Job Description
Full job description
Job no: 497100
Work type: Part time
Location: Various
About the role
The National Archives’ Digital Archiving Graduate Cadet Program is an opportunity to continue professional study while getting hands-on experience in the management of digital records that define Australia’s past, and shape its future.
While working part-time (equivalent of 3 days a week) at National Archives, the Digital Archiving Cadet will be supported to complete the Graduate Certificate in Digital Archiving from Charles Sturt University. Learning will be completed remotely with a 50% loading (2 subjects per semester, over two semesters). All course fees will be fully covered by the National Archives as part of the cadetship program. The study component of the cadetship is online and is to be completed outside of working hours at the National Archives.
The successful cadets will undertake three rotations during the eleven-month program, primarily in the Collection Management, and Access and Public Engagement branches. During the rotations, the successful cadets will build practical skills and experience in a range of roles, with an emphasis on digital archiving. At the successful completion of the cadetship, a full-time, ongoing role will be offered to the cadets at APS4 level.
Benefits of working at the National Archives
APS employees receive a generous 15.4% employer superannuation contribution.
Salary packaging is available to employees on a salary sacrifice basis, including for extra superannuation contributions.
To help you balance work requirements and family responsibilities we support our employees with a range of flexible employment conditions such as:
flex time
working from home
working part-time, and
job-sharing.
Full-time employees receive 18 days leave per year to help you manage work against illness, injury and caring responsibilities.
Full-time employees accrue 20 days of annual leave per year.
Employees receive paid time off for the working days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (in accordance with their Ordinary Hours of Work).
We focus on growing your capability with leadership programs, coaching and mentoring, studies assistance, professional skills training and seminars.
Activities of the role
Tasks will vary from cadet to cadet, dependent on rotations, and may include (but not limited to) the following:
Arranging and describing archival collections
Responding to client queries
Assisting with public seminars
Research in different aspects of recordkeeping and archival management
Preservation of collection items
Transfer of archival records
Digitisation of collection items
Preference will be given to applicants who are able to work in Canberra, but requests to be based in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne or Sydney will be considered. Relocation assistance may be provided on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants will need to make themselves available for online group interviews tentatively set for the week beginning 22 September 2026.
If successful in making it to individual interviews, these will be held online in the week beginning 6 October 2026 (tentative).
Employment in the graduate cadet role will be from 2 February 2026. The Graduate Certificate Session 1 program begins on 2 March 2026.
Eligibility
Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS)
Successful applicants must meet the requirements (either an undergraduate university degree, or 5 years minimum equivalent professional experience in a related field) for enrolment in the Graduate Certificate in Digital Archiving at Charles Sturt University– for more information see: Graduate Certificate in Digital Archiving - Study (csu.edu.au).
Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain the required security clearance level for the role as indicated.
Successful applicants will be required to undergo a mandatory National Police Check.
Your employment with National Archives will be contingent on the satisfactory completion of a three-month period of probationary employment.
How to apply
Your application will need to include:
A statement (500 words maximum) responding to the Selection Criteria listed in the role description, as they relate to the possible tasks listed under ‘About the Role’. In your response, please describe how your skills, knowledge and experience/qualifications would make you a suitable candidate for the role. Please take into account the Performance Expectations for an APS Level 4, and the National Archives’ Vision, Mission and Commitments as expressed in Strategy 2026-2030: Evolving National Archives and Our Values.
Completion of the practical task, described in the role description.
Evidence of an undergraduate university degree OR 5 years minimum equivalent professional experience in a related field.
The names and contact details of at least two referees, one of whom should be a current supervisor at university/ work or a current academic advisor.
Your current resume.
Timeline
Activity
Date/s
Group interviews
Week beginning 22 September 2026
Individual interviews
Week beginning 6 October 2026
Successful applicants informed
By 31 October 2026 at the latest
Security checks
November – December 2026
Employment begins
2 February 2026
CSU online orientation
16-27 February 2026
Graduate Certificate Session 1 begins
2 March 2026
If you are interested in applying and would like to know more, please register for a Q&A session on the following dates (you only need to attend one session):
Monday 4 August 1pm-2pm AEST http://bit.ly/3Izf0nr
Wednesday 6 August 12pm-1pm AEST http://bit.ly/3IvTcJx
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information see: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability
Advertised: 24 Jul 2026 AUS Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 18 Aug 2026 11:55 PM AUS Eastern Standard Time
Return to Search Resul
