Looking to earn extra money? Free to work on 14 October 2023?
AEC calls for 100,000 temporary staff for the referendum

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is looking for up to 100,000 temporary staff to work at the 2023 referendum, to be held on Saturday 14 October 2023.

Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers encourages people who would like to earn a bit of extra money and provide their community the opportunity to vote locally to register their interest to work.

“With a date locked in people will now know whether or not they can put their hand up to work with us in October,” Mr Rogers said.

“Any federal referendum is historic with only 44 conducted in our nation’s history and the previous one held way back before the Sydney Olympics – this is an opportunity to be a part of delivering the vote for the Australian community.”

“This will be a unique opportunity to work at the first federal referendum this century and add a fairly rare experience to your resume.”

“We become one of the nation’s largest employers ever so briefly – most roles are a single day’s employment with training provided but some roles stretch over a few weeks.”

“You don’t need election experience to work at the referendum but you do need to be able to take an impartial and neutral approach to your work – that is not negotiable,” Mr Rogers said.

Availability in regional locations

The AEC needs temporary staff all across Australia to deliver the 2023 referendum. However, regional towns are always the areas most in need.

“It can be difficult to find staff in regional and remote areas so we really need people to put up their hands, get involved in their communities and make sure people in their areas can vote,” Mr Rogers said.

“We also need staff for mobile polling teams which take voting services to people who may not be able to get to a polling place - going to places like remote and very remote communities, aged care facilities, prisons and support centres for people experiencing homelessness.

However, before applying, and in keeping with the AEC’s commitment to integrity and impartiality, it is critically important that you are publicly neutral in relation to politics and the referendum issue, meaning you can’t express an opinion or take actions that support either the yes or no case.

To find out more about referendum work and to register interest, people can head to the AEC website or call 02 6271 4631 for assistance.

Editor’s notes:

• AEC newsroom
• Images

Further quotes attributed to:

QLD

Queensland State Manager for the AEC Stephanie Attard said to ensure every Queenslander gets an opportunity to vote, the AEC needs staff right across the state.

"Queensland needs 18% of the national temporary workforce and we're looking to drive registrations throughout Brisbane, regional centres and remote areas of the state. We particularly want to hear from people living in Goondiwindi, Lockhart River, Mt Isa and Weipa which have been historically challenging to recruit workers in. Even if people don't live in a particular area, we hope they'll consider travelling a short distance to help give all Queensland communities the opportunity to vote locally.

NSW

New South Wales State Manager for the AEC Rebecca Main said to ensure all people in the state get an opportunity to vote, the AEC needs staff right across the state.

"NSW needs 35% of the national temporary workforce and we're looking to drive registrations throughout Sydney, regional centres and remote areas of the state. We particularly want to hear from people living in Dubbo, Armidale, Inverell, Scone and Tamworth, which have been historically challenging to recruit workers in. Even if people don't live in a particular area, we hope they'll consider travelling a short distance to help give all NSW communities the opportunity to vote locally.

VIC

Victorian State Manager for the AEC Nye Coffey said it’s important to give every Victorian an opportunity to vote, so the AEC needs staff right across the state.

"Victoria needs nearly a quarter of the national temporary workforce and we're looking to drive registrations throughout Melbourne, regional centres and remote areas of the state. We particularly want to hear from people living in Geelong, Portland, Sale and Warragul, which have been historically challenging to recruit workers in. Even if people don't live in a particular area, we hope they'll consider travelling a short distance to help give all Victorian communities the opportunity to vote locally.

TAS

Tasmanian State Manager for the AEC Hannah Brown said it’s important to give every Tasmanian an opportunity to vote, so the AEC needs staff right across the state.

"We're looking to drive registrations throughout Hobart and Launceston, but also other areas of the state. We particularly want to hear from people living on Bruny Island and King Island, and in Edith Creek, Queenstown and Strahan, which have been historically challenging to recruit workers in. Even if people don't live in a particular area, we hope they'll consider travelling a short distance to help give all Tasmanian communities the opportunity to vote locally.

SA

State Manager for the AEC in South Australian, Cameron Stokes, said it’s important to give every South Australian an opportunity to vote, so the AEC needs staff right across the state.

"South Australia needs nearly 10% of the national temporary workforce and we're looking to drive registrations throughout Adelaide, regional centres and remote areas of the state. We particularly want to hear from people living on Kangaroo Island and in Coober Pedy,Mt Gamber and Roxby Downs, which have been historically challenging to recruit workers in. Even if people don't live in a particular area, we hope they'll consider travelling a short distance to help give all South Australian communities the opportunity to vote locally.

WA

Western Australia State Manager for the AEC Anita Ratcliffe said it’s important to give every Western Australian an opportunity to vote, so the AEC needs staff right across the state.

"Western Australia contributes 10% of the national temporary workforce and we're looking to drive registrations throughout Perth, regional centres and remote areas of the state. We particularly want to hear from people living in Broome, Esperance, Laverton and Wickham, which have been historically challenging to recruit workers in. Even if people don't live in a particular area, we hope they'll consider travelling a short distance to help give all Western Australian communities the opportunity to vote locally.

NT

Northern Territory Manager for the AEC Geoff Bloom said it’s important to give every Northern Territorian an opportunity to vote, so the AEC needs staff right across the territory.

"We're looking to drive registrations throughout Darwin, regional centres and remote areas of the Territory. We particularly want to hear from people living in Alice Springs, Jabiru and Nhulunbuy, which have been historically challenging to recruit workers in. Even if people don't live in a particular area, we hope they'll consider travelling a short distance to help give all Territorian communities the opportunity to vote locally.

Media resources:

• AEC Newsroom
• AEC YouTube (AECTV)
• AEC imagery (AEC Flickr)
• AEC media contacts