When most people think of council jobs, they picture desk work, town planning, or administrative tasks. But the truth is, local councils like the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council offer far more variety, and plenty of roles you’d never expect.
From caring for animals and supporting youth programs to preserving natural landscapes and running community hubs, there’s a whole world of exciting opportunities waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re passionate about people, wildlife, sport, or storytelling, there’s a council career path to match your skills and interests. So, let’s uncover some of the hidden gems that could be your next big move.
Uncover the Hidden Gems with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
If you’re looking to explore lesser-known (but very exciting) council jobs, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is your one-stop shop!
The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has a range of jobs that you might not expect to fall under the council! From roles with the Community Animal Shelter, to their Meals on Wheels service and The Briars, Youth Centres, and many Libraries, the possibilities really are endless.
Trust us, there are so many unexpected jobs on offer and not many people know just how much goes on behind the scenes with council work. In fact, the Shire offers over 110 unique roles in a widespread area, so you’re bound to find something perfect for you!
5 Surprising Council Jobs You Might Love
Ready to explore the world of possibilities that council jobs bring? With the help of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, we’ve compiled a list of the coolest places to kickstart your council career!
Community Animal Shelter
If your social media feed is full of cute animal pics, a role with the Community Animal Shelter could be your perfect fit. Spend your days assisting animals in need by providing tonnes of love, care, and support to the sweet fur babies that need it the most.
This is a role in which you can make a real difference and even help animals in need find loving forever homes with their perfect match! Animal care isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when you think of ‘council jobs,’ but if you prefer pets over people, it could be your perfect fit.
Meals on Wheels (MOW)
When you aren’t feeling your best, there’s nothing better than a hearty (and healthy) meal to put some pep back in your step. Unfortunately, many members of our communities aren’t able to cook for themselves, and that’s where the legends at Meals on Wheels come in!
Delivering nutritionally balanced meals to individuals over the age of 65, and those with disabilities, Meals on Wheels keeps the community healthy and well looked after. If you want to make a real difference, this council job will absolutely empower you to do so!
Mt Martha Golf Course
If your dream weekend involves a trip to the golf course, you might as well parlay that passion into a career! Working at Mt Martha Golf Course is a great way to kickstart a council job that keeps you close to the sport you love.
The golf course is a place for the community to connect & come together, and you can contribute to that sense of unity by maintaining the shop and ensuring all community members are happy with their time on the green.
The Briars
Wildlife conservationists and Earth Day enthusiasts, this one is for you! The Briars is a conservation site with a wildlife sanctuary, heritage homestead, visitor centre, and picnic areas. For jobseekers obsessed with the great outdoors, it doesn’t get much better than this. The best part? All the staff are super passionate and hardworking (and they’re just as enthusiastic about saving the world as you are)!
At the Briars, there are tonnes of different council jobs to choose from. Regardless of whether you want to work in the nursery, land a role as a conservation & environment lead, or use your people skills for customer service, you’re bound to find your perfect fit.
Your Local Library
If your perfect afternoon is spent curled up with a good book (or even better: recommending great reads to your friends), it might be time to put your literary passion to good use at one of the Peninsula’s many libraries!
With tonnes of jobs to choose from, such as information services & programs, library officers, mobile library drivers, and library marketing and engagement officers, there’s no shortage of exciting roles to choose from. The hardest part? Narrowing down which bookish career path to choose!
Youth Centres
Ready to uplift the next generation? Try a role with one of the Mornington Peninsula’s three Youth Hubs (located in Rosebud, Mornington, and Hastings). Providing information and advocacy for young people, these hubs are a crucial part of the community, and places where you could build a meaningful career!
All staff are youth workers, and their role is to provide young people with helpful and supportive information and advocate for them, too. If someone is struggling with something a little more severe, youth workers play a key role in providing the necessary support and resources. They also help youth with employment opportunities, setting up welcoming classroom environments, and helping young people get their start.
What Kinds of People Suit Council Jobs?
If you’re passionate, willing to listen, and super friendly, it’s more than likely that you’d enjoy many roles at the Mornington Peninsula Shire. After all, a lot of the work they do is based around the community! Many of the services provided by the Shire benefit the local community, and it’s a really rewarding experience to see the work you do impacting someone else in a positive way (especially if you’re a real people-person).
The skills you might need vary from role to role, but the good news is that most council jobs are totally teachable. However, it definitely helps to brush up on key aspects of the jobs you’re aiming for. For example, if you want to work with computers, IT skills will come in handy, whereas if you see yourself working at the shelter, you might want to brush up on your animal knowledge. Whether you’re nurturing your love for books to set yourself up for a library job or focusing on soft skills for a customer facing role, there’s always something you can be doing to get your resume looking great.
How Young People Are Thriving in Local Council Jobs
Starting a new role is always a little bit scary, but the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council team is there to support you every step of the way. But don’t just take it from us! Here’s what they shared about how one of their new recruits settled into their council job:
A trainee from last year came in feeling quite nervous about everything. However, the people she worked closely with noticed a sudden change in her as everything started to click into place. After taking on new learning opportunities and a new career path, you could see that her positive, can-do attitude made it easier for her to flourish and enjoy the work she was doing.
Despite being nervous when she started, this trainee presented and led an activity at one of our leadership workshops. Participants said it was highly engaging and impactful; everyone agreed she demonstrated exceptional teamwork and commitment to the team’s growth! Once her traineeship had finished, she went on to secure herself a full-time position with the team she had spent most of her time with during the traineeship.
What You Might Not Know About a Council Job:
The most surprising thing new starters find is the number of amazing opportunities that come with the traineeship. Some great examples include working with a wide variety of teams, attending events and celebrations, and realising the amount of background work that goes into supporting the organisation.
Many shared that the most rewarding part of their council jobs was how they were treated as a valued team member from day one! They didn’t feel less-than just because they were new; teams around them were there to support and help guide them through the work, which helped them feel confident and safe.
Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Advice to Students
Do it! it’s an amazing opportunity to explore multiple career paths in the span of 12 months. You work and collaborate with so many knowledgeable people who only want you to succeed and will support you the entire way through the traineeship. Everyday you learn something new and expand your knowledge even further.
Take every opportunity you can; you never know if you like something until you try it, and if you don’t, you never have to do it again.
Explore Council Careers While You’re Still in School
At the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, there are three options for high school students looking to launch their council jobs, which include:
Work Experience
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Work Experience program is a 5-day placement for year 10 students. The participant’s role is primarily to learn through observation, but they may also be able to participate in entry-level tasks that do not require any specific skills or training.
Structured Workplace Learning
This option is great for year 11 and 12 students who want to join a team once a week for hands-on learning! The course lasts for 10 weeks, and placements are usually organised for Wednesdays or Fridays. This is a good opportunity to work with a team and learn all about what they do. It’s also super helpful if you’re trying to figure out whether council jobs are for you.
Tertiary Placements
Tertiary placements are for students who need to complete a placement as part of their current course. They are a great way to put what you are learning into practice, build your skills and get a feel for the workplace. Placements are unpaid and can be based around a project or run for a set period of time.
Final Tips for Launching Council Jobs with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Looking for a little more guidance before you dive into the exciting world of council jobs? Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has you covered! Here’s the advice they’d give to anyone who’s considering kickstarting an exciting, community-driven council career:
If your curious about starting a career at the council, student work placements are a great opportunity to get your foot in the door (and get some hands-on experience in an area, you might like). It’s a chance to try something new, build your experience, and learn skills that will serve you for your whole life!
Another great opportunity to consider is the 12-month traineeship program; this is a chance to work full-time for 12 months with multiple teams, gaining knowledge and meeting new people. Throughout the 12 months, you’ll have a homebase team while completing 6 week-long rotations throughout the whole organisation. The best part? You can pick and choose which teams you want to try out! This is a fantastic opportunity to network, make good impressions, and figure out what career path is right for you!
How to Apply
If students want to learn more about these roles or how to apply for them visit the Mornington Peninsula Shire’ Work Experience page at Work Experience – Mornington Peninsula Shire or get in touch with the Employment Pathways Lead at Employment.Pathways@mornpen.vic.gov.au.
Want to learn more before diving in? Find out how to get started with work experience.
