Why work with Local Government?
At the Barkly Regional Council, we employ more than 230 staff across 4 wards - Alyawarr, Patta, Alpurrurulam and Kuwarrangu. We are the largest Council by area in the Northern Territory and located in Australia’s golden heart.
We deliver a range of core services throughout our communities, including waste, library, parks and gardens, local laws, infrastructure management, animal control, building and planning and critical services, including NDIS and Centrelink. Our Council community flourishes within an active, engaged and thriving environment, and we have a diverse range of roles where you can leave your enduring mark within the region.
Why choose us?
We take pride in enabling the personal aspirations of our staff and facilitating their access to development opportunities and unique work experiences whilst enjoying the enviable lifestyle that the region has to offer.
We seek to employ staff with values that are closely aligned with those of the Barkly Regional Council, and who will bring their energy and talent to contribute to a dynamic and sustainable community.
Some of the many benefits of working at Barkly Regional Council include:
- Higher than award pay rates.
- 6 weeks of annual leave each year + 17.5% leave loading paid.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program.
- Free access to the swimming pool and gym facilities located in Tennant Creek.
- An inclusive and diverse workplace culture.
- Career progression opportunities through training and professional development.
- A high regard for maintaining a healthy and safe workplace.
Our Vision, Purpose and Values
VISION
“We will strive to be an innovative and sustainable Council that listens to our communities and empowers future generations of the Barkly”.
PURPOSE
“Our commitment is to serve and support our communities by delivering strong local leadership, purposeful advocacy, and impactful services”.
VALUES
Integrity:
Upholding honesty and transparency in everything we do.
Diversity:
Embracing and celebrating the unique identities, traditions, and strengths of every community.
Empathy:
Understanding and valuing the needs and experiences of others.
Accountability:
Taking ownership of our actions through commitment to BRC and our communities.
Service:
Dedicating ourselves to excellence, putting people first, and creating a positive impact.
Media and Administration Officer
Full-Time Permanent Position (38 hours per week)
Location: Tennant Creek
Applications Close: 5:00 pm, Thursday, 15 January 2026
About the Role
The Barkly Regional Council is seeking a proactive Media & Administration Officer to provide high-level administrative, communications, and stakeholder engagement support to the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Team, and Elected Members. This role is pivotal in maintaining the Council’s public presence, coordinating events, and delivering timely and accurate information across digital and print channels.
The successful candidate will also contribute to regional engagement by travelling to and working in remote communities within the Barkly region, occasionally requiring overnight stays.
The Essentials
- Experience in developing and implementing effective media and communication strategies.
- Proven ability to create quality content for digital platforms, including social media, websites, newsletters, and public documents.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and work under pressure.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and other relevant communication tools.
- Knowledge of office administration with strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong teamwork skills and the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- National Criminal History Check.
- Working with Children (Ochre Card - Northern Territory).
- Driver’s Licence.
About You
- You possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, enabling you to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
- You have a solid understanding of local government operations, community services, and municipal management.
- You demonstrate proven leadership, planning, and problem-solving abilities to support teams and achieve results.
The Finer Details
- Level 6 Pay Point 1 to Level 8 Pay Point 1 of the Barkly Regional Council Enterprise Agreement 2024, depending on skills, qualifications, and relevant experience.
- Annual Salary Range of $80,804.75–$93,646.17 (paid fortnightly).
- 12% Superannuation.
- Annual Leave of 6 weeks paid with 17.5% Leave Loading.
- Free access to our Employee Assistance Program.
Additional INFO
No Employer-Provided Housing: The employee will be responsible for finding, renting, and paying for their own accommodation.
Barkly Regional Council requires that all applicants have a National Criminal History Check. You will be required to provide a recent National Criminal History Check prior to any offer of employment.
Barkly Regional Council requires the applicant to be able to produce or be able to obtain a Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card – Northern Territory) prior to commencement.
Interviews may be scheduled before the closing date and as applications are received.
We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, and we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to everyone.
Any application from outside of Australia that does not clearly show that the applicant has full Australian working rights will be automatically rejected.
Apply
To apply for your new adventure, submit an Expression of Interest covering the Essential Criteria, along with your up-to-date Resume, to hr@barkly.nt.gov.au.
Need more information, contact Hayley Sandstrom on 0498 046 888.
Applications Close at 5:00 pm on Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Customer Service Officer - Tennant Creek
Full-Time Permanent Position (38 hours per week)
Location: Tennant Creek
Applications Close: 5:00 pm, Wednesday, 14 January 2026
About the Role
Barkly Regional Council is seeking a motivated and community-focused Customer Service Officer to join our Tennant Creek Administration Centre. This frontline role is essential in delivering high-quality customer service and ensuring a positive first impression for all visitors, residents, and stakeholders.
As the first point of contact, you will provide reception, cashiering, records, and general administrative support while assisting in the smooth and effective daily operations of the Council. If you’re highly organised, enjoy working with people, and thrive in a busy service environment, we’d love to hear from you.
The Essentials
- Previous customer service and administration experience.
- Demonstrated experience implementing organisational policies and procedures, managing document control functions, and proactively resolving issues to streamline processes and support operational efficiency.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience engaging effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, particularly individuals for whom English is not a first language.
- Well-developed computer skills, in particular MS Office.
- National Criminal History Check.
- Driver’s Licence.
About You
- You are customer-focused with strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to engage effectively across all levels.
- You have a solid understanding of local government operations, community services, and municipal management.
- You demonstrate proven leadership, planning, and problem-solving skills to support teams and achieve results.
The Finer Details
- Full-Time Permanent position Level 4 Pay Point 1 of the Barkly Regional Council Enterprise Agreement 2024.
- Annual Salary of $67,918.20 ($2,612.24 gross per fortnight).
- 12% Superannuation.
- Annual Leave of 6 weeks paid with 17.5% Leave Loading.
- Free access to our Employee Assistance Program.
Additional INFO
No Employer-Provided Housing: The employee will be responsible for finding, renting, and paying for their own accommodation.
Barkly Regional Council requires that all applicants have a National Criminal History Check. You will be required to provide a recent National Criminal History Check prior to any offer of employment.
Barkly Regional Council requires the applicant to be able to produce or be able to obtain a Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card – Northern Territory) prior to commencement.
Interviews may be scheduled before the closing date and as applications are received.
We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, and we are committed to
providing equal employment opportunities to everyone.
Any application from outside of Australia that does not clearly show that the applicant has full Australian working rights will be automatically rejected.
Apply
To apply for your new adventure, submit an Expression of Interest covering the Essential Criteria, along with your up-to-date Resume, to hr@barkly.nt.gov.au.
Need more information, contact Natrisha Barnettt on 0488 776 199.
Applications Close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
Careers FAQs
How do I apply?
To guide you through the recruitment process and to maximise your chance of your application being successful, the following steps are provided.
STEP ONE: Read the position description carefully
Read the position description and any other related documents to determine if you have the required skills, knowledge and experience to apply for the role. To gain a clearer understanding of the role, you are encouraged to contact the staff member named in “for further information” in the position advertisement.
STEP TWO: Prepare your application
Your application has three parts:
• A cover letter,
• A current resume and
• A response to the Key Selection Criteria.
The cover letter
First impressions count! The cover letter introduces you. Ideally, the letter should not be more than one page and include:
• The title of the position you are applying for
• Where you saw the position advertised
• Why you are applying for the position
• Why you believe you are the right person for the job
The resume / CV
A resume or Curriculum vitae (CV) is a short chronological statement of your work history and qualifications. Ideally, your resume should not exceed more than three pages and include:
• Your employment history (including overview of duties, employment dates, your position title and the organisation name)
• Your qualifications (including the qualification title, year awarded and institution name)
• Other information (include any key achievements, volunteer work or any other relevant information)
• Attach copies of your qualifications and licences, if required
• Include a minimum of two referees, ensuring they are contactable and are aware that we may contact them. Referees are to be someone you have reported to either currently or in the recent past, Preferably within the last 12 months.
Your Response to Key Selection Criteria
The Key Selection Criteria (KSC) is a list of skills, attributes, knowledge and qualifications required for the position. The KSC can be found on the last page of the position description. In a separate document, write the KSC questions followed by your responses. Make sure to support your claims with evidence and examples including:
• Describe a situation that supports your statement.
• What your actions were. What you did.
• What the outcome of your actions was.
STEP THREE: Submit your application
Current Vacancies can be viewed at the top of this page.
If you require assistance with using our e-recruitment portal, please contact a member of the People and Culture team by:
email : hr@barkly.nt.gov.au
phone : 08 8962 0000 and ask for the People and Culture Team
If unable to access the internet, hard copy applications may be hand delivered to a Council Service Centre, or mailed (before the closing date) to:
Confidential - Barkly Regional Council
Attn: People and Culture Manager
PO Box 821
Tennant Creek NT 0861
Note: Please ensure you allow for ample time for your application to be received, as late applications may not be accepted.
What happens next?
Upon receiving your application, we will:
- Acknowledge your application by a system generated email
- Keep your application confidential and not discuss it with anyone outside of the process
- Assess your application on merit
- Notify you of the outcome.
The interview process
A selection panel, usually comprised of two or three people, will interview selected applicants. The panel follows a structured process, asking all applicants the same set of questions. The questions are developed to assess how well each applicant matches the given criteria. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions throughout, and at the end, of the interview and are encouraged to think of some questions prior to your scheduled interview. You are encouraged to consider some questions that may be asked and your response prior to the interview. The panel may follow up or explore particular issues that arise from individual applicants.
On average an interview usually takes about 45 minutes.
Candidates, who have been unsuccessful following their interview, will receive an email notification of the outcome. Due to the number of applications we receive, it may not be possible to provide feedback.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS - PLEASE READ
- Appointments may be subject to fitness for duty (also known as a pre-employment medicals), Working with Children and/or National Police Checks for specified roles as part of the recruitment process.
- Your application is unlikely to be short listed for consideration if the Key Selection Criteria has not been addressed.
- Barkly Regional Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our recruitment processes are conducted in accordance with the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Candidates are to refrain from soliciting information outside of the recruitment process.
- Please do not include original documents (such as qualifications) with your application, as these documents will not be returned to you.
- If you want to apply for more than one position, please complete a separate application for each position.
- Referee statements will be deemed confidential information and will be classed as exempt documents under the Freedom of Information Act (1982).
- Positions advertised by Council attract a large number of qualified candidates. The process of reviewing applications may extend recruitment time frames.
- You must have a valid Australian visa with work rights and hold a valid Australian Driver’s Licence (Northern Territory Licence is preferred, but not essential).
- Applicants of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent are encouraged to apply.
- Employment conditions are in accordance with the Barkly Regional Council Enterprise Agreement
