Careers and professional development
The Faculty of Fine Arts and Music is committed to supporting students throughout their career journey. We employ full-time and part-time academic, technical and administrative staff. Discover what makes the University a great place to work.
Why work with us
The University of Melbourne is home to some of the best thinkers in the world, adding to the stock of human knowledge and addressing the major social, economic and environmental challenges of our time. Our academics lead brilliant, globally recognised research, teaching and collaboration. Our professional, administrative and support staff create a world-class working environment and enable academics to continue achieving internationally renowned excellence in research and teaching.
Work-life balance
The University is family-friendly, with a number of established policies in place to support flexible working, including fractional, part-time, reduced working week scheme leave, flexi-time and generous leave provisions that exceed industry standards.
Learn more about our Campus and facilities
Current vacancies
Want to work with us? Explore the current vacancies at the University of Melbourne.
Professional development
Student career support
The Students@Work program provides on-campus employment opportunities (internships and professional roles) to current University of Melbourne students.
Melbourne Conservatorium
IgniteLAB is a professional development program for musicians at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
Music graduates need specialist support to create opportunities for their work and since 2016 IgniteLAB has provided:
- 1,162 individual coaching sessions
- 100 music career workshops
- $120,000 grants to support 60 student projects
- Dedicated LMS site for music career resources
About Individual Coaching
Music students can book an individual career coaching or project advice session with our specialist Lecturer in Music (Entrepreneurship) each semester. Students book a session through the IgniteLAB LMS site and common questions about future study or work include:
- “How can I find and take advantage of career opportunities and build a network?”
- “What steps should I take to balance practice, freelance work, and further study to achieve my goals?”
- “What alternative or parallel career paths can I pursue that support my music career and provide financial stability”
What students say about individual coaching
- "I feel as though I really benefited from our meeting last semester." Keely
- "Thank you so much for your advice and resources, had a good read through all of them and am feeling much more informed." Luka
- "Thank you for your amazing mentorship, support and guidance this year. It really has changed my perspective and my attitude towards the potential the arts industry has and what I can do for it." Jin
About Music Career Workshops
Each semester IgniteLAB hosts workshops with industry experts on career topics such as building a private teaching studio, getting started as a conductor, recording and releasing an album, business and legal essentials for freelancers, composing for the screen, music therapy careers, studying music overseas and digital marketing for musicians.
About Student Grants
Each year IgniteLAB offers students the opportunity to prepare a grant application for projects including community service, professional development or the creation of new work. Students are provided with a comprehensive grant application kit that includes advice and examples.
The 2024 student grants include:
- Music Video and Documentary for Luce: A music video and documentary as part of the marketing strategy for cello duo, Luce.
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears Video Game: A new video game collaboration between a composer, game designer, animator and voice actors.
- Sky Omens EP Recording: Recording, mixing and master of an EP by an improvising violist and their musical collaborators.
- FREEDOM for FALAFSTEEN Fundraiser: A musical fundraiser for the Palestinian Social Fund and Olive Kids at the Northcote Social Club.
- I Find You Interesting Single Recording: Recording, mixing, mastering and release of a new single by singer/songwriter and their musical collaborators.
- Artistic Development for Underground Cathedral: Music Amidst Disaster: Creative development of a major multi-disciplinary project which explores how classical music can exist in times of natural and human disasters.
- Maeve Grieve EP Recording: Recording, mixing and master of a debut EP by a guitarist/songwriter and their musical collaborators.
- Defend the Southern Sea Commission: Trombone quartet commission of a work about the threat of seismic blasting in the Otway basin with world premiere with a screening of SOUTHERN BLAST, a documentary by the Surfrider Foundation.
- Intermood EP Recording: Recording, mixing and master of a debut EP by Intermood featuring Bass, Keyboard, Saxophone, Flute, Guitar and Drums.
- Science Gallery Grant: An interdisciplinary artist and composer with an engineering background and a composer and writer interested in the collision between language, music and politics collaborate to take over the Science Gallery with Budda Boxes, electronics, gamelan, guzhen and automated pianos.
- Composer, Dancer, Designer Grant: An interactive composer, dance student and design student collaborate to create a new work for the end of semester production.
Previous IgniteLAB student projects
Click on an image to enlarge the gallery.
About the LMS Site
Launched in 2023, the IgniteLAB LMS site offers a curated range of music career support resources. These include guides, videos and articles on the topics:
- Career planning for musicians
- Looking after your mind and body as a musician
- Managing your money as a musician
- Working for yourself as a freelance musician
- Working for others as an employee
- Managing creative projects
- Teaching music in studios or schools
Contact IgniteLAB
Susan Eldridge, Lecturer in Music (Entrepreneurship) susan.eldridge@unimelb.edu.au
Victorian College of the Arts
A number of industry placements and development opportunities exist for students at the Victorian College of the Arts, including the Faculty's Global Atelier Program, which provides opportunities for students to travel as part of their course and place their education in an international context.
Contact the relevant course administrator for course-specific opportunities.