Working With Us
Change your outlook and come to work with Port Stephens Council.
At Port Stephens Council we take our commitment to being an employer of choice seriously. Our conditions of employment are above the local government 'norm' and captured in our own enterprise agreement, the Port Stephens Council Enterprise Agreement 2011. This Agreement, negotiated between Council and Staff, covers all Staff not designated as 'Senior Staff' under the Local Government Act 1993. Our Agreement seeks to strike a strong balance between a flexible work environment and remuneration levels that enable us to compete for the talent we need. In providing this, we believe we have managed to:
- Focus on keeping our skilled employees
- Place a high value on employees in our organisation
- Provide appropriate incentives and rewards for our staff
- Foster a user-friendly, flexible workplace
Have a closer look at some of the features of our Agreement:
Pay increases
- 2.6% (min $19) from 1 November 2011
- 2.15% (min $17) from 1 July 2012
- 3.25% (min $23) from 1 July 2013
- 3.25% (min $23) from 1 July 2014
Market review or minimum increase above each July for term of agreement
Carer's leave
Extended to include caring for immediate family, friend, neighbour or member of employee's household in illness or emergency
Sick leave
No medical certificates required for first 15 days of sick leave per annum
Additional paid entitlement available on application on compassionate grounds if all other leave is exhausted: no minimum service period required
Parental leave
12 weeks for paid leave from Council plus Federal Government PPL Scheme
Extended to include male if primary care giver
Supporting parent leave of 1 weeks paid leave at time of birth - not deducted from other leave entitlements
Bereavement leave
5 days paid leave (10 days if death occurs overseas) on death of immediate family member
Paid leave to attend any other funeral service (including non-relatives)
Emergency services leave
Paid leave for employees providing volunteer support during periods of declared natural disasters and/or events.
Grandparents leave
Up to 1 year unpaid leave to assist with the care of grandchildren
Minimum periods of 1 month
Additional annual leave
System of purchasing up to 12 months additional paid leave
Community volunteer leave
2 days paid leave per annum to volunteer in community based organisations
Career break leave
Provision of unpaid leave after qualifying period for variety of uses, including
Extension of skills that may be used -- within Port Stephens Council, or personal development;
Family responsibilities e.g. dependent care, elder care
Significant social or community responsibilities e.g. volunteer work for a community organisation;
Extended travel opportunities;
Completing study; or
Work experience in an organisation that is not a direct competitor of Port Stephens Council
Guarantee of return to previous position following leave
Long service leave
Removal of restrictions on how leave can be taken
Leave can be taken at half or double pay
Flexible working hours
Flexitime
Available to full-time and part-time workers
Available, by agreement, to all permanent employees
Debit and credit to normal ordinary hours of work
RDOs
Available to full-time and part-time workers
Available, by agreement, to all permanent employees
Other flexible working systems (including 4 day weeks and 9 day fortnights) considered on case by case basis
Other flexible working arrangements
4 day weeks
9 day fortnights
job share
