Work experience

What team will I join for work experience?

You will work with the Museum’s Front of House team. This large, diverse and creative team consistently delivers high-quality customer service and face-to-face interpretation including guided tours for general visitors. The team also delivers engaging educational programs for students and their teachers.

General responsibilities of a host in the Front of House team include:

• enhancing visitors’ experiences through delivery of information about exhibitions, collections and programs
• face-to-face interpretation
• development and delivery of guided tours and talks
• operation of displays, multimedia and virtual reality experiences
• monitoring and promoting the safety and security of visitors and the collection
• administration tasks including point-of-sale operation, processing bookings through a database and the promotion and sale of Museum products.

The Front of House team also runs the volunteering program, championing the work of volunteers throughout Museum in helping support business outcomes.

Depending on timing and resources, your work experience rotation may include time with the Museum’s Education team. Education delivers school programs and activities, mainly for groups from Year 3 to Year 12, with a focus on meeting syllabus requirements.

What will I do with the Front of House team?

You will buddy one of our hosts. Hosts assist with the daily operational requirements of the Museum. Hosts are rostered in gallery spaces and assist with interpretation of objects.

Interpretation is where hosts engage in discussion about objects and themes in the Museum’s galleries, to enhance the visitor’s understanding, knowledge and experience. These discussions are also called gallery talks.

Hosts also run daily tours at the Museum, monitor safety issues and are responsible for evacuations if required. Hosts also sell and scan tickets. While on work experience your host buddy will help you understand the role and responsibilities.

Where do I go and what should I wear?

Location: National Museum Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Canberra, ACT

Time: 8.45am to 5.15 pm daily. Work experience students join the Front of House team briefings 15 minutes before and after the Museum’s regular 9am to 5pm opening hours. These briefings are so everyone is aware of what is happening during the day. Hosts and work experience students receive two 30-minute lunch breaks each day.

We understand that flexibility may be needed for arrival and departure times of work experience students and are happy to discuss later starts and earlier finishes.

Dress: Be sure to wear black pants or a skirt and black enclosed shoes. This resembles the uniform worn by our host staff. On arrival a museum-issued shirt will be provided.

During cooler weather we also issue a work jacket, and we recommend wearing a black undershirt if you require extra warmth. On your final day of work experience, the Museum shirt and jacket need to be returned, so we suggest bringing a spare shirt to change into.

What are the benefits? How do I know it is for me?

Experiencing the role of a host provides insights into what it's like working in an entry level museum job. This role is great for gaining and enhancing customer service skills, communication and working as part of a team.

This role also allows you to develop interpretation and presentation skills. Some of our work experience students have later joined the Museum team and become paid employees!

Host roles are great for anyone who is outgoing, interested in front-facing customer service, looking to learn about Australian social history and is interested in learning more about the workings of museums and the Australian Public Service system.

For more information, students and staff can email recruitment@nma.gov.au.