Keep parks clean, safe and thriving.

As a park ranger, you help manage and protect national parks, nature reserves, and other natural or cultural sites. You promote appreciation of the environment, assist with rehabilitation projects, monitor waterways and wildlife, and safeguard endangered species.

TAFE SA offers courses relevant to this occupation including the Certificate III and Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management.

Still unsure? Then try a short course also offered through TAFE SA - check the website for short courses available.

Park Rangers are employed by centres throughout the State. Rangers employed may be classified as forestry, reserve or national park rangers. According to other industry representatives Park Rangers require more sophisticated management skills than in the past. Rangers no longer see themselves as enforcers of rules, but as managers of park activities.

Park rangers also pay attention to feral (non native) animal control and check that the park's public facilities and amenities actually work. Essentially, you are ensuring that the park is pristine 24/7. This involves general maintenance duties such as collecting rubbish and cleaning the park's amenities. You will also liaise with the general public answering any of their enquiries and we regularly conduct interpretative (ecotourism) tours. Night and day, you may take people through the park, the caves or introduce them to the native wildlife in the park.

Park rangers also advise visitors of park rules and regulations, and enforce these when necessary. They may have to deal with people who exceed an area's speed limit or disturb the public in some way. Directing parking, controlling traffic and collecting fees from campers and visitors are also part of their job description. Fires are not uncommon during the summer months, so park rangers also supervise and coordinate fire management procedures, including firefighting, if necessary.

As far as other technical skills are concerned, a sound understanding of local flora and fauna is imperative to this occupation. A working background in environmental management or recreational park experience will stand applicants in very good stead. First aid skills are also needed. Park rangers may need to assist a bike rider who has fallen in a recreational area or tend to someone with a snake bite. On a personal level, you will need to be able to interact with people from all walks of life. Because park rangers also have to communicate with people who are 'not so pleased' about a parking fine for instance, they have to know how to handle 'heated' situations. During summer you can generally expect to work from 7am until 6pm and between 8am and 5pm in the cooler months.

Employment is mostly full-time and on average full-time workers work 38.5 hours per week and are employed in most parts of Australia.

Although park rangers spend most of their time outdoors, they do have office duties, such as answering calls from the general public or from government organisations interested in some aspect of the park's management. Rangers also prepare, review and implement reports and submissions about development proposals and environmental impact assessments.