Parish Secretary - St Benedict's Parish

St Nicholas Early Education; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid parental leave

Gym discount (Fitness Passport)

Ongoing training and development

Supportive team environment

Modern office facilities, onsite cafe

Corporate benefits, EAP, flu shots

Job summary

St Benedict's Inner Newcastle Parish is seeking a diligent Parish Secretary to provide essential administrative support in our Newcastle office. You will welcome visitors, manage daily procedures, and assist in coordinating parish events and ministries with sensitivity and professionalism.

The role involves working closely with the Parish Priest and admin team, requiring discretion, strong communication, and a commitment to church values.

Qualifications

• Experience and commitment to church values.
• Proficient in a broad range of administrative tasks.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Team oriented with a collaborative approach.
• Ability to relate to diverse people and volunteers.
• Discretion with confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors and support parish office operations.
• Coordinate day-to-day office procedures and tasks.
• Support parish events and ministries.
• Assist Parish Priest and admin team with projects.
• Maintain records and assist with accounting tasks as needed.

Skills

Church commitment

Administrative tasks

Organisational skills

Team player

Interpersonal skills

Pastoral communication

Education

Office administration qualification

Driver's licence

Tools

Microsoft Office

Parish Data Systems

Xero/MYOB

Job description

If you currently work at the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, including the Catholic Schools Office, please apply through our internal Careers Portal

St Benedict's Inner Newcastle Parish is looking for an organised, customer-focused Parish Secretary to join our team on a permanent, full-time basis in Newcastle.

Reporting to the Parish Priest, you will play a vital role in supporting the day-to-day operations of the parish. This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced administrator who thrives in a community-focused environment and is motivated to contribute to the mission of the Catholic Church.

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US

• Make a real difference by directly improving the lives of many in the community.
• Paid parental leave (for eligible employees).
• Discounted gym membership through Fitness Passport (T&Cs apply) .
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A friendly, supportive environment with dedicated and passionate co-workers.
• Modern office facilities, including an onsite café.
• Corporate benefits, including EAP, flu shots and more.

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is organised into ten pastoral regions, each serving communities across the diocese's wide geographic footprint. The City Pastoral Region comprises three parishes:

• St Benedict's Inner-Newcastle, which includes Sacred Heart Cathedral (Hamilton), St Mary's (Newcastle), St Joseph's (The Junction) and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Tighes Hill)
• Mayfield (Christ the King)
• Stockton (St Peter-in-Chains)

As Parish Secretary, you will provide administrative support to the Parish Priest and work as an integral member of the parish administration team, helping to ensure the parish office runs smoothly and professionally.

In this role, you will welcome and assist visitors to the parish office, coordinate and implement day-to-day office procedures, and take responsibility for specific projects and tasks.

Desired Skills and Experience

EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA

• Well-motivated to work for the Church and possessing a strong commitment to its practices and values
• Demonstrated ability in accurate and proficient performance of a broad range of
  administrative tasks
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to work as a co-operative and effective member of a team
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (written and oral) skills and a pastoral attitude
• The ability to relate to a variety of people and the capacity to develop and maintain
  sound working relationships with other parish workers and volunteers
• Capacity to coordinate and/or oversee various parish events and ministries
• Energetic and highly motivated, with the initiative and capacity to work with minimum supervision
• Confidentiality (and the discernment to know what must be kept confidential) is essential
• Computer competency in Microsoft Office Applications and Parish Data Systems (or willingness to learn)
• Previous experience with Xero (preferred) or MYOB or an equivalent accounting package is essential
• Driver's licence and own reliable transport

QUALIFICATIONS

• Tertiary Qualifications in office administration or relevant experience working in an
  administrative capacity
• Current Class C Driver's Licence

All who work in the name of the Diocese must comply with the Diocesan Safeguarding Framework Policy and act in accordance with the Diocese's Code of Conduct which includes the Diocese's Safeguarding Commitment Statement. Employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and retain a valid NSW Working with Children Check where necessary, in accordance with legislation.