Archivist - Processing and Description (Melbourne)

About the Role This role is not just an archivist position – it is an prospect to help build an Aboriginal‑controlled institution that seeks to reshape Australia's historical narrative. You will steward the evidence of Aboriginal self‑determination and resistance movements, ensuring communities control their own stories while enhancing database quality and embedding Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance (IDS&G;) principles into descriptive practices. You will join a collaborative, culturally grounded team, working alongside fellow archivists, community members, and Aboriginal interns whom you will co‑mentor and train. Position Key Duties
- Contribute to the development and implementation of processes for the accessioning, arrangement, and description of physical and digital archival collections.
- Conduct conservation assessments and perform essential stabilisation tasks for physical materials, coordinating with conservation specialists for complex preservation requirements.
- Provide high‑quality advisory services to develop, enhance, and maintain detailed finding aids, catalogue records, and metadata that ensure consistent, accurate, and culturally respectful descriptions.
- Lead the systematic review and cleanup of legacy database records, ensuring resolution of inconsistencies and enrichment of incomplete entries to maintain data integrity.
- Apply IDS&G; and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property principles in all descriptive and metadata practices. Position Details
- Classification: HEP7
- Salary: $101,288 per annum – $109,639 per annum
- Employment Type: Fixed term
- Hours per Week: 36.75
- Location: Footscray Park About You You bring archival expertise – whether gained through formal qualifications or through caring for community records, organising collections on Country, or working within community organisations. Your Background And Experience
- Demonstrated hands‑on experience in processing, accessioning, arranging, and describing physical and digital collections.
- Proficiency with an archival collection management database and metadata standards in a culturally responsive way.
- Experience with database quality control, legacy data clean‑up, or auditing descriptions for accuracy, consistency, and discoverability.
- Understanding of preventive conservation principles and basic stabilisation tasks for physical materials. What Makes You An Ideal Fit
- Demonstrated application of IDS&G; principles in collection management.
- Willingness to learn about the history of Aboriginal resistance.
- Experience collaborating with Aboriginal communities (or a genuine commitment to doing so). Eligibility and Requirements
- This position is an identified opportunity under ‘Special Measures’ of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act 2010; only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must have full and permanent working rights in Australia.
- The University is a Child Safe organisation; applicants are required to hold a current Employee – Working with Children Check (WWCC) or be willing to obtain one prior to commencing employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rfqog