DPS Australian Parliament House Catering and Events Temporary Employment Register 2026/2027

About the Department of Parliamentary Services

The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) supports the functions of the Australian Parliament and the work of Parliamentarians through the provision of professional services, advice and facilities, the ongoing maintenance of Australian Parliament House (APH); and ensuring the building, and the important activity that takes place within, are accessible.

Employing over 1,000 people, DPS works to deliver a diverse range of services including: security, reporting and broadcasting, library research, catering, visitor experience, art collections, building design integrity, Hansard, information technology and maintenance. The Department also has corporate and administrative functions including Human Resources, to support a growing diverse workforce.

Are you what the Australian Parliament House Catering and Events team are looking for?

Are you passionate about hospitality? Do you take pride in delivering exceptional service, creating memorable dining experiences, or bringing events to life? Now’s your chance to take your career to the next level — at an award-winning tourism venue in one of Australia’s most iconic buildings.

The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) is seeking customer focused, passionate and hardworking people, to support and grow the catering and events businesses at Australian Parliament House.

Our ideal candidates will:

• have proven success in the hospitality industry
• have a can-do attitude and strong work ethic
• be customer focused
• flexible availability including evenings and weekends
• enjoy working in a team, and
• thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

If you believe that you are a good fit for DPS and have the requisite skills and aptitude to contribute to the delivery of exceptional services and experiences, we want to hear from you.

The Temporary Employment Register

This register is designed to establish a database of appropriately skilled and experienced individuals, who may, at short notice, be further assessed to fill temporary non-ongoing positions for up to 18 months. Non-ongoing (temporary) employment opportunities may be offered on a full-time, part-time or intermittent / irregular (casual) basis.

You will only be contacted regarding your application if a vacancy arises that matches your skills and experience. There is no guarantee that an offer of employment will be made whilst your application remains on the register.

About the opportunities

APH Catering and Events is an in-house food and beverage operation in within Parliament House. The operation delivers premium services to multiple event venues ranging from small private dining rooms to large spaces such as the Great Hall. The Catering and Events function encompasses multiple kitchens and retail outlets that include amazing venues for function catering, a la carte, bistro, café (building occupants and public facing).

Our functions and venues include:

• Queen’s Terrace Café
• Staff Dining Room
• Coffee hubs/carts
• Event venues (capacity of 10-800)

We are looking for candidates across a variety of functions and levels to support the operations.

• Event Set-up and Banquet Operations Sessional
• Required during sitting weeks morning and afternoon shifts (staff, food and beverage attendant, supervisor)
• Front of house retail (barista, waiter/waitress, cashiers)
• Back of house (Chefs [all levels], Pastry Chef, Apprentice, Steward, Kitchen assistant, Logistics/Stores)

Please note that all front of house and banquet staff are required to hold a current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate. If not already held, this must be obtained and maintained.

What we can offer

Join our community based on innovative, unified, and client-focused services, where your skills and development will be nurtured. You will also enjoy:  

• flexible working arrangements can be negotiated in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement and the operational needs of the roles
• ongoing opportunities to learn and develop new capabilities 
• a competitive remuneration package
• free on-site parking
• free gym membership and access to recreational facilities available at APH
• childcare (pending availability), banking services, post office, value-for-money dining options and more available at APH.

Conditions of Employment

Employment opportunities at the department are subject to a range of conditions prescribed in the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 which include:

• Australian citizenship: Section 22 of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 requires that employees of the Parliamentary Service are generally required to be Australian citizens. However, if you are not an Australian citizen you may be considered for engagement on the condition that you are able to gain Australian Citizenship within a specified time. Failure to obtain citizenship within the timeframe could lead to termination of employment.
  
  
• Loss and resumption of Australian citizenship: Under historical provisions of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 (section 17), some Australian citizens automatically lost their citizenship if they voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country between 26 January 1949 and 3 April 2002. This loss occurred by operation of law and may not have been known to the individual at the time. Although these provisions were repealed in 2002 to allow dual citizenship, the repeal did not restore citizenship that was previously lost. Individuals who believe they may be affected are recommended to seek advice about resuming their Australian citizenship. Further information, is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
• Applicants who progress to the offer stage with our department who have been affected by the loss of citizenship as outlined above will be required to demonstrate within a reasonable time that they have resumed, or are actively undertaking the process to resume, Australian citizenship.
  
  
• Security clearance and character clearance: the preferred applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the level specified, as well as complete and be deemed suitable through a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.
  
  
• Health assessment: a pre-employment health assessment will be required where there are physical or medical requirements for the role.
  
  
• External Work Approval: Employees must seek approval for any paid employment outside the department and declare voluntary activities that could impact their role.

How to Apply

Applicants are invited to register their interest by completing the online application form. Please ensure you nominate your Temporary Employment Register 'Area of interest/s' and 'Classification'.

Complete the application form which includes uploading a copy of your CV and a pitch (maximum 300 words), addressing the following 2 questions:

1. Why do you want to work at Parliament House?
2. What hospitality experience would you bring to this role?

If you experience any difficulties submitting your online application, please contact the DPS Recruitment Team on (02) 6277 5200 (option 1) or dps.recruitment@aph.gov.au

Important notes

• Employment opportunities may be offered on a short-term, non-ongoing, full-time, part- time, irregular/intermittent or sessional basis for an initial period of up to 12 months.
• There is no guarantee that an offer of employment will be made whilst your application remains on the register.
• All front of house and banquet staff are required to hold a current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate. If not already held, this must be obtained and maintained.

Classifications

• Parliamentary Service Level (PSL) positions are similar to Australian Public Service (APS) positions.
• Parliamentary Executive Level (PEL) positions are similar to Australian Public Service Executive Level (EL) positions.

Closing Date

Your registration for the Temporary Employment Register will remain active until 11:30pm, Wednesday 30 June 2027. After this time you will need to renew your registration by re-applying.

Contact details

Name:  DPS Recruitment
Phone Number:  02 6277 5200
Email:  dps.recruitment@aph.gov.au

Our purpose and values

We proudly provide innovative, unified, and client-focused services to the Australian Parliament and parliamentarians. We are a values driven department, placing our values at the heart of everything we do; from our service offerings and decision-making to our interactions with stakeholders and each other.

Our people are employed in a broad and unique range of professional, customer service and trade-based roles, all joined by a shared purpose: to make an enduring contribution to Australia’s parliamentary democracy. We have an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. While we come from all walks of life, we share a commitment to care for and protect our iconic workplace.

Every year, almost one million people visit Australian Parliament House to experience the parliamentary process, the building’s architecture, nationally significant art collections, events, tours, and food and dining experiences – all made possible by our people, who are active participants in an environment where no two days are the same.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that ensures all our people can contribute to our shared purpose. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who identify as neurodivergent, and mature aged people.