Orana Steiner School is excited to announce an opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Art, Design, and Technology Assistant to join our Design and Technology team. This is a temporary position available until the end of this year with a potential for extension or being made permanent.
Role Overview
The Arts, Design and Technology Assistant provides practical and organisational support to teaching staff and students to ensure the effective operation of the Arts — including Art, Drama and Music — and Design and Technology — including Outdoor Classroom, Wood, Metal and Textiles — learning environments. This includes preparation of materials, maintenance of tools and equipment, and supporting safe, efficient workshop practices.
Whilst the role primarily supports the Secondary School, the assistant also provides support to the Primary School through the construction and preparation of resources as required. The role contributes to the quality of teaching and learning by ensuring that facilities, resources, and equipment are well maintained, organised, and ready for use.
All duties are to be carried out in accordance with school policies, curriculum requirements, and Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) regulations.
Remuneration
This is a temporary, part-time, term time (38-week school year plus compulsory professional learning days). The salary and conditions of employment are determined by the Independent Schools ACT (Professional and Operational Staff) Staff Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2025.
Level 1-4 of School Assistants subject to qualifications and experience. Indicative gross annual salary $68,390 – $95,994 (pro-rata) plus 12% Superannuation. 17.5% Leave Loading.
Work Pattern
Onsite, 4 days/week, 8:30 AM to 3.30 PM (including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break). Total weekly hours: 26 hours.
Key Accountabilities
General Duties:
- Assist teaching staff with the preparation and organisation of materials, equipment, and classroom resources.
- Maintain tools, machinery, and equipment in safe working order.
- Sharpen and maintain a range of hand tools.
- Coordinate professional servicing and repair of tools and machinery (e.g. saw blades, thicknessers, other workshop equipment).
- Order materials, tools, and equipment as required, in consultation with staff.
- Collect, transport, and unload materials and equipment (manual handling required).
- Construct and/or assist in the construction of teaching resources (e.g. work benches, storage systems, jigs, templates).
- Demonstrate and uphold a strong understanding of workshop machinery, including safe operation and care.
- Ensure adherence to current WHS regulations, policies, and safe work practices.
- Monitor and maintain safe, organised, and functional learning spaces.
- Manage waste, recycling, and storage of materials, including offcuts and reusable resources.
- Assist with specialist equipment and processes across Arts, Design and Technology areas, including kiln operation and pottery firing, sewing machines and textile equipment, ensuring safe use, maintenance, and organisation.
- Support co-curricular activities and school events where required.
- Assist with the preparation and presentation of student work for displays or exhibitions.
- Undertake additional duties as directed by the Arts, Design & Technology Coordinator.
Administrative and Professional Duties:
- Attend and contribute to staff and faculty meetings as required.
- Participate in relevant professional learning and training.
- Maintain clear communication with teaching staff regarding resource needs and workshop requirements.
Key Selection Criteria
(Please address these in your cover letter)
- Demonstrated skills and experience in Woodwork and Metalwork are essential.
- Strong understanding of workshop tools and machinery.
- Commitment to safety and WHS compliance.
- Ability to work collaboratively with staff and support student learning.
- Effective organisational and time management skills.
- Capacity to work independently and show initiative.
- Ability to coordinate calendars and conflicting schedules.
- Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, skills and processes relevant to Art and Textiles.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to undertake manual handling tasks, including lifting and moving materials and equipment.
Other requirements:
- ACT Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Registration.
- First Aid certificate, or eligible to obtain a First Aid certificate.
- Eligibility for unrestricted long-term work in Australia (Citizen or PR).
What we offer
- Competitive Salary under Independent School ACT (Professional & Operational Staff) Cooperative Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2025.
- Free onsite parking.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Our commitment to maintaining a physically and psychosocially safe environment for all staff, students and visitors to the school.
- We respect and value your right to disconnect outside of work hours for a better work/life balance.
There is a 6-month probationary period.
To Apply
Please apply directly through SEEK via the ‘Quick Apply’ link. To be considered, your application must include:
- Your updated resume including the names, positions and contact details for two professional referees (one of which is your current/most recent direct supervisor).
- A cover letter (no more than 2 pages) telling us about yourself and why you want to work at Orana Steiner School, and addressing the Key Selection Criteria listed above including specific examples from your experience.
Closing Date: Applications can be submitted until 12 June 2026. The position will be filled if suitable applicants are found sooner. If you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible.
Enquiries by email only: [email protected]
ABOUT OUR SCHOOL
Orana Steiner School is a vibrant, growing co-educational Early Childhood to Year 12 school of around 550 students. Set within a natural landscape and on a magnificent 16-hectare property in Weston, an inner south suburb of Canberra, Orana seeks to provide a high-quality education for its students, based on the Steiner Education tradition. In its 40-year history, Orana Steiner School has developed an enviable reputation for its standards and achievements, and its warm, caring culture. Orana proudly employs applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds.
In Primary School, we value individual difference. We believe in self-responsibility and in the values needed to become connected and contributing citizens. We seek to support our students to be capable of personal endeavour and community involvement. The education we provide develops creative and imaginative thinking and aims to instill in our students a love of learning, a sense of wonder, an appreciation of beauty and a connection to the world.
The High School teaching program assists students in taking increasing responsibility for their own learning and to develop their own ideals, values and sense of purpose for adult life. The High School encourages students to become independent thinkers; use their own observations, research, and draw conclusions and judgements; form relationships with specialist teachers; address questions and problems in specialist subjects, and to develop a wide range of expertise as well as an active, articulate and well-rounded thinking capacity.
The Senior College curriculum is comprehensive and carefully designed to balance a Steiner approach with the contemporary requirements stipulated by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies. This broad, integrated approach to the Senior College curriculum emphasises the development of well-rounded students through equal exposure to Arts and Sciences, together with a range of electives. Orana’s tradition of extensive pastoral care for its students continues into the Senior College.
Orana Steiner School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of its students in accordance with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and child safety legislation. The successful candidates must hold (or be eligible to obtain and maintain) a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration and undergo a National Police Check.
Please visit our website to find out more: https://oranaschool.com or see our virtual tour on https://oranaschool.youtour.com.au/
