Working in the Legislative Council program 2023

The Working in the Legislative Council program is a professional development initiative. The program is offered to departmental officers who want to gain first-hand experience of the operations of Parliament, including Legislative Council committees and the annual Budget Estimates process. It also facilitates an exchange of ideas and experiences between participants, sponsor agencies and the Council.

The Working in the Legislative Council program for 2023 will run from 9 October to 19 December 2023. It is aimed at high performing officers at the Clerk Grade 7/8 or 9/10 level, or equivalent NSW public sector officers. The successful applicant's agency is required to meet their officer's salary costs during the placement. Participants are not eligible to apply for a position in the Council during the placement or for six months following the end of the placement

The successful applicant will work as an integral member of the team administering the Budget Estimates inquiry; assist with other committee inquiries; and observe proceedings in the House.

This is what a previous participants said of their experience:

"The Working in the Legislative Council program offers a unique opportunity to gain direct experience of, and to contribute to, the work of the Upper House of the NSW Parliament. After supporting the Budget Estimates process, I gained insights into various Parliamentary committees, helping with hearings, reviewing evidence and writing sections of reports. I also enjoyed learning about the operation of the House. A highlight was comparing learnings from NSW parliamentary interactions with other parliaments, as my secondment coincided with visiting delegations from international legislatures.

This is a valuable exchange program between government departments and the state Parliament and it was a pleasure to work with the friendly and supportive staff in the Legislative Council. I learnt a great deal about the history, role and functions of the Legislative Council, and about fast-paced committee and other parliamentary processes. Aside from the procedural rhythms of the parliament, no two days were ever the same".

More information
To apply, please forward your application to Mr David Blunt, Clerk of the Parliaments, by email to [email protected]. Your application should include a completed application form, your curriculum vitae and responses to the targeted questions (maximum two pages).

The application closing date is COB, Friday 11 August 2023. Interviews will be held soon after this date.

The application form and targeted questions are below.

Flyer - Working in the LC program 2023.PDF