable management of our natural resources, such as flora, fauna, soil, water and air. Reclamation of land and restoration of habitat is of fundamental importance to our future.

Graduate Profiles

Chris Solum
Operations and Maintenance Officer, Pyramid Creek Salt Interception Scheme
Bachelor of Resource Management

I am involved in the management of salinity in both dryland and irrigated landscapes within the Goulburn Broken catchment. My work is specialised in sub-surface drainage (groundwater bores, tile drainage, mole drains etc). A large proportion of my time is spent as the Operations and Maintenance officer on the Pyramid Creek Salt Interception Scheme. This scheme prevents over 22,000 tonnes of salt from entering the River Murray every year through the use of groundwater bores and evaporation ponds. The salt is harvested by Pyramid Salt for commercial purposes.

I enjoy working with landholders to achieve positive environmental and business objectives, such as salinity management for irrigated and dryland regions. I also enjoy working with like-minded colleagues and exchanging knowledge.

Maggie Sutcliffe
Ranger, Sturt National Park, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW)
Bachelor of Resource Management (Honours)

After finishing my Resource Management (Honours) degree in July 2006 I was lucky enough to land a job with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service as a Ranger. I moved from Melbourne to Tibooburra in outback NSW in May 2007 – what a change! I manage Sturt National Park which borders the Qld and SA state borders. I’ve had a fantastic time working out here and I’ve certainly learnt a lot.

I spend about 3-4 days a week in the office and 1-2 days in the park depending on what projects and activities are happening. At the moment I am managing a cultural heritage project, a park infrastructure project and writing new interpretative boards for our some of our information shelters.

Other regular activities include campground inspections, law enforcement, visitor management, bird surveys, liaising with external agencies, and assisting PhD students with their field research. Some of the more unexpected events include raising joeys, identifying spiders and snakes brought into the office and fire fighting.

Doing work experience, as part of my Resource Management degree, was a fantastic way to gain experience and insight into my current career and certainly helped me in landing a job.

Mathias Chemonges
Technical Advisor, Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem Programme, Kampala
Postgraduate Diploma in Forest Science
Master of Natural Resources

I studied at the University of Melbourne and acquired a Postgraduate Diploma in Forest Science in March 2004 which led to a Master of Natural Resources in April 2006.

I was redeployed in Forest Department (now Kenya Forest Service) in Farm Forestry Section in Charge of Monitoring and Evaluation. After a short while, I Joined IUCN, in the Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem Programme (MERECP).

I am a technical advisor providing technical and managerial support with the main task of monitoring and evaluation. The skills and knowledge acquired in the Natural Resource training programme at the University of Melbourne, Land and Food Resources, have been very useful, especially so with my current work. MERECP is a transboundary natural resource programme for the East African Community whose overall purpose is enhancing the conservation status and benefits of the Mt. Elgon Ecosystem for environmental quality.

Currently am based in the Uganda Country Office, Kampala.

Careers in Natural Resource Management:

Catchment and Land Management
Managing the land surrounding dams and reservoirs to ensure a clean and safe supply of drinking water.
Water and wastewater management
Ensuring top quality water is available for all consumers and the provision of future needs.
Conservation
Managing areas of special cultural, aesthetic, recreational, heritage, scientific or habitat significance for the benefit of current and future Australians and tourists.
Landcare
Rehabilitating land and damaged areas through Australia's highly successful community based land management scheme.
Pest Animal and Plant Management
Controlling pests and diseases within plant and animal species to ensure sensitive areas are not threatened.
Protected Area Management
Managing, as a ranger, the land that has been set aside for particular habitat or special significance.
Revegetation / Land Rehabilitation
Rehabilitating important areas that have been mined or damaged by past management practices or pest invasion.
Research
Seeking solutions to problems or furthering our understanding of the Australian environment.
Wildlife Management
Understanding the nutrition, habitat and reproduction requirements of animals and birds and their behaviour to ensure fauna is protected.

Courses in Natural Resource Management:

Undergraduate (view all)

Bachelor of Environments with a majors in:

Landscape Management

Associate Degree in Forestry Management

Graduate Coursework (view all)

Graduate Research (view all)

Further information on courses or study can be obtained by telephoning the University of Melbourne on (03) 8344 0276 or 1800 815 803 or email courses@landfood.unimelb.edu.au