The Working in the LC Program 2022

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 first Working in the Legislative Council program for 2022 will run from 8 August to 28 October 2022. It is aimed at high performing NSW public service officers at Clerk Grade 7/8 level or equivalent. Officers at Clerk 9/10 level or equivalent may also be considered. 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 BudgetEstimates@parliament.nsw.gov.au. Your application should include a copy of the completed application form and a covering letter (maximum two pages) addressing the targeted questions.

The application closing date is COB, Monday 11 July 2022. Interviews will be held soon after this date.

The application form and targeted questions are below.

WiLC 2022 - Flyer.pdf