Curatorial Senior Aquarist
APS4
Townsville, QLD
Ongoing/Non-ongoing; Full-time
Applications close Sunday 22 March 2026; 11:59pm AEST
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) is a Commonwealth non-corporate entity, and a statutory agency established by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Marine Park Act), reporting to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Our objective is the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community through the care and development of the Marine Park.
Managing a reef roughly the size of Italy demands many skills and talents, so you don't have to be a marine biologist to contribute to our mission. From finance to marketing roles, we have a team almost as diverse as the ecosystem we protect. Our commitment and dedication to the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian public have a long-lasting impact, and we are looking for individuals who can bring their unique skills, experience, and knowledge to our high-performing and inclusive organisation.
The Position
We are seeking an experienced aquarist/diver to join our team to assist in maintaining and developing our livestock and provide husbandry support for the animals in care. The position reports to the Curatorial Supervisor. Responsible for working effectively as a team member within the Technical Operations program area, the position assists with the maintenance of aquatic life support systems.
The position involves proactively managing duties so that both routine animal husbandry tasks and special project deliverables (e.g. coral propagation or livestock cultivation programs) are completed on time. Maintenance of the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium’s livestock is a 7-day-a-week operation.
The team member will be required to work a 37.5hr week, Monday to Friday. They may also be required to participate in a rotational weekend roster, which requires attendance onsite once every 4 weeks for 3 hours on a Saturday, and the occasional public holiday.
About You
- You have a passion for aquaria and marine animals.
- You will be experienced in captive aquatic animal husbandry, including nutrition and feeding techniques, disease control, and animal behaviour in an aquarium setting.
- You will have an understanding of water quality, maintenance, and filtration, including familiarity with a variety of life support systems.
- Be flexible and adaptable, including making the most of a challenging or unfamiliar environment, and the ability to act with urgency and respond positively to situations.
- Have the ability to problem solve, including understanding the issues, the cause of the issues, and making sound decisions to ensure the issues are resolved.
- You enjoy being part of a cohesive team.
Duties
- Maintain living aquarium exhibits and life support systems in accordance with policy and procedures (including records and registers).
- If appropriately qualified/trained participate in the dive/snorkel operations, coral propagation, animal handling and husbandry, feeding, system maintenance, animal transport, special project work, and systems check rosters as required.
- Represent the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium for relevant social media and marketing activities as required.
- Under the direction of the Curatorial Supervisor, and in consultation with the Technical Operations Team, contribute to the ongoing development of life support systems, husbandry and handling techniques, livefoods and livestock culturing, and the documentation of processes and procedures.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Ed Ung, Curatorial Manager, Ph. 0419 748 109
Essential Requirements
- Minimum 2 years of demonstrated experience in the husbandry and care of aquatic animals, predominantly marine species.
- Minimum 2 years of demonstrated experience in a role requiring the manipulation of water quality parameters and management of aquarium life support systems.
- Willingness and availability to participate on a rotating roster, including weekends and public holidays.
The position requires a Baseline security clearance. Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
The successful candidate will be willing to provide identity documents and undergo an identity pre-employment check through a Document Verification Service.
How to apply
Please ensure you read the instructions below and on the Position Description carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.
You will be required to prepare a response document (“pitch”) in MSWord or PDF format using standard margins and size 11 Arial font.
Please prepare a ‘pitch’, as outlined in the Position Description, in relation to the advertised role, outlining:
- how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to perform the duties and meet the technical and behavioural capabilities of the role.
- any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.
- how you meet the eligibility requirements and qualifications for the position.
When crafting your response, we encourage you to review ‘Cracking the Code’ and the relevant Australian Public Service Work Level Standards which can be found on the Australian Public Service Commission website: www.apsc.gov.au.
Please complete your application online and provide:
- your ‘pitch’ (as described above and in the position description).
- proof of Australian citizenship (an Australian Passport or Australian Birth Certificate)
- a current curriculum vitae (resume)
Applicants are advised to read further information provided on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Careers website.
PLEASE NOTE: - The panel may not consider additional information such as a cover letter or content exceeding the page limit.
Notes
- The current position is ongoing however through this process may create a merit pool to fill similar ongoing and non-ongoing positions that become available within the next 18 months.
- We do not accept unsolicited résumés from recruitment agencies.
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability
Eligibility
Employment with the Reef Authority is subject to:
- Conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999.
- Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) granting a security clearance at the required level.
- Evidence of citizenship status.
- Evidence of qualifications required of the role.
- Evidence of a completed national police-check with no risks identified by the Reef Authority.
- The CEO of the Reef Authority, or their Delegate, approving a Notice of Engagement.
- The Australian Government Security Clearance Application Guide Book provides information on minimum eligibility requirements for holding a security clearance at the required level. Please ensure that you are able to provide the necessary documents if you apply for the position. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the AGSVA website.
