What we offer

Everyday Benefits

Salaries and Wages

Our staff are rewarded with competitive salaries and wages, and an employer superannuation contribution of 9.5%.

Voluntary deductions are also available. Some of the more popular deductions include health funds, charities, Council rates, additional tax and additional superannuation.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We are committed to providing employees access to flexible work options that enhance their work and life balance. Depending on the nature of your work and your team or department structure, you may have access to flex time, rostered days off, part-time and job share arrangements.

Salary Packaging

Other salary packaging options include professional memberships, additional maternity or study leave, additional salary to be paid at retirement, financial advice, membership at a number of Council facilities, Council motor vehicles and novated leases.

Educational Assistance and Training

Council encourages ongoing professional learning and development by offering financial assistance and a variety of study leave options.

Staff are required to attend a range of mandatory training, and are also encouraged to attend training, seminars and networking events relevant to their roles.

As a Skills Shortage Area, Children’s Services staff are able to access financial assistance for up to 100% of their educational fee’s where eligible.

Leave

Our generous leave entitlements allow staff to balance work and home commitments. Entitlements include paid Annual, Sick and Carers Leave, and the accrual of Long Service Leave after 5 years of continuous service.

Council also offers a range of additional leave options to cover staff when they need to move house, or in times of emergency.

During Christmas and New Year closures, staff can also access additional Council days. 

Indigenous employees are entitled to 1 day of paid leave to take part in NAIDOC Week Celebrations

Council offers both paid and unpaid parental leave to allow parents to take up to 2 years off work following the birth or adoption of a child. Supporting parents may also apply for leave when their partner gives birth to, or adopts, a child.

Recognition of Service

If you have previously worked in Local Government in New South Wales and have had less than three months break in service we will recognise your unused long service leave and up to thirteen weeks unused sick leave in accordance with the Local Government (State) Award.

Health and Wellbeing

Penrith City Council is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for employees, contractors, volunteers, customers and visitors.

We recognise the loyalty and dedication that our people invest by providing a range of health and well-being initiatives for all of our employees.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

As an organisation we want to create a workplace that promotes good mental health and wellbeing. We want to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and educate employees on services and tools available to help.

In October 2016, Penrith City Council launched its Mental Health and Wellbeing Vision, and hosted a range of wellbeing seminars. All staff have access to our Mental Health and Wellbeing Portal, which contains a range of tools and resources to assist staff in managing their wellbeing both in and out of the workplace. 

Employee Assistance Program

24 hour, 7 day a week free and confidential counselling for all staff and their families

Fitness Passport

Discounted memberships to over 250 gyms and leisure centres across Sydney

Pilates and Yoga

Staff can opt to salary sacrifice to join weekly Pilates and Yoga classes held in the Civic Centre

Social Club 

Our staff Social Club events, activities and outings are a chance to get to know other employees. Events include Happy Hours, cruises, lawn bowls, Christmas in July, and a Kids Christmas party.

Council’s Employee Christmas Party is also organised by the Social Club, and is normally held on the last working Friday before Christmas Day.

The Social Club also coordinates a monthly golf competition and assists with the table tennis competitions.

Helping the Community

Statement of Support for Defence Reservists

Thousands of Reservists, who are members of the Navy, Army and Air Force, have served in Australia and overseas in recent years.

When called upon, these men and women serve alongside their colleagues in the Permanent Forces with courage and dedication, and often at considerable personal sacrifice. We admire their commitment and are determined to support all employees in the Reserve.

If you are a member of the Army, Navy or Air Force Reserves, you may be entitled to up to 2 weeks’ special leave each year to complete military training. Council will pay the difference between any monies you receive from the Reserved Forces and your normal weekly pay.

Emergency Services Leave

If you are a Civil Emergency Service volunteer, such as with the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service, and are required to attend a recognised emergency management activity, you have access to a variety of leave options.

In October 2013, Council assisted in the aftermath of the Blue Mountains bushfires by sending a number of staff to participate in the Disaster Recovery Team for six weeks. Staff worked alongside the State Emergency Service and Rural Fire Service in providing support services and assistance to residents affected by the events.

Blood Donations

We allow staff time away from their day to day duties to donate blood, and we also partake in the Australia-wide Blood Drive Challenge.

Diversity

Join a workforce that values diversity and inclusion

At Penrith City Council, we are committed to developing a workplace culture that displays fair practices and behaviours, and improved employment access and participation for Equal Employment Opportunity groups identified as:

• Women
• Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islanders
• People with a disability (including those requiring adjustment at work)
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

We strive to develop and implement workplace programs that promote an inclusive workplace culture and have developed an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Management Plan, which outlines our key strategies for the next four years.

Persons with a Disability

At Penrith City Council, we support the employment of person/s with a disability, and can offer a range of reasonable adjustments to both applicants and staff.

For more information on identifying as having a disability in your application, visit the “How to Apply” section.

Older Workforce

35% of our permanent workforce are over the age of 55. We offer a range of programs and initiatives to support our mature age workforce, and actively assist in the transition to retirement, including offering a range of options for employee’s nearing retirement, such as combining work with days of leave each week, or working reduced hours for a period of time assist’s our staff with the transition into retirement.

Gender Equity

Penrith City Council is committed to working towards increasing the representation of women in local government, both as elected members and senior managers and professionals by undertaking ongoing reviews of policies and practices to remove barriers to women’s participation and to provide safe, supportive working and decision-making environments that welcome and respect a wide range of views.

50:50 Vision Council’s for Gender Equity Program Silver Award

Council has a commitment to gender equity and in 2010 received a bronze award in the 50:50 Vision and then in 2016, Council was awarded the silver accreditation, which are both independently overseen by the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA).

Gender Equity Steering Committee

Penrith Council’s Gender Steering Committee was formed by the General Manager to focus on organisational change and provide a range of development opportunities for women. The objective of the group is not only to guide the implementation of agreed actions from the Gender Equity Action Plan across the organisation but also involve a high level of engagement by senior management in facilitating research and analysis and developing policy directions that will assist in achieving gender equity.

The Gender Equity Steering Committee ensures all staff are better informed about the impact of gender equity issues within the organisation.

Gender Equity Project Team

In 2012, the 50:50 Vision Gender Equity Project Team was established by a group of passionate staff who wanted to plan and implement a calendar of events, forums and presentations to support women in the organisation. Past events include “Secure Your Financial Future” Seminar, “Healthy Work/Life balance” Workshops, and a range of lunchtime sessions.

Parental Leave Morning Tea

Each year, Council invites all employees on parental leave to attend a morning tea. The purpose of the morning tea is to provide employees with an opportunity to find out what has been happening in their team or department while they have been on parental leave. The morning tea also enables networking between parents and the ability for staff to speak with Council representatives about return to work options such as flexible working arrangements, utilisation of Council’s childcare facilities and salary sacrificing options.

Parenting Rooms

Council has two dedicated parenting rooms within the Civic Centre and Depot to support the needs of the new parents when returning to work.