About the role

The National Archives’ Digital Archiving 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.

The Digital Archiving Cadet (Affirmative Measure - Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) role is open to applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage only.

While working part-time (equivalent of 3 days a week) at National Archives, the Digital Archiving Graduate 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 cadet 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 cadet 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 cadet 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.

National Archives cares about the cultural safety of our First Nations employees and colleagues, and aims to create a welcoming, safe workspace through the following:

• option to work a normal workday on 26 January (utilising the public holiday on a different day)
• access to cultural, ceremonial and NAIDOC leave
• implementation of the Reconciliation Action Plan, supported by the RAP Working Group
• First Nations Cultural Competency training for staff
• access to the First Nations Employee Network.

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.

If successful in making it to individual interviews, these will be held online in the week beginning 6 October 2025 (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

You need to apply through our e-recruitment system.

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 2025-2030: Evolving National Archives and Our Values.
• 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.
• Confirmation of Heritage: Evidence of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status.
  To demonstrate eligibility for employment under this affirmative measure, you are required to provide evidence of your heritage as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person within your first three-months of employment.
  
  

Timeline

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, and attendance is optional):

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