RAAF Museum Curator – Department of Defence
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0770828
- Agency: Department of Defence
- Job Title: RAAF Museum Curator
- Position Number: AF/03823/26
- Classification: APS Level 5
- Closing Date: Wednesday 29 July 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
- Location: Point Cook VIC
- Future Merit Locations: Point Cook
- Salary: $89,841 – $96,829
- Office Arrangement: On Site (Defence is committed to supporting workplace)
About Department of Defence
The RAAF Museum is the flagship museum of the Royal Australian Air Force, located at historic
RAAF Base Point Cook: the birthplace of military aviation in Australia. The RAAF Museum
preserves and showcases more than 100 years of Australian military aviation history, tracking Air
Force’s evolution from the Australian Flying Corps in World War I to modern-day air power and
sharing personal stories of innovation, courage and honour.
We proudly connect Air Force and the Australian Defence Force with the community by keeping
military history vibrant, alive and accessible. We feel honoured to provide a place of connection
and reflection for our veterans and their families.
The RAAF Museum operates within the Directorate of Air Force Museums, one of the primary
public-facing elements of History & Heritage Branch – Air Force, which itself provides a diverse
and fascinating suite of services to Air Force and Government. Our diverse team consists of
Permanent Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Australian Public Service staff and dedicated
volunteers who bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and commitment to our
workplace.
Our Ideal Candidate
Our ideal candidate will be dynamic, well presented, motivated, organised and adaptable, possess
excellent time management and administrative skills, and have a demonstrable background in the
Australian museum and/or heritage industry.
To succeed in this role, applicants will be required to demonstrate:
Experience in best practice museum curatorial outputs, including collection management
systems, processes, and care of heritage artefacts
Experience in coordinating a team to research, plan and execute exhibitions to a wide variety
of audiences
The ability to work effectively under limited direction and meet deadlines
A collegial approach to team members and organisational outcomes and an inclusive
approach to leadership
Experience in coaching, mentoring and supporting others to increase their Museum
knowledge
Experience in developing and delivering engaging museum education and public programs
for diverse audiences
Significant experience in writing for Australian museum audiences according to best practice.
Duties
- The Role
- The RAAF Museum’s APS 5 Museum Curator manages a small Curatorial team to develop
- high-quality interpretation and curatorial content for the Museum, utilising Air Force’s unique
- heritage collection of records, photographs, oral histories, ephemera and large technology
- artefacts. The Curator reports to the Officer in Charge of the Museum, and works also with the
- Senior Curator for Air Force Museums to develop content for the RAAF Museum and the wider Air
- Force Museums network.
- Tasks include being hands-on with the construction and installation of exhibitions where required,
- as well as working front-of-house to lead curated tours of the Museum for diverse visitor
- audiences. The Curator and their team will actively contribute to the induction, mentoring and
- ongoing professional development of RAAF Museum Volunteer Host Officers.
- General duties and expectations of the role include:
- Engaging and communicating with internal and external stakeholders to identify, respond to
- and provide advice on key issues to achieve work unit, Directorate and Defence outcomes.
- Building and sustaining effective relationships with team members and actively participating
- in team work and group activities.
- Representing Defence and responding in a timely and professional manner to requests for
- information from the public, external agencies and internal stakeholders.
- Defence roles cover a diverse range of workplace environment requirements. These may include
- physical tasks or working in conditions that are not typical of an office environment. Candidates
- should consider these requirements when assessing their suitability for the role. For more
- information, please contact the nominated contact officer.
- Exposure to chemicals, working at heights, Requirement to wear personal protective equipment
- (PPE).
Eligibility / Notes
- Security Clearance:
- Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.
How to Apply
Position Contact WGCDR Michelle McPhail, 0459 263 245
Agency Recruitment Site https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=85B41DC6-3F10-B89E-F26F-ED1C5EBD6
Applicants to vacancies notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette should be aware:
that the names of successful applicants will also be notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette
applicants found suitable may be offered similar employment opportunities by other Australian Public Service agencies
Defence Vacancy