Welcome to the Team

Environmental Restoration Specialists - NSW & QLD - Over 25 Years of Experience

We're glad you're here

Toolijooa is a specialist environmental restoration company operating across New South Wales and Queensland. We restore native bushland, manage invasive species, and work with government and private clients to protect Australia's unique ecosystems.

This onboarding page contains everything you need to know before your first day. Please read each section carefully and complete the acknowledgement form at the bottom.

ISO 45001

WHS Management

25+ Years

Industry Experience

ISO 14001

Enviro Management

NSW & QLD

Operating Regions

Read all section on this page

Download both information statements

Read all policies and acknowledge in MYOB

Book your audiometric test (Actevate)

Complete the acknowledgement form

Your Employment

Key terms and conditions of your employment with Toolijooa

Letter of Appointment

Your Letter of Appointment sets out the specific terms of your employment including your position, pay rate, employment type, and start date. Please read it carefully and retain a copy.

National Employment Standards (NES)

The NES are 11 minimum employment entitlements that apply to all employees under the Fair Work Act 2009. These include minimum hours, leave entitlements, notice periods, and more. The Fair Work Information Statement (downloadable below) outlines your NES rights.

Permanent Employees

  • Personal/carer's leave: 10 days per year (full-time), pro-rated for part-time

  • Long service leave as per NSW legislation

  • Parental leave as per the NES

Casual Employees

  • Employed on an as-needed basis — no guaranteed hours

  • Receive a 25% casual loading in lieu of leave entitlements

  • Eligible to request conversion to permanent after 6 months of regular work

  • Please read the Casual Employment Information Statement

Hours of Work

Standard working hours: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm

Rosters are emailed out weekly on a Friday afternoon

Actual hours may vary depending on project requirements. Your Supervisor will advise you of any variations.

Rain Days & Wet Weather

If work cannot proceed due to wet weather:

  • Contact your supervisor as early as possible to check if work is going ahead

  • Casual employees: no pay if work is cancelled before starting

  • If work commences and is then cancelled due to rain: minimum 3 hours pay applies

  • Any work in excess of 3 hours is paid at normal rates

Applicable Award

Employment at Toolijooa is governed by the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award 2020. This award sets minimum pay rates, allowances, and conditions. Your Letter of Appointment will specify your classification level.

Performance Checks

All new employees serve a performance check period of 6 months. Check-ins happen at these intervals:

Rosters & Availability

Rosters are prepared in advance. You are required to:

  • Advise your Supervisor of any unavailability as early as possible

  • Provide a minimum of 2 weeks notice for planned leave

  • Be contactable during rostered hours

Availability Changes

If your availability changes, notify your Project Manager immediately. Last-minute cancellations affect the whole crew and our clients.

Workers Compensation

Toolijooa maintains Workers Compensation insurance for all employees.

  • If injured at work, report it to your Supervisor or Manager immediately

  • Complete the necessary documentation as soon as possible

  • Workers Compensation Insurer: iCare NSW, Workcover QLD

Return to Work Coordinator: Candice McLintock — HR Manager

Pay & Leave

How and when you are paid, and your leave entitlements.

Wages & Payroll

  • Wages are paid fortnightly by direct debit

  • You will receive an email to log in to MYOB to view your payslips

  • Pay rates are set by the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award 2020

  • Your specific rate is detailed in your Letter of Appointment

Annual Leave (Permanent Staff)

Permanent staff are entitled to paid annual leave as per the National Employment Standards (NES):

  • 4 weeks per year for full-time employees

  • Pro-rated for part-time employees based on ordinary hours

  • Leave must be approved in advance by your Manager

  • Leave loading may apply as per the Award

Superannuation

  • Toolijooa pays a superannuation levy of 12% of your wages

  • Super is paid into your nominated fund each payday (fortnight)

  • You may nominate your preferred super fund — otherwise the default fund applies

Personal / Carer's Leave

As per the National Employment Standards (NES):

  • 10 days paid personal/carer's leave per year (perm full-time)

  • Pro-rated for part-time employees

  • Casual employees are not entitled to paid personal leave

  • A medical certificate may be required for absences of 3 or more consecutive days

  • Notify your Supervisor as early as possible if you are unable to attend work

Equipment, Clothing & Tools

What Toolijooa provides and your responsibilities for care and maintenance.

Getting Your Uniform & Tools

Your Project Manager or Project Officer will be in contact to organise your work uniform and tool pickup before you start. If you haven't heard

from them within a few days of your start date, reach out to your Manager directly.

Clothing & Uniform

All field workers must wear:

  • Long pants

  • Long-sleeve Toolijooa shirt (provided)

  • Steel cap, lace-up boots

  • Broad-brimmed hat (provided — mandatory outdoors)

    Boot reimbursement: Up to $240 after 6 weeks. Send photo + receipt to your Project Manager.

Clothing Care

  • Wash work clothing regularly

  • Do not use bleach or harsh chemicals on Toolijooa-branded items

  • Report worn or damaged PPE to your Supervisor for replacement

  • Keep boots clean and in good repair

Actevate NSW Locations

  • Sydney CBD

  • Parramatta

  • Penrith

  • Campbelltown

  • Wollongong

  • Brookvale

  • Additional sites around NSW

  • Additional sites in QLD

Call to book: 1300 663 155

Tools

  • All issued items are recorded

  • Bring all allocated tools to site daily

  • Report any damage or loss immediately

  • Costs for lost/damaged tools may require reimbursement

  • Return all tools clean at end of employment

Personal Protective Equipment

Toolijooa provides all staff with:

  • Gloves

  • Safety vests

  • Safety glasses & broad-brimmed hat

  • Hard hats

    Gumboots: Reimbursed up to $50.00 per year (receipt required).

    Prescription safety glasses: Reimbursed up to $235.00 by approval — speak to your Manager.

Debugger — Tick & Mosquito Protection

Toolijooa strongly encourages all field staff to use Debugger on their work clothing. It significantly reduces the risk of tick and mosquito bites in the field.

  • Soak your work clothes in Debugger once every 6 months as instructed on the box

  • Toolijooa will reimburse the cost of Debugger — keep your receipt and submit to your Project Manager

Audiometric Testing — Required Before or Within 2 Weeks of Starting

Toolijooa is required to provide audiometric testing to all workers (except Hunter Region), as field staff are frequently required to use hearing protection (PPE) to protect against noise-induced hearing loss.

We've engaged Actevate to perform these tests at no cost to you. Please book yourself in for the 15-minute test by calling 1300 663 155.

Hunter Region - Medical Assessment Required

If you are joining the Hunter Region team, medical assessment is required rather than the Audio. The team will be in contact to organise.

Induction Pay

Toolijooa pays 4 hours for your Toolijooa Induction, which includes the audiometric test.

Please make sure you get yourself booked in as soon as possible — this is a legal requirement under WHS legislation.

No cost to you

The audiometric test is fully paid for by Toolijooa. You will also be paid for your time attending the test as part of your induction hours.

Training Record — Print & Bring on Day 1

Please print off the Training Record and give it to your Supervisor on your first day in the field. This is part of your induction process. If you cannot print this document, please speak to your Manager.

WHS & Safety

Your safety is our highest priority. Toolijooa is certified to ISO 45001 (WHS) and ISO 14001 (EMS).

ISO 45001 & ISO 14001 Certified

Toolijooa holds both ISO 45001 (WHS Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) certifications — the international standards for workplace safety and environmental management systems.

This means we have robust systems in place to identify, assess, and control workplace hazards and environmental impacts.

Emergency Contacts

SafeWork NSW

13 10 50

‍ ‍EAP — PeopleSense (free & confidential)

1300 307 912

SafeWork QLD

1300 362 128

WHS Safety Rules — All Field Staff

These rules apply to all Toolijooa field staff at all times on site.

Chemical Handling

  • Always read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before using any chemical

  • Wear all required PPE when handling chemicals

  • Never mix chemicals unless specifically instructed

  • Store chemicals in their original labelled containers

  • Report any spills immediately to your Supervisor

Manual Handling

  • Use correct lifting technique — bend your knees, keep your back straight

  • Ask for help or use mechanical aids for heavy loads

  • Report any pain or discomfort to your Supervisor immediately

  • Rotate tasks to avoid repetitive strain

Working Near Traffic

  • Always wear your hi-vis vest when working near roads

  • Follow all traffic management plans on site

  • Never assume drivers can see you

  • Report any traffic management concerns to your Supervisor

Your Legal Responsibilities

  • Take reasonable care of your own health and safety

  • Take reasonable care that your actions don't adversely affect others

  • Comply with all reasonable WHS instructions from Toolijooa

  • Report all hazards, near-misses, and incidents to your Supervisor immediately

  • Follow the Safe System of Work that Toolijooa has established for all tasks — this includes site-specific procedures, safe work method statements (SWMS), and any task-specific instructions provided by your Supervisor

Power Tools & Equipment

  • Only use equipment you have been trained and authorised to use

  • Inspect all equipment before use — report defects immediately

  • Never remove or bypass safety guards

  • Switch off and isolate equipment before cleaning or adjusting

  • Store equipment safely after use

Sun Safety

  • Wear your broad-brimmed hat at all times outdoors (mandatory)

  • Apply SPF 50+ sunscreen before starting work

  • Wear long-sleeve UV-protective clothing

  • Take shade breaks during peak UV hours (10am–2pm)

  • Stay hydrated — drink water regularly throughout the day

Incident Reporting

  • Report ALL incidents, near-misses, and hazards — no matter how minor

  • Do not disturb the scene of a serious incident

  • Provide first aid if trained and safe to do so

  • Complete an incident report form as soon as possible after the event

  • WHS concerns: contact your manager.

Tick Safety — Important Field Information

Working in Australian bushland means regular exposure to ticks. Please read this carefully before your first day in the field.

Why Ticks Are a Serious Risk

The Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) can cause severe allergic

reactions, including anaphylaxis. There have been at least three deaths from anaphylactic reactions and over 800 cases of Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA) linked to tick bites in Australia.

  • Can induce paralysis in humans and companion animals

  • Can cause life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)

  • Can cause Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA)

  • Can transmit Queensland Tick Typhus (Rickettsia australis)

Prevention Tips

  • Use Debugger on your clothing (see Equipment section)

  • Tuck pants into socks and shirt into pants on site

  • Check yourself for ticks after every field day

  • Pay attention to hairline, behind ears, armpits, and groin

More information: tiara.org.au

Correct Tick Removal — Freeze, Don't Squeeze

NEVER pull, twist, or squeeze a tick with tweezers. This increases the risk of allergic reaction by injecting more venom.

Instead:

  • Kill the tick in situ using an ether-based freezing spray (e.g. Tick Off) or permethrin cream (Lyclear)

  • All supervisors carry these products in their first aid kits

  • Wait for the tick to die before removing

  • Seek medical attention if you develop any allergic symptoms

Freeze don't squeeze.

If You Find a Tick

  • Stay calm — do not scratch or squeeze

  • Inform your Supervisor immediately

  • Use the ether-based freezing spray from the first aid kit

  • Wait for the tick to die before attempting removal

  • Seek medical attention if you feel unwell, develop a rash, or have difficulty breathing

  • Report the incident to your Supervisor for WHS records

Company Standards & Conduct

The expectations Toolijooa has for all team members and how performance is managed.

Team Expectations

  • Carry out all work in a professional manner at all times

  • Be courteous and polite to all client representatives and members of the public

  • Report any incidents or complaints involving the public to your Supervisor immediately

  • Maintain work quality to the highest standard at all times

  • Be on-site, ready to commence work at the rostered start time

Punctuality

All staff must be on-site, appropriately dressed with all required tools, ready to commence work at the rostered start time.

Late Arrival Policy

If you expect to be late, please contact your Supervisor as soon as possible. Your timesheet should always reflect your actual start time. Ongoing or repeated late arrivals may result in performance management.

Mobile Phones & Earbuds

  • Personal mobile phones must not be used during work time without prior approval by your supervisor

  • Mobile phones may only be used during scheduled breaks (morning tea and lunch) or with approval from your Supervisor

  • One earbud may be worn during approved low-risk tasks (e.g. hand weeding, hand planting or spraying), as determined by your Supervisor.

  • Earbuds must not be worn while operating machinery or powered equipment

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Toolijooa provides a free, confidential counselling service for all employees and their family members through PeopleSense.

They can help with depression, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, work-related problems, grief, trauma, and more.

Career Progression

Toolijooa has 9 pay categories for field staff, from Trainee Level 1 through to Site Manager. Progression is based on regular assessment, qualifications, and formal appraisals.

Additional positions — including supervisory and specialist roles — are available depending on company need, your skillset, and appraisal outcomes.

Unacceptable Behaviour

The following will not be tolerated:

  • Offensive or discourteous behaviour towards team members, clients, or the public

  • Failure to follow instructions of a Supervisor or Manager

  • Failure to maintain an acceptable work rate

  • Smoking on site during work hours, or in any company office or vehicle

  • Failure to abide by Toolijooa policies and procedures

Grievances

Toolijooa is committed to providing a productive and harmonious work environment. If you have a grievance:

Social Media & Confidentiality

Toolijooa employees are expected to maintain confidentiality at all times regarding:

  • Client information, site locations, and project details

  • Internal company information, pricing, and business strategies

  • Personal information about colleagues

Do not post images or information about Toolijooa clients, sites, or work activities on social media without prior approval from Management.

Please download and read both information statements below. You are required to confirm you have read and understood these documents.

Required Documents

Fair Work Information Statement

This document is required to be provided to all new employees under the Fair Work Act 2009. It outlines your rights and entitlements under the National Employment Standards (NES), including minimum conditions of employment, the right to request flexible working arrangements, parental leave, and how to resolve workplace disputes.

Fair Work Information Statement

Casual Employment Information Statement

This document must be provided to all casual employees under the Fair Work Act 2009. It outlines the definition of casual employment, your entitlements as a casual employee, the casual conversion pathway, and your right to request a change to permanent employment after 6 months.

Casual Employment Information Statement

Complete Your Acknowledgement

Once you have read through this onboarding page and downloaded both information statements, please complete the acknowledgement form below to confirm you have read and understood the information.

By completing this form, you confirm that you have:

  • Read and understood the Toolijooa Team Member Manual

  • Read and understood the WHS & EMS Induction Manual

  • Downloaded and read the Fair Work Information Statement

  • Downloaded and read the Casual Employment Information Statement (if applicable)

  • Understood your rights, responsibilities, and obligations as a Toolijooa team member

  • Had the opportunity to ask questions about any of the above

Acknowledgement

This form opens in Microsoft Forms. You will need to provide your name and your Project Manager's name.