 He joined the Indian Forest Service in Burma in 1907 but returned to Australia in 1909 to teach at Geelong Church of England Grammar School.In 1910, as instructor in forestry for the South Australian Department of Woods and Forests, Jolly founded the first course in higher forestry training in Australia.From 1911 to 1918, he was Director of Forestry in Queensland, and then became Commissioner of Forests in New South Wales.