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Benefits of working with Wollongong City Council

Page Sections: Hours of Work | Flexible Working Arrangements | Leave Entitlements | Learning and Development | Recognition and Rewards | Employee Assistance and Health | Superannuation | Union Membership

Hours of Work

  • Salary staff work a 35 hour week - 7 hours per day Monday to Friday.
  • Outdoor staff work a a nine day fortnight - working 7 hours and 46 minutes, Monday to Friday with one roster day per fortnight.
  • Start and finish times can vary depending on area of work.

Flexible Working Arrangements

Flextime is available to salaried employees, allowing them maximum flexibility in determining their own work hours in agreement with their supervisor.

Job share and part-time work arrangements may also be considered depending on needs of work area.

Leave Entitlements

We are committed to the wellbeing and morale of our employees and provide support to employees in balancing work and family responsibilities. The following types of leave are available:

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to five working weeks annual leave for every completed year of service including a fixed component to be taken during the Christmas / New Year period.

Sick Leave

Paid to employees in cases of genuine illness.

Carers Leave 

Available to employees who adopt a primary care giving role to dependants and supports unplanned cases of short term illness or injury of dependants or family members.

Parental Leave 

Available to employees who will be the primary care giver of a child (natural or adopted) up to a total period of 52 weeks and can comprise of 12 weeks maternity leave or nine weeks paternity leave, annual leave, long service leave or leave without pay.

Bereavement Leave

Available to any employee who suffers the loss of a family member or close relative.

Special Leave with Pay 

May be approved for employees who provide documentation to support their involvement in the following:

  • volunteer firefighting
  • representing NSW or Australia, ie in sport
  • participation in community service organisations
  • military service
  • jury service.

Long Service Leave 

After 10 years of service 13 weeks of leave is available and an additional 13 weeks for every further five years completed service.

Learning and Development

Learning and development activities, aimed at increasing skills, knowledge and expertise, include:

  • inhouse or external training courses
  • attendance at conferences/seminars/workshops
  • flexible elearning training modules
  • participation in project teams, focus groups, working parties
  • job rotations, secondments, lateral transfers and opportunities to act in higher grade positions.

Permanent employees who wish to undertake tertiary studies related to their work or career path, may be eligible for financial assistance and time release from work to attend lectures, examinations or residential schools.

Recognition and Rewards

Our Skills and Performance Management Assessment System recognises high performance across all levels of the organisation. Rewards are linked to financial and non-financial benefits.

Employee Assistance and Health

We recognise that any employee can, at times, experience problems of a personal nature which may affect work performance, and their personal health and safety. Council engages a fully independent company to provide a free confidential and independent counselling service by qualified staff.

Our health program has a range of health awareness programs and corporate fitness events.

Superannuation

As a permanent employee you can choose the fund to which you wish us to pay the compulsory superannuation guarantee levy. However, our 'Employer Choice Fund' is the Local Government Superannuation Scheme, which has a local office located in Wollongong. Members of this scheme can make additional personal contributions and can elect to salary sacrifice personal contributions at a pre-taxed rate of pay.

Union Membership

Employees may choose to join one of several unions which provide various services and assistance to its members.

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