Thread: Advice about Geology and/or Land Rehabilitation as a career?

Hi, I'm new here and I'm just finishing up my last year of high school and I'm wondering if anyone could give me information advice about jobs in geology and/ or land rehabilitation.

I put down a land rehabilitation course as my first preference on my university application becasue I like the topics it's said to cover (a mix of biology and geology :-D ) but I don't much about it's job prospects, as in if you do a course in it can you only become a land rehabilitator? And is there a lot of demand for them?

Also, I know this will sound finicky... last year I wanted to do geology but this year I decided I didn't want to work in mineral/ fuel extraction. It seems like all the jobs in geology are in the mining industry (especially in Western Australia) but what other jobs are available for geologists??

I don't know anyone working in either of these fields personally and my science teachers at school are more into chemistry/ physics so it would be great if anyone here could help me

If you are interested in land rehabilitation, you'd be targetting work with engineering firms and/or environmental consulting companies. It's a relatively new field quickly coming on line. Long term prospects should be good, but don't take my word for it. See if you can find some trade statistics from the Australian government's website. There should be some in terms of job prospects.

If I were getting into that field, I'd do a geology major with a focus on environmental geology and geochemistry, backed by an environmental science/soil science/ecology minor. You're not limited to that of course, but such a stream would benefit you in any master's work you might do in the area, which is *not* necessary, but useful.

Most geology jobs are with mining or exploration. If you know that's not your thing, don't force it. Other opportunities are available such as work with the geological survey, and of course, research with universities, but that requires a lot more education that just a B.Sc.

Thanks for your reply!

I like both geology and biology and I kept considering my options as either:
-Land rehabilitation
-Geology
-Or doing two consecutive degrees

But I didn't want to do two consecutive degress because I want to stay on for at least honours. I didn't even realise I could do a mix of geology and environmental science etc. as majors/minors but that sounds like a good option so your reply was very helpful

Hi Kaiy,

are you thinking of studying at Curtin, or at UWA?

From memory, Curtin university had an environmental geology stream/option within their BSc (geology) ... might that suit?

The School of Geology at Curtin includes the WA School of Mines in Kalgoorlie, and have campuses elsewhere (including Indonesia).

EISs (environmental impact studies) and minesite rehabilitation are now integral to the mining approval process; larger resource companies are sponsoring/training and employing their own ... many smaller companies still contract out for these ...

water catchment management and urban planning authorities also make use of environmental geologists ...

Hi hi Cran,
Yay WA people!

I'm actually thinking more about studying at UWA (location, location), but gosh you've made those courses at Curtin sound good. I've found out that that I can't do Geology and Restoration Ecology at the same time because the latter is only available at Albany... I can't cycle that far...

But anyway, minesite rehabilitation is something I'm quite interested in. Do you think that doing a geology major and some biology units will get me into the field?

Hi Kaiy

I don't see why not, especially if you make it known that's what you want to do -
I found that most lecturers and department heads were very helpful in that way;
even to suggesting better options (subjects) than the ones I first had in mind for my own studies.