Assistant Curator, Official Records

The Memorial’s Research Centre manages the Memorial’s library and archive of the written records of war, both published and unpublished, providing access and delivering reference services about Australian military history, the Memorial, and its collections. Integral to the fulfilment of the Memorial’s purpose, the Research Centre’s Official Records collection is a key primary resource for historical studies. Primarily an archive of official records created by the Australian armed forces and related agencies during wartime and peacekeeping operations, the collection includes operational and planning records, the papers of the official historians and corporate records created by the Memorial itself.

Under general direction, the Assistant Curator, Official Records works within the Official Records team to appraise, accession, document, house, arrange and describe, and access examine the Official Records collection, in physical and digital form. The Assistant Curator, Official Records also contributes to communicating the collection to wider audiences via the Memorial’s website, exhibitions and public programs in support of the Memorial’s aim of helping Australians understand our wartime experience, including by contributing to the Memorial’s current major development project.

This position entails working with potentially distressing and culturally sensitive material.

Core Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Curator and in support of Official Records team outcomes:

• Apply best archival practice, professional knowledge and industry standards to appraise, accession, document, house, arrange and describe collection.
• Apply appropriate legislative requirements, particularly the Archives Act 1983, regarding access to the collection and to conduct s.40 access examinations.
• Document the collection in National Archives of Australia and the Australian War Memorial’s collection management systems.
• Conduct and arrange conservation treatments to appropriate standards.
• Provide timely advice to internal and external stakeholders, including by answering queries, liaising with donors and/or government agencies regarding acquisitions, and keeping and monitoring statistics for productive analysis.
• Communicate the collection to the wider community by undertaking research and contributing to the Memorial’s gallery development, public programs, website, and social media.
• Perform safe manual handling techniques and move a variety of collection material, including but not limited to files and boxes.
• Provide support as necessary for other priorities and projects as identified in the Memorial’s Corporate Plan, including the Memorial’s Reference Service.
• Observe APS values and apply the principles of workplace diversity, participative work practices and occupational health and safety.

 The Memorial is committed to workplace diversity and maintains an environment that values the contribution of people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The Memorial welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, veterans, mature age people, people from diverse backgrounds and people with a disability. To be eligible for ongoing or non-ongoing employment, Australian Citizenship is required.

TO APPLY,  please visit: https://www.awm.gov.au/get-involved/employment

Applications should be submitted in WORD (.doc or .docx) or .PDF by 11:30 pm (AEST) on 6 April 2023

If you experience any problems with the application system please contact the Recruitment Team on 02 6243 4234 or email [email protected]