Terms and conditions
Before applying for one of our current vacancies, you should read the following information about the Australia Council, the overview of the terms and conditions of employment and the responsibilities as an employee of the Australia Council.
Mission/Vision/Goals
Our vision is to enrich our nation by supporting and promoting the practice and enjoyment of the arts.
Our misson is to:
- Enable Australia's arts and its artists to pursue excellence
- Preserve, maintain and develop the distinctive features of Australia's culture
- Ensure all Australians have the opportunity to engage with the arts and to enjoy a rich cultural life
- Shape a future Australia in which the arts play a meaningful and vital role in everyday life.
Recruitment and selection
To fulfill its functions (mission and vision) and achieve its Corporate Goals the organisation recruits and selects people with a wide range of skills, capabilities and experience.
The Australia Council normally advertises roles on www.seek.com.au and www.artshub.com.au and/or in the Sydney Morning Herald or the Weekend Australian. Other publications may be targeted for specific vacancies.
If you are interested in an advertised vacancy, please submit an application, addressing the competency requirements, which is then considered along with other applications. For more information to assist you with your application you should read How to apply for a role at the Australia Council and the Australia Council interview guide.
Applicants for ongoing roles must hold Australian citizenship or permanent residency. Applicants for non-ongoing or contract roles must possess a current work permit that permits employment in Australia for the duration of the role. Evidence of the above must be included in applications or produced at interview.
Employment types
The Australia Council Act established the organisation as a statutory authority in 1975 with a substantial measure of independence. This allows the Australia Council to provide support for the arts without direct government intervention in the direction or expression for forms of the arts and our employees are employed under Section 41 of the act.
We employ people as either ongoing, non-ongoing or contract employees:
Ongoing employees
It is common for ongoing employees to be appointed initially with a probationary period, which usually lasts for a period of three months from commencement. Terms and conditions of ongoing employees are those contained in the Australia Council Certified Agreement 2006-2009, or its replacements.
Non-Ongoing employees
Non-ongoing employees are employed for either a specified period of time, a specific task or on a casual basis. These engagements may be for periods ranging from one day up to five years depending on the requirements of the organisation. Terms and conditions of non-ongoing employees are those contained in the Australia Council Certified Agreement 2006-2009, or its replacements.
Contract employees
Contract employees are provided with an Individual Employment Agreement.
Each advertised vacancy identifies the type of employment for that role.
Employment conditions and benefits
This is a brief overview of the most important employment conditions:
Position profile and classification level
Each role at the Australia Council is outlined in a position profile that clearly defines role purpose, competency requirements, result areas, key challenges and key relationships.
You should be aware that applicants are selected to meet the requirements of a particular role. However, engagement is at the classification level of the role rather than to the particular role itself. This means that you may (request to) be reassigned to another role at your classification level if your skills, capabilities and experience may be of more value to another area within the organisation.
Salary on commencement
On commencement, it is likely that you will be paid at the minimum point of the salary range of the classification level of your role, unless your experience, qualifications or skills supported a salary to be paid above the minimum.
Please note that in advertisements we usually state the maximum total remuneration package possible, made up of the maximum point of the salary range for that role plus employer's contribution to superannuation, as defined by the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS).
Working hours
Full-time employees are required to work 36.75 hours per week - equivalent to seven hours and twenty-one minutes a day for five days each week. These hours are regarded as 'standard hours'. Employees employed at a classification level up to and including Band 3 operate under flex time arrangements.
Leave entitlements
We provide:
- 20 days recreational leave (also known as annual leave)
- personal leave: to be used for sick leave, carer's leave and household emergencies
- purchased leave: opportunity to purchase extra recreational leave
- paid maternity and adoption leave.
Optional employment benefits
Salary packaging: a flexible remuneration option that enables you to maximise your income by receiving part of your remuneration in a form other than take-home pay
Arts giving: an employee payroll work-place giving program that provides you with the opportunity to donate to arts and cultural organisations
Employee Assistance Program: a confidential and initially free of charge counseling service provided by WorkCare Australia
Fit for Work scheme: reimbursement of health related activities for employees with a medical and/or OH&S condition
Study assistance: an opportunity for employees to apply for financial assistance and study leave to assist with work related studies.
Responsibilities as an employee of the Australia Council
The Australia Council is and must be publicly accountable for both its policies and its management. This means that the Australian public has the right to expect the highest standards of service and achievements from the Australia Council and its employees, and that is what we aim to provide.
Appointments to the Australia Council are made in accordance with Workplace Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity principles.
The Australia Council is a workplace where work related discrimination and harassment are not accepted and are dealt with fairly, discretely, promptly and confidentially. Employees are responsible to at all times operate in a way that contributes to the workplace and is free of discrimination, harassment or bullying behaviour.
The Australia Council is committed to providing and maintaining a healthy and safe working environment. Employees are responsible for taking action to prevent damage to the health and safety of self, other people and/or to property and for taking prompt and correct action when actual damage occurs.
The Australia Council is a smoke free workplace. Employees and others working or visiting the Australia Council are not permitted to smoke in the workplace.