Education and Public Programs Assistant

Drive bookings and support education programs while delivering engaging tours for schools and the public.

Our Organisation

The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust is responsible for the management of Sydney Harbour sites including Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, Woolwich Dock and Parklands in Woolwich, Sub Base Platypus in North Sydney, Georges Heights, Middle Head and Chowder Bay in Mosman, North Head Sanctuary in Manly, Marine Biological Station in Watsons Bay and Macquarie Lightstation in Vaucluse.

Our mission is to “bring to life our natural and cultural heritage and provide a lasting legacy for all Australians through conservation, remediation and the adaptive reuse of places in our care”. 

Sites that were for many years hidden away from public view are now open for all, containing an extraordinary mix of historic buildings, magnificent harbour views, pristine natural landscapes and defence heritage. These public spaces and parklands now offer major events, exhibitions, venue hire, accommodation, tours and business tenancy. 

Role Overview

The Education and Public Programs Assistant is responsible for driving new and repeat bookings, completing administrative tasks under the direction of the Education and Engagement Program Officer and, as required, deliver Harbour Trust Education Program and Public Program tours.

The role is required to take an active role in driving new and repeat bookings for both schools and private tour groups using different strategies, such as cold-calling groups and, as required, liaising with the Bookings Officers. The role also requires completing various administrative tasks under the direction of the Education and Engagement Program Officer, such as market research, writing information sheets and other small projects. The setting up and packing down of equipment and resources, such as furniture and other materials, is also required.

The Education and Public Programs Assistant will also deliver Education and Public Program Tours and Vacation Care Programs, as developed by the Education and Engagement Program Officer, as required. These programs are designed for school students, students at a Tertiary level, the general public and special interest groups.

Role Accountabilities

• Drive additional school and visitor bookings through different strategies, such as cold-calling schools and contacting groups who previously visited Harbour Trust sites encouraging them to book again.  

• Under direction of Manager, complete a variety of administrative tasks, such as market research, writing information sheets and drafting a casual guide newsletter, or other administrative projects.

• Engage with and promote the messaging and role of the Harbour Trust in its management of heritage sites.

• Confirm all tour bookings at least one week in advance via phone and/or email.

• Apply strong interpersonal and communication skills and provide exceptional customer service to all stakeholders.

• Deliver engaging and enjoyable Education and Public Program tours, as developed by the Education and Engagement Program Officer, that are responsive to audience needs and share the cultural, heritage and educational aspects of various Harbour Trust sites with diverse tour attendees throughout the day under, at times, difficult conditions. 

• Deliver an engaging and enjoyable Vacation Care Program, as developed by the Education and Engagement Program Officer, during the school holidays that is responsive to audience needs.

• Assist in the setup and pack down of Education Programs and/or Public Programs materials and/or spaces, including the movement of furniture and other program materials, where required.

• Maintain a safe working environment, including the delivery of pre tour safety briefings, and monitor visitor’s activities to ensure compliance with the Harbour Trust’s policies, procedures, and safety practices.

• Maintain an accurate head count of all tour attendees and communicate this to the Education and Engagement Program Officer.

• Provide support to the Education and Engagement Program Officer and colleagues in the Marketing and Visitor Experience Division as required.

• While we have made every effort to include all core responsibilities in this position description, it is not an exhaustive list of accountabilities. Tasks and priorities may change based on business needs.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Essential (Qualifications, attributes, skills and knowledge)

• Qualifications or experience in education, museum and/or heritage studies or in related fields.

• Ability to drive new and repeat bookings using different strategies, including cold-calling groups.

• Ability to promote the Harbour Trust’s education and engagement programs to a variety of stakeholders that lead to new and repeat bookings.

• Demonstrated experience in completing various administrative tasks to a high standard and with competing deadlines.

• Capacity to learn and deliver Education and Public Program content of multiple Harbour Trust sites, as developed by the Education and Engagement Program Officer, to school students, Tertiary students, special interest groups and members of the general public.

• Experience and/or willingness to work with children of a variety of ages and educational stages, as well as diverse audiences of the general public, in an education, museum and/or heritage setting.

• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to provide a high level of customer service to all stakeholders.

• Ability to work as part of a team and to work autonomously.

• Willingness to undertake regular training as required.

• Availability to work four days a week (Tuesday – Friday) and, as required, some weekends.

• Ability and willingness to travel to different sites.  

• Ability to ascend and descend steps, steep inclines, and navigate over uneven ground when leading tours within allocated timeframes, as well as setting up and packing down materials and/or spaces

• Ability to adopt safe working practices when setting up and packing down educational spaces.

Desirable

• Experience in administration and/or sales.

• Experience and/or willingness to teach and/or deliver Australian history to diverse audiences.

• Interest in the history, environmental conditions, and cultural significance of the Harbour Trust’s various sites.

Eligibility

• Satisfy a Police Check

• Hold Australian citizenship or residency or appropriate visa.

• Satisfy a Working with Children Check.

• Willingness to obtain a first aid certificate.  

Salary and Benefits

• Level 2 $72,686 per annum pro rata to 4 days per week,  plus superannuation.

• Healthy lifestyle cash benefit.

• Access to: EAP, flu vaccination, volunteer leave, study leave, learning and development opportunities.

Does this role sound like you? We want to hear from you!

How to apply?

Please visit https://www.harbourtrust.gov.au/careers/ for a full position description. To apply for the role, simply submit your application via the ‘Quick apply’ button on Seek, and attach the following two documents:

Applications close 3 March 2026, 5pm. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applications from indigenous Australians, people from non-English speaking backgrounds and people with disabilities. Information about the Harbour Trust can be found at www.harbourtrust.gov.au.