RAO3 Assistant Steward - Harness

Join the team helping uphold integrity in Queensland harness racing

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to be part of the action on race day while contributing to the integrity, safety and professionalism of Queensland's racing industry?

This role offers the chance to join the stewarding panel and play an important part in delivering fair, compliant and high-quality race day operations.

Working under the guidance of the Senior Steward and Panel Chair, you will undertake a range of stewarding support duties and contribute to the smooth and effective conduct of harness race meetings.

This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is detail-focused, calm under pressure and committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, safety and animal welfare.

The Team

The Harness Stewarding team is responsible for maintaining the integrity, compliance, and reputation of Harness racing in Queensland. The team delivers stewarding services, manages race day operations, and oversees the performance of race day officials to ensure fair and transparent racing practices. The team are required to work at racetracks throughout Queensland, and conditions can be adverse at times.

Role Type

Full time – Temporary for three years

Working Relationships

Reports to:  A Senior Steward

Direct reports: 0

Team size:  15+

Our Values

Trust + Transparent + Accountable + Excellence + One Team

Your Role

On race days, you will contribute as part of the stewarding panel, performing one of several key roles under the guidance and direction of the Senior Steward and the Panel Chair.

What you’ll be doing

• Perform routine tasks to support Stewards on race day, ensuring adherence to procedures, policies, and regulatory requirements (e.g., checking and identifying the animal, checking of the horse’s gear, ensuring relevant race-track equipment and operating are safe, completing race day paperwork).
• Perform race day judging duties, ensuring the highest levels of industry credibility.
• Perform race day starter or assistant starter duties by viewing races from start to finish, determine the final finishing positions, accurately timing races and assisting Race Day Stewards to confirm Official Results, Margins and Times.
• Complying with the Australian Harness Rules of Racing as applicable to this role.
• Attend and provide evidence at inquiries and appeal hearings as relevant, and with support from senior panel members.
• Communicate effectively (under guidance) as required with stakeholders, government departments, private entities, and the general public.
• Reporting all non-compliance issues in accordance with Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) requirements Contributing to the safety culture of QRIC by reporting all incidents and hazards and ensuring work is conducted in compliance with Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Demonstrating ethical behaviour and integrity in line with the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994.

Why you’ll love it: QRIC is a dynamic workplace, with diverse and interesting roles ranging from those who oversee race meetings state-wide, to animal welfare specialists, strategists, communicators, regulators and more. As a young and rapidly maturing organisation QRIC employees have opportunity to help shape our future.

Join us for a workplace experience like no other where racing animals are our priority, and where dogs (and sometimes horses!) at work is commonplace.

What you will bring to the role

• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong ability to follow procedures and policies accurately.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and work as part of a team under guidance.
• A commitment to maintaining the integrity and safety of race day operations.
• A proactive understanding of Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirements and a dedication to fostering a safe work environment.

To be successful in this role you will have

• A current driver’s licence.
• A positive attitude and resilience to thrive in diverse and challenging conditions.
• A strong sense of integrity and a commitment to upholding the rules and standards of racing.
• A willingness to embrace weekend work and non-traditional hours, making every race day an adventure.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for learning.

How you will be assessed

We are looking for the best suited applicant for this role. We will assess your eligibility and ability to undertake the requirements of the role (including where relevant, the way you have conducted previous positions).

The core competencies for the role include

Supports Strategic Direction

• Demonstrates strong attention to detail and ensures accuracy by consistently following established procedures and policies.
• Understands and applies relevant guidelines and frameworks to maintain the integrity and safety of race day operations.

Achieves Results

• Works effectively under the guidance of senior staff to deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Takes a proactive approach to tasks, ensuring compliance with Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation and contributing to a safe working environment.

Builds Relationships and Communicates with Influence

• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders through clear and effective communication.

To find out more about the leadership stream and

corresponding capabilities required for this role, please refer to the Leadership competencies for Queensland Government.

Who we are

The Queensland Racing and Integrity Commission (QRIC) exists to safeguard animal welfare, fairness, and the integrity of Queensland’s racing industry. QRIC is primarily responsible for overseeing the integrity of race meetings across Queensland including stewardship of all races, licensing race day participants, the provision of veterinary services, industry education (nurturing voluntary compliance), and race day sampling. QRIC exercises its investigative authority conducting race day (in competition) as well as intelligence led enforcement and investigations with racing industry participants who may be non-compliant with the Rules of Racing or breach Licensing Standards. Substance testing is also undertaken as part of the prohibited substance control strategy through the Racing Science Centre. As a small yet mighty organisation, QRIC staff ensure the integrity of every race meeting in Queensland through stewardship over the running of race meetings, the provision of veterinary services and race day sampling. This includes all thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound meetings from the far north, west to Longreach and to the Queensland border in the south. Join us and be a part of our dedicated team. Visit qric.qld.gov.au to learn more about us.

Mandatory checks

• To be appointed to a position, you must be an Australian citizen, have permanent residency status or a visa permitting you to work in Australia. You are required to notify QRIC if your right to work in Australia ceases.
• Newly appointed public service employees must disclose any employment as a lobbyist in the previous two years within one month of starting.
• Flexible work arrangements will be considered for the advertised role.
• A three-month probationary period applies to successful candidates external to public sector.
• May be required to work on weekends and extended hours when reasonably required.
• Complete a conflict-of-interest form.
• Subjected to a mandatory gambling restrictions policy which prohibits any gambling on the racing events throughout Australia and internationally and must declare and disclose all gambling accounts.
• Applications may remain current for 12 months and may be considered for recurring vacancies. These may be at an alternative location or for an alternative employment basis.

Contact

If you have questions about this  RAO3 Assistant Steward-HAR role, please contact Neil Finnigan, Chief Steward - Harness,

0472 558 585 or  neil.finnigan@qric.qld.gov.au.