Pros
A company full of wonderful, passionate ecologists and restoration team members. A great stepping stone in your career for the wide variety of projects and experience working across govt/private sectors. Some really fun work to be done and a good amount of time spent in the great outdoors.
Cons
The pay is abysmal for the work that is done, especially when you are normally required to have a masters degree to work for the company. The workload for those in management positions is even worse and I definitely worry for the mental health of most team leaders. The amount that is expected for you to put in (including your own money for field gear) is not up to par with the pay. The company offer just over $100 per annum for field gear, whilst a sturdy pair of hiking boots (which you will destroy doing field work) will set you back around $400. The health and safety is a box ticking exercise, full of bureaucratic nonsense. This is often the case with health and safety, and is often necessary. However, Wildlands manages to exacerbate all of the bureaucracy, while producing sub-par outcomes. As soon as money needs to be spent, wildlands wants to throw the onus back onto the employee. Need an emergency bivvy in case you break your leg and need to wait to be rescued? Better buy one yourself. Need some study clothing so you can bash through prickly plants on field work? Better buy it yourself. Need an Epipen in case you tread on a wasp nest and get stung by 1000 wasps? Better make sure you're not allergic, or else buy one yourself.
