Postal Worker - Career Advice - Government and Defence

Mail Clerk
Postal Sorting Officer

Package Handler - Primary Duties only
Distribution Manager - Primary Duties only
Operations Manager - Primary Duties only

Postal officers employed by Australia Post sort and deliver mail and parcels and undertake clerical and retail sales functions. Future Growth Static

The major work classifications for Australia Post employees are grouped into the broad categories of sorting and despatching, delivery and service.

Postal workers sort mail ready for their round. They deliver the mail either on foot, by bicycle or motorised transport. They keep a record of mail counts and may need to maintain their vehicle. They may be involved with wrongly addressed mail, redirected mail and underpaid mail. They may also be required to assist in preparing statistics on mail and other tasks. They may also be involved in the processing of outgoing mail.

ANZSCO ID & Description: 561212: Delivers mail on foot, by bicycle or by motorised transport over allocated delivery rounds.

Alternative names: Mail Employee, Postal Deliverer, Postal Officer, Postal Worker, Postie

Specialisations:

Parcel Post Officer - A parcel post officer works at parcel centres receiving, sorting and despatching parcels to mail delivery and business centres, and post offices.
Postal Transport Officer - A postal transport officer operates primarily in the general transport fleet. They may collect, transport and deliver mail between post offices, mail delivery and business centres, airports and rail terminals. They clear street post boxes, undertake long-distance haulage of bulk mail and pick up and deliver articles in the metropolitan area.
Retail Customer Services Representative (Postal) - A retail customer services representative (postal) works at retail outlets and sells items such as postage stamps, money orders and communication products (such as mobile phones, printers and faxes). They may complete bill payment transactions and provide general customer service as well as agency services for the Commonwealth Bank and Telstra. They may also prepare shop displays, conduct identification checks, carry out clerical maintenance of records and statistics, calculate staff pay and allowances, and process mail.
Postal Delivery Drivers: Delivery drivers in the postal industry typically work closely with package handlers to ensure they load the correct items into the vehicle. Once they load their vehicles, they may transport the objects to another distribution centre or the object's final destination. Delivery drivers also have the responsibility of checking their vehicles to ensure there are no mechanical issues, such as damaged drive shafts or flat tyres.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A postal worker needs:

to be trustworthy and reliable
to be self-motivated
be physically fit
to be able to work as part of a team
to be able to pass a medical examination and police clearance
good communication and administrative skills
to be friendly and courteous
attention to detail
good time management skills
good reading, writing and maths skills
the ability to do repetitive tasks quickly and efficiently
able to lift up to 16kg.

Postie
(Source: Alpha Axiom)

Duties and Tasks

Postal employees may perform a range of tasks including:

sorting mail for delivery rounds
delivering mail on foot, by bicycle or motorised transport over allocated delivery rounds
loading and unloading mail conveyances and internal mail handling equipment
assisting with the receipt of inward mail; the checking of wrongly addressed, missorted, undelivered and redirected mail; and the processing of freepost and underpaid mail
delivering express courier items and parcels
assisting in preparing statistical returns, mail advices, statements and other clerical tasks
assisting in the processing of outward mail.

Country Letterbox Working conditions

Postal workers normally start work early (5:30am) and work 38 hours, Monday to Friday. Part of their working day will be inside and part will be outside. They may have to deliver mail in rain or very hot weather.

Parcel post officers and most postal transport officers work in the metropolitan area. They may be required to work shifts and also on weekends. Retail customer service representatives, postal delivery officers and postal sorting officers may work in metropolitan or country areas. Postal sorting officers must be available to work night shift and postal delivery officers are required to work in all weather conditions. All postal officers are required to wear uniforms. Some positions may require standing for up to 8 hours a day.

Tools and technologies

Postal workers may need to use electronic barcode scanners as part of their work. They may have to learn to use a software package on the computer.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a postal delivery officer without any formal qualifications and get training on the job.

Postal delivery officers, postal transport officers and some postal sorting officers who drive motor vehicles must have the appropriate class of drivers licence. To be a motorcycle postal delivery officer, you must hold an unrestricted motorcycle licence and weigh less than 100 kg.

Did You Know?

Who is the person on this stamp.....

Half Crown Australian Aborigine Stamp.

Gwoya Jungarai (Anmatyerre, c. 1895 – 28 March 1965), known as One Pound Jimmy, was an Australian Aboriginal man of the Anmatyerr people of central Australia.

His relatives were killed in the Coniston Massacre in the Northern Territory in 1928. He was the first named Aboriginal person to appear on an Australian stamp, in 1950. The design of the Australian 2 dollar coin was inspired by a drawing of him by artist Ainslie Roberts.

It is said he got his One Pound name because whenever asked how much it would cost to buy one of the boomerangs he made, his answer was "One pound, boss". However, that has been questioned.

Two stamps were issued in 1950 and 1952 with his picture - an 8½ pence stamp and a 2 shillings and 6 pence (half crown) stamp - featuring similar images of him in profile, looking upwards. They were based on a photograph taken by Roy Dunstan in 1935 for Australian Geographic which appeared on the cover of Walkabout magazine in 1936. That photograph represented a typical Australian Aboriginal man and was well known in the 1950s following the stamp issues. He appeared on the cover of Walkabout again in September 1950.

Two of his sons, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri and Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri were noted artists, and one of the latter's paintings was the subject of another Australian stamp.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Government & Defence

A postal sorting officer works at mail centres or mail exchanges. They may receive, sort and despatch mail and parcels to mail delivery and business centres and post offices. A mail sorter organises packages of all shapes and sizes into distribution systems. These systems determine the relative destinations of the packages.They may lift mail bags, operate mechanical and automatic mail processing equipment and maintain postal records. Decline

ANZSCO ID: 561412

Alternative names: Mail Sorter,

Specialisations: Parcel Post Officer

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Attention to detail: This skill can help you determine issues with packages and minimise workplace errors. Your attention to detail can allow you to identify issues such as incorrect labelling and damaged packaging.
Time management: Your responsibilities and tasks as a mail sorter may involve deadlines and time frames. Time-management skills can help you plan your tasks and complete them within a given period.
Administration: Most of your duties as a mail sorter can include administrative tasks. Administration skills can help you identify logical sequences to organise packages and mail.
Computer skills: Many of the tasks you complete may involve computerised systems and administration software. Your computer skills can help you operate computer software with efficiency.
Teamwork: Mail sorting processes typically involve a variety of professionals. Your teamwork skills can allow you to work effectively with others and maintain relationships with team members.

Postal Sorting Officer
(Source: Auspost)

Duties and Tasks

Receiving packages: Receives and checks incoming mail and mail bags. Mail sorters may receive a bulk amount of packages and letters. When the mail reaches the facility, they process it through electronic and physical sorting systems.
Reviewing package information: Assists with the verification of registered and special articles. Mail sorters may review package information and include this information in an electronic database. Package information refers to details such as order numbers, package weight, package dimensions and contact information of the sender and recipient.
Inspecting packages: Mail sorters inspect the condition of packages to identify any damages, missing information or evidence of tampering. They may also notify their supervisors of any suspicious packages that might contain illegal content.
Operates mail processing equipment such as letter preparation lines, letter indexing and sorting machines, multi-line optical character machines and bar-coding equipment.
Sorting mail: Performs manual sorting duties and prepares documentation for dispatching mail. There are usually several sorting systems that a mail sorter may utilise to categorise packages. These systems may include processes such as preparation lines, letter indexing or mail sorting machines.
Preparing mail for distribution: Processes underpaid mail, bulk mail lodgements, express mail and other mail services. Mail sorters may prepare packages for distribution after they detail the package information into electronic systems. They can prepare packages by replacing faded packaging information, such as fragile stickers or the recipient's address.
Updating distribution status: After a delivery driver receives packages for distribution, a mail sorter may electronically update the delivery status of the package. The status updates may include updates such as scheduled for dispatch or package in transit.
Maintaining mail systems: Some mail sorting facilities may utilise an automated sorting system with mechanical and electronic features. Mail sorters can review the systems to ensure they're operating as intended and may notify managers if they require maintenance.
Reporting mailing issues: Investigates complaints regarding lost items. Many sorting facilities can have a range of processes and machines that assist mail sorters in completing their responsibilities. Mail sorters may notify their supervisors of any issues that may affect workplace productivity.
Monitoring inventory: Mail sorters may use several consumables when completing their duties, such as pens, labels, boxes and stamps. Mail sorters usually monitor the levels of these consumables and notify managers when they require new inventory.

Working conditions

Work is fast paced, physical and repetitive. You are split into teams and there is a rotation system.

Fast paced working environment with extra careful handling the parcels (specially with the fragile items, e.g wine bottles that easy to broken), need attention to detail and a good memory to located the ULD for correct post code/suburbs/states. Need to be fit and a good manual handling technique to lift boxes up to 25kg of weight.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a Postal Sorting Officer without formal qualifications. Some on the job training may be provided. Training is also available through VET (Vocational Education and Training).

Vic Tullamarine
The Melbourne Gateway Facility (Tullamarine) is a purpose built facility for the screening of domestic and international mail. The facility is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is occupied by Australia Post, Australian Customs Services (ACS) and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services (AQIS).

The 5,000sqm air-conditioned warehouse extension will house a new state of the art parcel sorting conveyor to ensure AusPost can keep up with the ever growing demand for fast delivers both here in Australia and Internationally.
(Source: FDC)

Government & Defence

Mail Clerks collect, sort and despatch mail within organisations. Decline Mail Clerks typically work for corporations across industries to oversee the administrative task of delivering mail to departments and individuals within their company. They use their knowledge of the building’s layout to devise a mail route based on delivery needs. Their job is to maintain an organized mailroom with stamps, envelops and other items. They also collect mail from each department to send out to business partners, customers and other recipients. They may also work with a team of mail clerks to distribute mail among departments in larger companies to minimize delivery time.

ANZSCO ID: 561411

Alternative names: Mail Officer,

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Mail Clerks should be focused and independent, able to interact with customers as well as other Mail Clerks and Mail Carriers. They should be patient and willing to complete tasks that might become tedious. Here are other skills a Mail Clerk should have:

Working well in high-pressured environments
Computer skills
Written, verbal and interpersonal communication
Ability to work alone
Ability to meet deadlines

Mail Clerk
(Source: Your Career)

Duties and Tasks

Receives and checks incoming mail and mail bags.

Assists with the verification of registered and special articles.

Operates mail processing equipment such as letter preparation lines, letter indexing and sorting machines, multi-line optical character machines and bar-coding equipment.

Performs manual sorting duties and prepares documentation for dispatching mail.

Processes underpaid mail, bulk mail lodgements, express mail and other mail services

Investigates complaints regarding lost items.

Working conditions

Mail clerks work in many different settings. Some clerks who work in small offices do much of their work by hand. Others work in large mail rooms with noisy machines. Many mail handling tasks are repetitive. Clerks who distribute mail spend a lot of time on their feet. However, they get to meet many of their coworkers.

On a typical day, a Mail Clerk starts by making rounds to all departments to collect mail items or packages that need to be sent out that day. They greet Receptionists and interact with other company employees as they complete this task. They place all collected mail items in the outgoing mail container and take inventory of mailroom supplies. Throughout the day, they receive phone calls from employees asking if they have items like stamps, postal boxes and packaging tape and they deliver those items to them accordingly.

At a particular time each day, they greet the Mail Carrier and help them unload mail to place in the mailroom. Before the Mail Carrier leaves, they provide them with outgoing mail items. They sort through delivered mail and organize them into department boxes. Mail Clerks then use a mail cart to distribute mail to each department and place items in specific mail slots.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a Mail Clerk without formal qualifications. Some on the job training may be provided. Training is also available through VET (Vocational Education and Training).

Similar careers in the postal industry

Below, you can find several careers in the postal industry that you may consider:

1. Package handler

Primary duties: A package handler usually works in distribution centres for postal companies. When delivery drivers arrive at distribution centres, package handlers may unload the vehicles and transport the packages to the mail sorting facility. They may operate forklifts to transport heavy packages or handle packages manually. Package handlers may also assist drivers in loading their vehicles when packages are ready for distribution.

2. Distribution manager

Primary duties: A distribution manager in the postal industry oversees the distribution operation of mail facilities. They may review sorting systems and scheduling procedures to ensure the efficient organisation of mail. Distribution managers also monitor stock levels and purchase consumables to ensure sufficient inventory levels.

3. Operations manager

Primary duties: An operations manager in the postal industry creates strategies and procedures to ensure efficient postal operations. These strategies can relate to several business aspects, such as employee structures, mail sorting processes and distribution methods. Operation managers may work closely with management teams and instruct them on how to implement workplace policies.