A new competition for young arborists – The New Arborist of the Year contest – has taken Australia by storm. And it’s here to stay.
Making its debut alongside the Australian Tree Climbing Championships in Canberra in March, the competition was an instant hit. Designed for arborists in their first three years of industry, it’s all about celebrating skill development, encouraging new talent, and creating connections in a fun and supportive environment.
Originally a long-standing success in New Zealand, the competition was backed by the New Zealand Arboriculture Association and was launched in Australia by Arboriculture Australia (Arb Aus). Arb Aus had to modify the NZ version for practical reasons, but also wanted to open it up to non-climbers and make it accessible for all new arborists.
What did competitors say?
Katie McMahon emerged as the winner of the first-ever event.
Encouraged by her brother to join the industry, Katie began working with him doing residential tree works in Armidale, NSW, in 2023. After completing her Certificate III in Arboriculture, she recently started as a Tree Maintenance Officer with Armidale Regional Council.
“I was completely shocked to win and it still hasn’t sunk in yet!” shared Katie. “I’m so grateful to the other competitors, Arboriculture Australia, the judges, sponsors, and volunteers who made it such a great day. The New Arborist of the Year webpage said ‘There’s lots to gain and nothing to lose,’ which prompted me to enter. I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet other new arborists and challenge myself.
“I’m really excited to be working in arboriculture. It’s a welcoming and supportive industry, and it was great to learn about the variety of roles and opportunities in Canberra.”
Another competitor, Brad Hocking, is in his third year in the industry and decided to compete while he still had the chance. He shared, “It looked like it could be fun and I like to challenge myself. I was excited to be a part of something new, and it was an opportunity to be involved in the Tree Climbing Championships. I volunteered on the day prior.”
Brad felt it was very easy to get involved.
“It was an inclusive and supportive environment,” he continued. “Competitions like this can seem intimidating from the outside, but all competitors in our event and the extremely friendly and open. It was a fun day and a great networking opportunity.”
Alex Doyle also competed on the day and commented, “I decided to take part to meet and connect with other arborists. I wanted to be there, and to see the other events that took place on the day as well. I really enjoyed it; it was a good chance to test my skills against others.”
An unforgettable atmosphere
From start to finish, the event was buzzing with camaraderie, encouragement, and a sense of inclusivity. The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly, and pressure-free, allowing competitors to focus on showcasing their skills without unnecessary stress.
Every element of the competition was thoughtfully designed to ensure a level playing field for everyone. Instead of competing under watchful eyes, knot tying and worksite safety assessments were done individually, eliminating direct comparisons and allowing participants to focus on their own performance. In a move to accommodate different learning styles, the worksite safety assessment was done vocally, giving those who find written assessments challenging a chance to shine.
The emphasis on inclusion and accessibility was intentional—and it worked. The event wasn’t just about competition; it was about learning, growing, and celebrating the arboriculture community together.
Thoughts from organisers and volunteers
Organiser of the event was Alex Wilson, Business Development Manager, Arboriculture Australia.
“The award is about celebrating our passion for the industry and for young arborists’ eagerness to learn,” explained Alex. “We wanted to introduce competitors to the arboriculture community so they can grow their network and see they have plenty of people to call on for advice and support.”Rebecca Barnes was a co-organiser and key adjudicator of the competition.
“When I first started in the arboriculture industry, there were limited role models for people like me – for instance, someone of smaller stature, not really physically strong, a woman,” Rebecca said. “It’s important to keep progressing our industry and bringing new people in. This is not a one-type-fits-all industry, we need different people to be engaged. We should be promoting arboriculture as a vast industry with lots of career opportunities. If young people are not aware of this, they may not be interested in a career in arboriculture.
“Trees are forever important, especially now with climate change, and more people than ever need to understand the value of trees.”
Arb Australia Board Director – and one of the competition judges – Royce Turner shared his thoughts on the event, saying, “I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a great way to ease into the main competition.
“The national climbing championship is a high-level event that demands focus and precision, but the New Arborist of the Year competition had a more relaxed and supportive atmosphere. It was really about the competitors refining their skills and gaining confidence. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for young arborists—it’s still an arborist contest, but without the added pressure of the main event.”
Mona Bruckhoff, Arb Australia Board Director, was another key volunteer and organiser at the event. She said she wanted to help because it was a great initiative.
“It was a first of its kind for Australia and I wanted to be part of working to make it an annual event,” she said: “We need to open our conversation as to what is out there in our industry; and it’s a broad range of skills that we need. The better we are at sharing this, the more information younger generations will have, and this will help encourage them to get involved in this industry.”
What did sponsors say?
Besides the organisers, volunteers and competitors, the sponsors were integral in making the event happen. PST (Power Safety Training) and Skills Insight were the official sponsors, with CSP Distribution supplying a pack of gear on the day.
“We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors, and they were and passionate about this event from the very beginning,” said Alex Wilson. “The event was a huge success and ran smoothly from start to finish, all thanks to the dedication of the volunteers and the generous support from our sponsors.”
Rebecca Savige from PST added, “As an RTO, it made sense to sponsor this event. We are here to train new arborists, and Katie McMahon, who won the event, is actually one of our trainees. This event acknowledges newcomers and makes them feel valued.”
Skills Insight was another key sponsor of the event. Michael Hartman, CEO at Skills Insight explained, “The New Arborist of the Year Award is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate fresh talent and encourage skill development in the arboriculture industry. Skills Insight was proud to support this award, which showcased the skill and passion of new entrants, and highlighted the training and expertise required for a career in arboriculture.”
Why is this event important to the industry?
“The New Arborist of the Year Award provides an exciting and engaging opportunity for new industry entrants to challenge themselves and find satisfaction in their skill development. The competition provides recognition of the many skills arborists possess, from working with rope, to a knowledge of trees, as well as essential safety practices.” Michael Hartman said.
Alex Witt, Director of CSP Distribution, who supplied showbags and throwline kits for the competition, commented, “We have been supporting the arboriculture industry for 30 years, and have always been at the competitions to promote the high standards of the industry. It is generally difficult to attract new people to the industry, and this event offers a fun and educational way to get young people interested. That’s why we are happy to support it.”
Stay tuned for more exciting updates as the competition continues to grow and inspire the next generation of arborists.
Events
The New Arborist of the Year competition was comprised of five events:
1. Tree ID
2. Knot tying
3. Throwline
4. Worksite safety assessment
5. Quick-fire quiz.
All skills and knowledge tests were based on the Minimum Industry Standards (3 Series) books, core references in the Certificate III Arboriculture.
Looking ahead
The winner’s trophy was donated by Treasuring our Trees, a volunteer-led non-profit initiative that repurposes fallen trees for sustainable projects such as garden furniture, school equipment, nature trails, veggie gardens, and much more.
The New Arborist of the Year Competition is set to become an annual fixture, with the next competition planned for Hobart in April 2026.
To stay up to date with all Arboriculture Australia’s activities, log on to trees.org.au.
