100% free local government job description templates
Complete job description templates for Australian councils and local government. Covering library officers, parks and gardens keepers, customer service officers, works depot operators and administration officers. Aligned with the Local Government Industry Award 2020 (MA000112). 100% free, fully editable and ready to download.
Browse templatesThese templates are designed to reflect Australian workplace standards and local government practices at the time of publication. They are provided as a general guide only and do not constitute legal advice. You should review and tailor each template to suit your council, applicable modern award, enterprise agreement and specific requirements. Many councils pay under an enterprise agreement rather than the award, and some roles (childcare, teaching, community services) are covered by other awards. For complex situations, seek independent legal or HR advice. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
Local government job descriptions for Australian councils
Councils run a remarkably diverse workforce — from outdoor parks and depot crews to libraries, customer service centres and administration teams. Clear role definitions help councils hire well, roster fairly across departments, and stay compliant across a complex award and enterprise-agreement landscape.
Most council employees are covered by the Local Government Industry Award 2020 (MA000112), which sets minimum pay rates, weekend and public-holiday penalties, on-call and allowances across a single Level 1–11 ladder. Many councils also operate under an enterprise agreement that pays above the award, and some roles (childcare, teaching, community services) sit under other awards.
These templates provide compliant, industry-standard job descriptions you can customise for your council. Each includes duties, required skills, qualifications and award-classification guidance — then pair them with council rostering software and the Local Government Award pay guide once your team is hired.
Browse local government job description templates
Click any role to view the full template and download as a PDF
Library officer
Assists library members, manages loans and returns, maintains the collection and helps deliver community programs and events.
Read moreParks and gardens keeper
Mows and maintains lawns, garden beds, sportsfields and public spaces, and safely operates turf and horticultural equipment.
Read moreCouncil customer service officer
Handles counter, phone and online enquiries, processes payments and applications, and logs service requests for residents.
Read moreWorks depot operator
Maintains roads, drainage and infrastructure, operates plant and machinery, and supports civil, waste and emergency works.
Read moreCouncil administration officer
Provides administrative support — records, correspondence, data entry, reporting and meeting coordination across a department.
Read moreWhat's included in these templates?
Every local government job description template includes
All templates are fully editable and designed for Australian local government compliance.
Who should use these templates?
These job descriptions are designed for Australian councils and local government
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Put these templates to work across the local government cluster.
Award coverage for local government workers
Most council employees are covered by the Local Government Industry Award 2020 (MA000112), the primary award for councils and local government. It sets minimum rates across a single Level 1–11 ladder — from a Level 1 entry-level employee to Level 11 senior professional and managerial roles — plus weekend and public-holiday penalties, on-call, overtime, and allowances such as adverse-working-conditions, first-aid and camping allowances.
Not every council role sits under MA000112. Council-run childcare is covered by the Children’s Services Award, teachers by the Teachers Award, and some community and home-care staff by the SCHADS Award. Critically, many councils operate under an enterprise agreement that pays above the award (for example, a 35-hour week or rostered days off).
Getting classification, employment type and penalties right for every employee — across outdoor crews, libraries, customer service and administration — is where councils are most exposed. Use award interpretation software to calculate accurate pay including weekend, on-call and overtime rates, and read the full Local Government Award pay guide.
Simplify council staff rostering and payroll
Once you've hired your team, manage them efficiently with RosterElf. Build department and site rosters, calculate Local Government Award rates, penalties and on-call automatically, track licences and tickets, and simplify timesheets — all in one platform built for Australian councils.
Local government job description FAQ
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A local government job description sets out the duties, required qualifications and working conditions for a role in a council — such as a library officer, parks and gardens keeper, customer service officer, works depot operator or administration officer. A good one also notes the employment type, the applicable award (MA000112) or enterprise agreement, and the classification level. Our 5 free templates give you a compliant, Australia-specific starting point.
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We provide 5 free templates: library officer, parks and gardens keeper, council customer service officer, works depot operator and council administration officer. Each includes duties, skills, qualifications and award-classification guidance aligned with the Local Government Industry Award (MA000112).
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Most council employees are covered by the Local Government Industry Award 2020 (MA000112), across operational, administrative, technical and professional roles on a Level 1–11 scale. However, many councils pay under an enterprise agreement, and some roles (childcare, teaching, community services) are covered by other awards. Always confirm coverage before setting pay.
Before you download
General information only — not legal advice
This document is a general HR template provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the latest changes in legislation or apply to every workplace situation. RosterElf Pty Ltd and the template provider accept no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this document. Users should seek independent legal advice and customise the template to ensure it complies with all relevant laws, awards and workplace requirements.