Volunteer positions available


Star Wars: where science meets imagination

11 December 2008 – April 2009

About the exhibition
Could cars that hover above ground be the mass transit of the future? Will we ever have droids like C-3PO in real life? Fantasy and reality join forces in this groundbreaking exhibition which explores cutting-edge research and modern technologies that could one day make the fantasy world of Star Wars a reality.

Star Wars: where science meets imagination combines costumes and props from all six Star Wars films with real-world technologies and video interviews with filmmakers, scientists and engineers. Exhibition highlights include two large Engineering Design Labs where visitors can build and test speeders and robots. Visitors will explore prototypes, learn about the engineers and designers who are creating new technologies, and discover intriguing similarities between how scientists and filmmakers think.

The role of Star Wars Volunteers

Volunteers working in the Star Wars exhibition will enrich the visitors’ experience by providing information and instruction about the artefacts and interactives.

Volunteers will create a welcoming environment for visitors and provide excellent customer service by:

  • Welcoming and directing visitors
  • Sharing their specialist knowledge of Star Wars
  • Sharing their love of science and technology with visitors
  • Assisting visitors with the use of the exhibition’s interactives
  • Assisting visitors to move smoothly through the exhibition.

 Star Wars volunteers are required to work a minimum of 10 days. This can be a regular day per week, or a block period during the school holiday periods.

 Training will be provided.

pdf Star Wars volunteer application

 

Volunteer with the Powerhouse Visitor Services Team

Powerhouse Visitor Services volunteers support the public program activities of the Education Program Development Department by greeting visitors and taking orientation walks; conducting tours; giving exhibition, object and special event talks and assisting with school holiday programs and demonstrations; assisting staff with education briefings and education packages and assisting groups with teacher guided visits; meeting and greeting booked adult groups and assisting people with a disability or frail aged visitors. Powerhouse Visitor Services Volunteers also provide services to groups in the community via the outreach program, where they visit organisations outside of the Museum.

Key Volunteer Tasks
Reception and orientation - welcoming visitors, taking orientation walks and providing directions to facilities and exhibitions
Visitor Programs - conducting tours, exhibition, object and special event talks and assisting with school holiday programs and demonstrations
School Programs - assisting staff with school briefings and school activities and assisting school groups with teacher guided visits
Special Groups - meeting and greeting booked groups including those with special needs
Outreach - Visiting community groups and institutions such as nursing homes and service clubs to speak about the Powerhouse Museum

Skills and Abilities Required

  1. Ability to work as part of a team.
  2. Good communication skills and an outgoing personality.
  3. Strong commitment to providing a high standard of customer service.
  4. Prior experience with public speaking.
  5. Demonstrated interest and/or experience in one or more of the following: Social History, Science and Technology, Computer Science, Decorative Arts, Industry and Design.
  6. Able to participate in training.
  7. Ability to commit to volunteer work on a regular basis.

Hours & Days
Weekday volunteers - 1 day a week, 9.30 - 3.30
Weekend volunteers - 1 to 2 days per month, 9.30 - 3.30

Please return completed application form before September 2008.
pdf Visitor Services application

Volunteer with the Powerhouse Discovery Centre Visitor Services Team

Powerhouse Discovery Centre is the Powerhouse Museum’s off-site collection storage facility. A new ‘museum visitor experience’ model and program to increase public access to the Powerhouse’s Collection has been developed and was officially opened at the Castle Hill site in March 2007.

The nature of the site as a storage facility and the ‘behind the scenes’ appeal of the visitor offering require a different approach to the traditional museum visitor experience that captures the rawness, directness and uniqueness of the visitor’s engagement with the site, the Collection and the objects.

A diverse range of public access programs and activities at the Castle Hill site will engage visitors with the Powerhouse’s key areas of focus – design, popular culture, science/sustainability, and the history of New South Wales. Programs will include supervised tours into the collection stores; major public events including open weekends and field days; tailored education programs for school-aged youth; school holiday programs; community engagement programs; regional partnership events; and specialist/industry and professional development programs.

The opportunity to become a Powerhouse Discovery Centre volunteer would be ideal for those with an interest in culture and heritage and or previous experience in volunteering, especially within an arts or cultural organisation and those with an interest in, the areas of popular culture, design, science, sustainability and the history of New South Wales.

The Role of the Powerhouse Discovery Centre Volunteers Team
The role of the Powerhouse Discovery Centre volunteer team is critical to the delivery of the Museum’s Collection access programs and will involve:

  • Hosting visitors to the Powerhouse Discovery Centre at Castle Hill.
  • Assisting with the delivery of site programs including tours, talks, school group visits and education and school holiday programs.
  • Assisting with activities and programs on monthly public open days and quarterly community field day events.
  • Assisting visitors to access information on the Powerhouse Museum’s collection through the Powerhouse Collection Resource Centre.
  • Assisting with the day-to-day running of the facility.

Hours & Days
Weekday volunteers - 1 day a week, 9.30 - 3.30
Weekend volunteers - 1 to 2 days per month, 9.30 - 3.30

Please return completed application form as soon as possible.
pdf Castle Hill Visitor Services application form

Youth Volunteer Program

As a member of the Youth Volunteer Program you will be working with young visitors to provide enhanced access to the Powerhouse Museum interactive gallery spaces. Your role will be primarily based in the Zoe’s House precinct assisting children and families in an interactive building site designed for children. You will also be able to gain skills operating in a leadership role in a public environment. The Youth Volunteer Program is part of the overall Visitor Services Volunteer Program. Youth Volunteers will receive the same benefits and acknowledgements as all Museum volunteers. To register for the Youth Volunteer Program please fill out and return the application form below or you can register online.
pdf Youth Volunteer application

Other Volunteer Positions

The Powerhouse Volunteer Program attracts people with a range of backgrounds and skills, a shared commitment to the collection and a desire to help the museum. Powerhouse Volunteers perform a variety of roles, with a range of interesting duties, providing invaluable support to the paid staff and a high standard of customer service to visitors. Anyone over the age of 16 may apply to volunteer at the museum and volunteers may apply to transfer from one volunteer position to another. Applications are processed museum-wide twice a year (10 March 2008 and 10 September 2008).

Please read the Volunteer Enquiry Kit for further information.
pdf Volunteer Enquiry Kit

Please email the Volunteer program for further information:
volunteercentre@phm.gov.au