Local History Officer

The City of Melville is seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Local History Officer to join our Museums and Local History team at Yagan Mia Wireless Hill Museum. This permanent part-time opportunity (0.4 FTE, Wednesday to Friday) will support access to the City's local history collections through research services, collection management and community engagement activities. There is also the potential for additional ad hoc hours to support operational requirements and special projects as needed.

Location:

Yagan Mia Wireless Hill Museum

Salary:

Level 4 $82,264.19 to $87,756.70 pro-rata p.a. + 12% Super

Employment Type:

Permanent Part Time

What You’ll Be Doing

As our Local History Officer, you will be the primary point of contact for local history enquiries and research services, helping community members and stakeholders access the City’s physical and digital museum and local history collections.

Working within the Cultural Services business unit, you will support the management, preservation and interpretation of collection material while improving the accessibility and discoverability of the City of Melville’s local history resources.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Responding to local history enquiries and undertaking research for internal and external stakeholders
• Providing guidance on accessing, reproducing and appropriately using collection material
• Maintaining accurate collection records, including cataloguing, metadata, digital assets and location information
• Supporting digitisation, storage, conservation and condition documentation activities
• Contributing to museum and local history programs, displays and community engagement initiatives
• Supporting the assessment and acquisition of material relevant to the collection
• Building relationships with community groups, local history networks and other stakeholders
• Applying appropriate cultural protocols when working with Aboriginal cultural material, local Noongar histories and culturally sensitive collections.

What We’re Looking For

You will bring a genuine interest in local history together with strong research, digital and customer service capabilities.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A qualification in Arts, Cultural Heritage, Museum or Library Studies, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience
• Experience working in local history research services or a comparable environment
• Experience administering, documenting and cataloguing archives or cultural heritage material
• Strong technology skills and a high level of digital literacy
• Knowledge of preservation and handling requirements for archives and cultural heritage material
• An understanding of copyright, privacy, permissions and ethical considerations relevant to archives, photographs, oral histories and digital collections
• Well-developed written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing effectively as part of a team.

Experience delivering exhibitions, displays or events, writing within a museum or heritage environment, and working with culturally sensitive or First Nations collection material will be highly regarded. A current C Class driver’s licence is also desirable.

Closing Date: Friday, 2 October 2026, 11.59PM AWST.

For further information about this position, please contact: Kate Parker, Museum Curator and Creative Lead on 08 9364 0155.

Why The City of Melville?

We are a welcoming and diverse community that enjoys a blend of retail and business precincts and an abundance of open spaces in a unique, natural landscape, along the shores of the beautiful Swan and Canning Rivers.

We are proud to be recognised as an Inclusive Employer 2024-2025 – a prestigious award that benchmarks workplace inclusion across various diversity areas. This recognition is the only one of its kind in Australia and highlights our commitment to fostering a workplace where diversity is celebrated, and inclusion thrives. In everything we do, we focus on our EPIC values of Excellence, Participation, Integrity and Caring and we aim to achieve an inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable future.

Elevate your work experience with the City of Melville’s benefits!

• Enjoy annual salary increases of 4%, effective each year from 1 July 2025 to 1 July 2027
• Enjoy flexible working arrangements that help balance work and life
• Stay active with a free LeisureFit membership
• Celebrate your special day with Birthday Leave – no work on your big day!
• Access paid parental leave to support your family
• Take more time to recharge with 2 extra days of leave plus the option to purchase additional leave (up to 10 weeks off per year)
• Benefit from a generous superannuation co-contribution of up to 15.5%
• Maximise your pay with salary packaging and novated leasing options
• Grow your career with structured professional development and study assistance programs
• Look after your wellbeing with wellness initiatives and Employee Assistance Programs
• Connect outside of work with a vibrant social club

The City of Melville celebrates diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We welcome and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and people living with disabilities.

All candidates applying for a position where the use of ‘plant and machinery’ or driving a vehicle is an inherent requirement of the role and other ‘high risk’ facilities where public safety is at risk, will be required to pass a drug and alcohol test as part of a pre-employment medical.

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