Parish Secretary - St Benedict's Parish

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid parental leave

Discounted gym membership

Ongoing training and development

mnBenefits discounts up to 10%

Modern office facilities and onsite/cà

EAP and flu shots

Job summary

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is seeking a well-organised Parish Secretary to support the Parish Priest and the parish administration team in Newcastle. This permanent, full-time role focuses on delivering efficient office operations and welcoming visitors in a friendly, community-focused environment.

Ideal candidates will have strong Microsoft Office and Parish Data Systems experience, with familiarity in Xero/MYOB and a commitment to the Church’s practices and values.

Qualifications

• Well-motivated to work for the Church and its practices and values.
• Accurate and proficient in a broad range of administrative tasks.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Able to work as a cooperative and effective team member.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the Parish Priest and parish administration team.
• Greet and assist visitors to the parish office and coordinate daily office procedures.
• Coordinate and oversee parish events and ministries as required.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Teamwork

Confidentiality

Office software

Xero

Drivers license

Education

Tertiary qualifications in office administration

Current Class C Driver’s Licence

Tools

Parish Data Systems

Microsoft Office

Xero

MYOB

Job description

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland – Newcastle NSW

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.
• Save up to 10% at leading retailers with our mnBenefits program.
• Modern office facilities, including an onsite café.
• Corporate benefits, including EAP, flu shots and more.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

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.

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

Applications close 11:59pm on Wednesday, 04 November 2026.

Applications for this position will only be considered if submitted through the following platforms: our careers page on our website, mnpeople, Indeed, Seek, or LinkedIn.

For further information please reach out to: Fr Gregory Barker, Vicar General and Parish Prieston **************@mn.catholic.org.au

Additional Information

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons and preventing those in our care from suffering abuse or neglect. It is committed to implementing and maintaining compliance with the NSW Child Safe Standards and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and takes a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of children or vulnerable persons.

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.