About the Role

A core pillar for the AM is to ‘Be a Leader and Advocate for First Nations History’ and a key part of ensuring this is attained is to increase Pasifika representation in the team. The role has recently been reviewed and updated to an identified role to increase Pasifika representation.

The Pasifika Collection Officer, First Nations is an identified position responsible for the engagement, interpretation, research, tracking, logistics, storage and housing, and handling aspects of the Australian Museum’s Pasifika Collections which are located across several AM sites. The role is full time, temporary for 1 year, with the opportunity of extension.

The role will work with Pasifika communities through consultations and collaboration on research, projects, and online content to ensure the information shared is culturally appropriate, community-led and enriches the care and understanding of the collection.

The Pasifika Collections Officer utilises collections management systems to contribute to the accessibility of the Pasifika Collections. They will assist in the movement of objects to facilitate the reproduction of images of collection items for internal or external purposes, and provide information/drafting assistance for attributions, copyright and commercial arrangements.

This role also administers appropriate access for contractors, community stakeholders, researchers and interns/volunteers, as appropriate and approved by Pasifika and First Nations management.

Please note candidates will be informed of the result in mid-January 2024, and the employment starts in February 2024.

Click on the following links to begin the journey to find your new career at the AM

• Role Description
• AM Candidate Pack

You will be paid a competitive annual salary of $79,032- $86,539, plus the employer's contribution to superannuation (currently 11%) and annual leave loading.

About You

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Experience regarding Pasifika arts and cultural practices, including understanding and applying Pasifika cultural heritage management and cultural protocols.
• Proven ability to develop and care for cultural collections of high quality, including the ability to recognise the quality of objects, their conditions, provenance, and authenticity.
• Demonstrated experience in contemporary collection management practices, including the use of databases such as KE EMu or similar.
• Data manipulation and database skills, including data entry, data clean up, Excel proficiency, and file management.
• Experience in the professional handling, packing, transport and storage of cultural objects.
• Application of culturally appropriate collection practices, cultural awareness, and terminology in order to perform in processes that are culturally aware and appropriate. Capacity to embed ICIP into work practice.
• Proven record in community consultation, especially with Pasifika communities in the Pacific region as well as in diaspora communities in Australia.
• Flexibility for early starts, and occasional night and weekend work where appropriate if negotiated with manager.
• Holds a current full NSW Driver’s Licence. The role holder must be prepared to travel between the AM’s various sites which holds its collections, and to external stakeholders as needed to support the work of the Pasifika Collections & Engagement team.

Essential requirements

• Pacific Islander descent - Pacific Islander descent is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
• Appropriate approved tertiary qualifications in a relevant subject area, or relevant equivalent professional practice and research experience.

About The Australian Museum

The Australian Museum is truly a great place to work. We aim to be a leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth and culture in Australia and the Pacific. We commit to transform the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation; be a strong advocate for First Nations’ culture; and continue to develop world-leading science, collections, exhibitions and education programs.

Recent staff survey results confirm that our staff feel valued, accepted and supported and that they believe the AM is an inclusive workplace. AM staff also report a high level of job satisfaction.

The AM is located on the homelands of the Gadigal people and acknowledges and pays respect to the Gadigal people as the custodians of the land, sky and waterways, paying respect to Elders past and present.

Check out our current exhibitions and events here.

Benefits

Besides working together with other like-minded people, you will have access to professional development and dedicated Wellbeing programs.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must submit (if submitted as attachment, please upload as PDF):

• A one to two page covering letter which addresses the role description’s key knowledge and experience
• Resume

As part of the online application process, you will be prompted to answer two targeted questions.

1. Please outline the things you would need to consider in ensuring how you work safely in Pasifika collections. Your answer should also outline why are these are important. (300 words maximum)
2. Please describe an example from a project you have worked on that involved working with Pasifika objects and information. (300 words maximum)

For more details, Frequently Asked Questions and how to apply for the role go to I Work for NSW.

The successful applicant will be subject to national criminal records check. As recommended by Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the Australian Museum encourages all applicants who can be safely vaccinated for COVID-19, to be so.

Contact person: Melissa Malu, Manager Pasifika Collections & Engagement, [email protected] using the subject line: Pasifika Collection Officer - First Nations enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Inclusive and welcoming

The Australian Museum is an NSW Public Service organisation and aims to attract and retain the right people for the right jobs. The AM is a diverse and inclusive workplace where genuine participation and contribution is enabled, and everyone, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances is valued, accepted and supported to thrive at work.

This means that we are embedding diversity and inclusion in everything we do on a daily basis, whether it be our recruitment processes, workplace culture, career development programs, customer service or policies and procedures. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment process to better enable you to shine, please reach out to the contact person or note this in your application.