Working at AMSA
Types of Roles
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is a diverse organisation offering career opportunities from university graduates through to professionals embarking on a second career. AMSA is a largely self funded government statutory authority employing approximately 300 staff in 17 offices in each State and Territory - with its head office located in Canberra.
All AMSA staff, whether directly or indirectly involved, work together to enhance the safety of shipping and seafarers, to protect the marine environment, and to coordinate maritime and aviation search and rescue services.
AMSA staff work closely with other Australian and international government agencies as well as members of related industries, providing valuable advice and expertise.
AMSA’s Executive Section is made up of the Office of the Chief Executive and the Corporate Secretary.
Staff in our Emergency Response Division are involved in coordinating maritime and aviation search and rescue, providing search and rescue aircraft, maritime safety communications, and vessel tracking.
Maritime Standards Division staff provide a regulatory framework, strategic policy advice and operational oversight on maritime safety and navigational issues, the provision and maintenance of Australia’s marine aids to navigation network, and engagement with both the International Maritime Organization and International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.
Staff in our Maritime Operations Division provide competency certification to Australian seafarers and audit the safe operation of Australian ships, conducting flag State and port State control inspections. They also regulate pilotage in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait, and register Australian-flagged vessels.
Staff in our Marine Environment Division are involved in minimising the impact of shipping and marine pollution incidents on Australia’s marine environment through the management of the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances. They are also responsible for developing, implementing and enforcing international environment protection standards, and provide a marine casualty and emergency towage response.
Our Regulatory Affairs and Reform Division are responsible for establishing a National System of maritime safety regulation for commercial vessels, in collaboration with State/Northern Territory maritime agencies and the National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC). Regulatory Affairs and Reform includes the Office of Legal Counsel and the Office of Legislative Drafting.
Corporate Services Division staff assist our other Divisions by providing support in the areas of financial management, information technology, business and property services, and human resources.
Strategic Relations manages AMSA's engagement with the maritime industry and the broader community. This includes AMSA's communication and media, events, special projects and maintaining relationships with Australian maritime businesses, unions, associations and other stakeholders.
AMSA staff are employed in a broad range of roles, in areas that include:
- Ship Inspections
- Ship Safety
- Navigation Safety
- Shipping Operation and Qualifications
- Search and Rescue Resources
- Vessel Tracking
- Maritime and Aviation Search and Rescue
- Environmental Protection
- Government and International Liaison
- Business Services and Quality Systems
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Organisational Development
- Information Services
- Legal
- Communication
- Change Management
Benefits and Conditions of Employment
Terms and conditions of employment for most staff will be contained in AMSA’s Collective Agreement 2009-2012.
Here are some of the benefits of working with AMSA:
- We foster a community culture - it's one of the advantages of being a smaller agency.
- Eligible staff can access 12 days extra leave a year through our Professional Hours scheme.
- We offer generous employer superannuation contributions at 15.4%.
- We also offer salary packaging arrangements.
- We know that healthy people are productive people - so we'll contribute to your gym membership.
- We offer corporate membership for private health insurance for our staff and their families.
- We offer studies assistance to our staff because we believe in continual learning and development.
National Indigenous Employment Strategy 2011-2013
The National Indigenous Employment Strategy 2011-2013 is available here.