General Assistant

The NSW Department of Education provides, funds and regulates education services for NSW students from early childhood to secondary school, delivering world-class education through its public schools and providing funding support to non-government schools. We employ, develop and support teachers, leaders and other staff to deliver the best outcomes for students and to advance the wellbeing of Aboriginal people.

About the Role

This role is vital to the maintenance and upkeep of departmental schools.

To be successful in the role you will need to have good planning and prioritising skills and good communication skills to work effectively with others.

You will perform a range of tasks relating to the routine maintenance and upkeep of a Departmental School/grounds. The role may assist with the set up and removal of furniture and equipment for school activities. You will identify and report maintenance and safety issues. You will receive, store and distribute supplies and monitor equipment and report faults.

Click here for the role description

Talent Pool

A talent pool may be created through this recruitment process. A talent pool is a group of candidates who have undergone an assessment process and have been identified as suitable for this role or similar roles for a period of 12 months. Being part of a talent pool means that you may be considered for ongoing or temporary employment for a range of similar roles. This offers exciting opportunities for you to gain a wide range of experiences to build your public service career.

Please note this is a 0.500FTE position.

About the NSW Department of Education

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion

Additional Information

Hunter School of the Performing Arts (HSPA) is a community school in Newcastle which offers a comprehensive curriculum with a performing arts specialty. HSPA is a creative and inclusive learning environment where excellence is nurtured to enable all students to perform at their best. The school provides freedom and support for individuals to make responsible choices in a quality learning environment. This promotes and develops future focused and cultural learning in conjunction with high expectations of academic excellence.

HSPA is the only fully selective performing arts public school in NSW. In 2025, 1087 students are enrolled across Years 3-12 including 67 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students.

Students from across the Hunter, Central Coast and Port Stephens are enrolled through an audition process. The school caters for a wide range of student abilities, with a strong emphasis on performing arts and developing high potential in dance, music and drama, and academic success.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this role please apply online and attach a covering letter (max 2 pages) and your resume (max 5 pages) which clearly details how your capabilities, knowledge and experience can contribute to the success of this role. It is a requirement that you include the name and contact details of two referees

You must answer both targeted questions which should be included in your cover letter.

We are looking for you to demonstrate your competence in the focus capabilities as outlined in the role description in your answer, so please develop your responses with this in mind.

Note: it is a requirement that all candidates submit their applications online via No paper based, email based or late applications will be accepted.

If you are successfully progressed to interview, you will be required to provide your proof of identity information and complete a CRIMTRAC declaration. As this is a child-related position, you will also be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number as a condition of employment (if you do not already have this). For more information, visit

Targeted Question 1

Provide an example of how you have prioritised tasks to maintain a property with minimal supervision (max 300 words)

Targeted Question 2

Provide an example of how you have identified and managed a potential hazard requiring maintenance(max 300 words)