Geelong Cemeteries Trust
Geelong | Permanent Full Time
- Join an essential community service making a genuine difference
- Permanent full-time positions with ongoing training and development
- Varied, hands-on role in a supportive and respectful team environment
- Secure, permanent employment in an essential services organisation
At Geelong Cemeteries Trust (GCT), our employees take pride in caring for some of the region’s most significant places, working together in a supportive team environment where respect, safety and continuous learning are valued. We are a community-based organisation dedicated to serving the diverse needs of the communities we support. As a values-driven and forward-thinking sector leader, we deliver essential services across our iconic sites with care, professionalism, and integrity.
We take pride in the quality of our work and the compassion we bring to everything we do, recognising the important role our services play for families and the broader community.
We are seeking two motivated and reliable Gravedigger/Groundsperson to join our Outdoor Operations team.
This is a hands-on role responsible for preparing graves to the highest standard, ensuring funeral services can proceed safely, professionally and on schedule. Working across multiple cemetery locations, you will also assist with the ongoing presentation and maintenance of our beautiful grounds, helping create peaceful and respectful environments for the families and communities we serve.
No two days are the same. One day you may be preparing burial sites and operating specialised earthmoving equipment, while the next may involve grounds maintenance, landscaping, cemetery improvements or supporting funeral operations. You will play an important role in providing respectful spaces that mean so much to families and our community.
While previous cemetery experience is not essential, experience in civil construction, earthmoving equipment or similar practical outdoor roles will be highly regarded. Full training will be provided to the successful applicants.
As part of a permanent position within an essential services organisation, you’ll enjoy secure employment together with an hourly rate between $34.67 – $39.00 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience, with annual increases provided in accordance with the Geelong Cemeteries Trust Enterprise Agreement 2025 -2029.
In addition to salary, employees enjoy a range of employment benefits, including fully funded training and development, uniforms, PPE and a laundry allowance, access to company vehicles for work-related travel, free onsite parking, and access to an Employee Assistance Program.
In this role, you will play an important part in maintaining our sites to a high standard and supporting our community through meaningful work. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- Preparing graves safely, accurately and within required timeframes for scheduled funeral services.
- Backfilling and reinstating graves following burials with care and attention to detail.
- Operating a variety of plant and equipment including excavators, backhoes, tractors, mowers and other grounds maintenance machinery.
- Undertaking grounds maintenance including mowing, brush cutting, gardening, landscaping and cemetery presentation.
- Assisting with funeral operations in a respectful, dignified and professional manner.
- Undertaking minor construction, maintenance and landscaping works across GCT sites.
- Working collaboratively with colleagues while maintaining high standards of workplace health and safety.
- Participating in ongoing training and continuous improvement initiatives.
This role offers the opportunity to take pride in practical, hands-on work while contributing to the presentation, safety, and care of places that are deeply important to the community.
We are seeking someone who is reliable, motivated and enjoys practical outdoor work. You don’t need previous cemetery experience, we arere looking for the right attitude, a willingness to learn and someone who takes pride in doing meaningful work as part of a supportive team.
To be successful in this role you will:
- Hold a current Victorian Driver Licence (essential).
- Be physically fit and capable of undertaking demanding manual work in all weather conditions.
- Demonstrate a respectful, compassionate and professional approach when working around funerals, bereaved families and members of the community.
- Be reliable, punctual and able to work effectively within a team.
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to workplace health and safety.
- Be willing and able to obtain a Heavy Rigid (HR) Truck Licence within six months of commencing employment if not already held.
The following experience, licences or competencies will be highly regarded, but are not essential:
- HR Truck Licence
- Excavator competency or licence
- Backhoe competency or licence
- Dogging licence
- White Card
- Experience operating earthmoving or civil construction plant
- Experience in landscaping, civil construction, parks and gardens, local government or cemetery operations
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys practical outdoor work, values teamwork and wants to build a rewarding career in an organisation that makes a genuine difference to the local community. If you’re looking for secure employment with full training and opportunities to develop, we’d love to hear from you.
In return, we offer a rewarding opportunity within a respected and essential services organisation, including:
- Secure permanent full-time employment
- Ongoing training and career development
- Fully funded opportunities to obtain additional licences and competencies
- 12 rostered days off (RDOs) each year (after probationary period)
- Uniforms, PPE and laundry allowance
- Supportive team culture
- Employee Assistance Program
- Free onsite parking
- Meaningful work that directly supports families and the wider community
This is a role where your work truly matters. Every day you will contribute to maintaining beautiful cemetery grounds while helping provide dignified and respectful services for families during some of life’s most important moments.
If this opportunity sounds right for you, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and cover letter via SEEK by 12:00pm on Tuesday 11 August 2026.
Successful candidates will also be required to complete pre-employment checks, including a National Police Check and medical assessment (inclusive of drug and alcohol testing).
Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and we are not accepting agency referrals at this time.
Geelong Cemeteries Trust is committed to being a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We encourage applications from people of all genders, ages, cultural backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with varied life experiences. Adjustments to the recruitment process are available on request.
