Careers at the Department of Communities - benefits

• Employee contributions of 11 per cent to your superannuation 
• 20 working days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) with an annual leave loading payment
• 13 weeks paid long service leave after seven years of consecutive service
• 15 days personal leave (pro rata for part-time) 
• Five days cultural and ceremonial leave
• a 42/52 salary arrangement enables eligible employees to purchase up to ten additional weeks of leave per year by receiving a reduced salary rate over 52 weeks of the year.
• a deferred salary arrangement allows employees to reduce their salary by 20% over four years and take paid leave in the fifth year at 80% of their salary.
• Parental leave - 14 weeks paid leave is available after 12 months of continuous services (parental and adoption)
• Salary package options – novated leases and laptops used for work
• Three days public service holidays per annum
• Study leave
• Bereavement leave 
• Cultural leave
• Flexi and banked leave

If you are working in a regional area, you may be eligible for a range of other benefits depending on your circumstances and district or geographical location. These might include:

• District allowance
• Air-conditioning subsidies for properties with refrigerated air-conditioning
• An additional week of annual leave if you are based above 26th Parallel South
• Paid travel time and annual leave travel concession for certain districts
• Paid regional medical travel
• Subsidised housing may be available
• Removal and relocation assistance

We value and support our employees and recognise that being happy and satisfied at work is one of the most important aspects of their career. 

Department of Communities offers a range of career opportunities, from entry-level to leadership positions. 

Our internal job boards frequently feature temporary vacancies, offering employees opportunities for growth and skill development.

Our Let’s Talk performance development process focusses on your development and career aspirations. You’ll discuss and agree with your manager whether on-the-job training, in-house formal courses, external seminars/webinars or workshops will help you attain your goals. 

Capable leaders and managers are critical to our success. Everyone (regardless of their role) has access to our online Leadership and Management Hub - a one-stop-shop for information, tools, resources and courses to develop leadership and management skills.

Our Mentoring Program is specifically aimed at developing people managers and encouraging collaboration.

Our Learning and Development Unit offers a comprehensive suite of face-to-face and online courses related to child protection, cultural responsiveness and culturally safe practices, family and domestic violence, disability services, residential care and foster carer learning.

Temporary vacancies are regularly advertised on our internal jobs board, and we encourage all our employees to apply. They give you the opportunity to take on new challenges and learn new skills and try out a new role. 

Our Work Health and Safety Team is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment and building a strong safety and wellbeing culture.

Our dedicated Health and Wellbeing Hub supports employee wellbeing by providing information and resources on corporate health cover discounts, mental and physical health, COVID-19, self-care and healthy recipes, corporate health challenges and other health related events throughout the year.  We also offer free annual influenza vaccinations and you may be eligible for subsidies for eyesight testing and spectacles.

Our Employee Assistance Program provides free confidential services for staff and their immediate family members to support their wellbeing in the workplace and personal lives, including financial counselling.

It’s important to us that we provide an environment that lets you maintain a healthy balance between work and life.

We aim to offer full or part time permanent employment that provides security and peace of mind. For those who prefer it, we also have contract positions for time limited projects or to fill in for someone on long term leave. We may also advertise for casual or seasonal workers where it’s appropriate.

You can discuss a range of flexible work options with your manager that, depending on your role and location, might include working at alternative locations or from home on occasions, flexi leave arrangements, purchasing additional annual leave, and compacted working hours. 

Networks, respectful working relationships and friendships at work help us stay mentally healthy, work collaboratively and make work a place we want to be. 

The Communities Social Club, open to all staff and their family and friends of members, is a great way to meet new people and build a network.

Our employee driven Viva Engage groups offer like-minded people the opportunity to connect virtually to share knowledge or ideas, promote a good cause or just discuss their passions. 

Some examples include the Christmas Presents for Children in Care that organises gifts for kids in care; and Proud Communities - a safe space for discussion for LGBTQI+ people and Allies.

You can self-nominate to join the ACTivator program which supports the delivery of the Department’s strategic direction with a focus on our people. By doing so, you can help build workplace culture and make Communities a great place to work.

For pay and leave benefits please refer to the Public Sector Award 1992 and CSA Agreement 2022. You can visit the WA Industrial Relations Commission website to find other industrial agreements and awards.