Maintenance and Grounds Officer

Role overview

This permanent full-time position sits within BlueCare’s statewide Facilities & Maintenance function and is based at Star of the Sea Elders Village on Thursday Island. The role runs Monday to Friday and offers a hands-on opportunity to help maintain a safe, tidy, and welcoming environment for residents, staff, and visitors in an aged care setting.

Working as part of a wider state and regional support network, you will operate with a good degree of independence while staying connected to colleagues, contractors, and local stakeholders. The position combines grounds care, basic maintenance, and minor property work, all contributing to the smooth day-to-day running of the site.

Key duties

• Carry out routine gardening tasks and lawn care.
• Maintain plant, tools, and equipment in working order.
• Complete minor property maintenance and repair tasks.
• Help create and preserve a safe, attractive environment for aged care residents and site visitors.
• Coordinate your workload and meet agreed timelines.
• Work collaboratively with regional colleagues, onsite contacts, and external contractors.

Skills and experience

The preferred candidate will bring practical maintenance or groundskeeping experience, along with the ability to learn quickly where needed. Strong communication, sound time management, and comfort using IT systems are important for success in this role.

Requirements

• Hold a current Australian driver’s licence.
• Have an NDIS Workers Screening Clearance, or be willing to obtain one.
• Be comfortable using IT systems.
• Bring experience in building maintenance, plant and equipment upkeep, gardening, or landscaping, or the ability to develop these skills.
• Demonstrate strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Show a proactive attitude and willingness to contribute as part of a regional team.
• Be able to organise work schedules and meet deadlines.
• Be willing to complete any probity checks required by law or internal policy.
• Trade qualifications or a certificate in facilities, building, or construction are not essential, but would be an advantage.

Pay and benefits

The role is paid at $30.05 per hour, plus superannuation. It also includes access to not-for-profit salary packaging, which can increase take-home pay, and employee discounts.

• Salary packaging for everyday living expenses and bills of up to $15,900 per year.
• Meal entertainment packaging of up to $2,650 per year.
• Employee discount access through a recognition and rewards platform, with offers across retail, travel, health insurance, and more.
• Annual awards celebration, wellbeing support, and employee assistance programs.
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave and 2 weeks of paid partner leave after 6 months of service, in addition to the government scheme.
• Paid and unpaid diversity and inclusion leave, including gender affirmation leave and cultural leave for occasions such as Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, and NAIDOC Week.
• Career development opportunities with a trusted community and residential care provider.

Organisation and values

BlueCare is part of the broader UnitingCare family, a large network of aged care, health, and community services across Australia. The organisation describes itself as compassionate, inclusive, and committed to helping people live life in its fullness.

Child safety

UnitingCare is committed to maintaining child-safe and child-friendly services. This includes creating welcoming and nurturing environments for children, taking steps to prevent abuse and neglect, and responding appropriately if concerns arise. The organisation also follows the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

Diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation

UnitingCare states that everyone is welcome and that equal opportunity is central to its mission and values. Applications are encouraged from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Support for reconciliation is available through the organisation’s RAP team.

Safe workplace and safeguarding

The organisation says it is committed to keeping children, young people, adults, and older people safe from harm across its services, workplaces, and communities. Recruitment and workplace practices are designed to prevent abuse, exploitation, and other forms of harm.