Help us build and launch a brand-new She Shapes History tour.
This is a project-based role supporting She Shapes History’s Product Lead to create and launch our new Badass Women of Boroondara walking tour (in partnership with Boroondara Arts).
This role sits at the intersection of research, storytelling, tourism, and public history. You’ll be helping turn research into experiences, stories, and moments that connect with audiences.
Contract: 12-week fixed-term (June - September 2026)
Time: ~2.5 days/week on average (flexible)
Availability: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and/or Fridays + some weekend availability during testing + launch
Pay: $80,000 FTE (pro-rata to 0.5)
Location: Hybrid - Melbourne (remote + Melbourne office + Boroondara site visits/walkthroughs)
Applications close: Sunday June 14
The role in a nutshell
Working closely with the Product Lead, this role combines historical research, story development, project coordination, and tour development support.
You’ll help uncover and shape the stories of remarkable local women, contribute to the design and testing of the tour experience, and support guide readiness and launch activities.
This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role ideal for someone interested in public history, museums, heritage, feminist storytelling, tourism, arts programming, or cultural engagement.
About She Shapes History
She Shapes History is a feminist social enterprise making women's history accessible, engaging, and relevant.
Australia was shaped by women, from the trams of Melbourne to the design of Canberra to the building of the Harbour Bridge, yet most Australians have never heard their names. That lack of recognition sits at the heart of gender inequality, and we're here to change it.
We run walking tours in four, create digital content, and partner with cultural institutions, historic sites, and councils to help people see the women who shaped this country.
This role is obsessed with answering
How do we transform historical research into a compelling, accessible, and commercially successful walking tour that celebrates local women’s history and creates meaningful audience impact?
What you'll be doing
40% Historical Research & Story Development
- Conduct original research into women connected to Boroondara and surrounding areas
- Work with local archives, museums, historical societies, council resources, publications, and digital collections
- Identify compelling stories, themes, and historical connections
- Produce concise biographies, research summaries, timelines, and source notes
- Assist in developing a diverse and engaging group of featured women
- Fact-check historical content and maintain research integrity throughout development
- Contribute ideas for story selection, narrative framing, and audience engagement
20% Tour Development & Product Design
- Participate in route planning, site visits, and location research
- Assist with development of tour notes, handbooks, and supporting materials
- Help identify opportunities for emotional impact, audience engagement, and strong storytelling
- Support accessibility, walkability, and guest experience considerations
- Assist in documenting product decisions and development learnings
10% Project Coordination & Launch Support
- Support project planning and administration
- Coordinate research tasks and track progress against milestones
- Assist with stakeholder communications as required
- Assist with development of integration opportunities and final experience
10% Guide Readiness & Training Support
- Attend walkthroughs, rehearsals, and tour testing
- Assist with guide briefing materials and training resources
- Shadow guides during testing and launch periods
- Capture feedback and support tour refinements
10% Tour Delivery Support
- Attend launch activities and selected public tours
- Assist with operational support as required
- Be willing to undertake guide training and act as backup delivery support if required
10% Storytelling, Content & Marketing Support
- Identify historical stories, characters, moments, and hooks with strong audience appeal
- Work with the Product Lead to shape research into content opportunities for social media, PR, newsletters, and partnerships
- Draft short-form video scripts, story outlines, and educational content based on research findings
- Surface surprising facts, untold stories, and emotionally resonant moments that can support campaign storytelling
- Assist with historical fact-checking and content review across marketing materials
- Contribute ideas for content tied to key campaign moments, exhibition themes, anniversaries, and launch activities
- Help build a library of story assets that can be reused across future tours, educational content, and partnership opportunities
Success looks like
By launch, you will have helped deliver:
- High-quality research into 10–15 local women suitable for public storytelling
- A well-documented research archive that can support future tour iterations and council activations
- A launch-ready tour experience with strong historical integrity and audience appeal
- Guide materials and training resources that support consistent delivery
- Valuable project learnings that can inform future council and arts precinct partnerships
- A positive working relationship with local stakeholders and community partners
We're looking for someone who
Must haves
- Excellent researcher with strong written communication skills
- Loves history, storytelling, museums, heritage, arts, tourism, or cultural projects
- Curious, self-directed, and comfortable working independently
- Able to synthesise large amounts of information into engaging stories
- Highly organised and able to manage multiple moving parts
- Excited by feminist history and increasing women’s visibility in public memory
- Comfortable working both remotely and on location
- Enjoys collaborating but can also take ownership of workstreams
Bonus points
- Background in history, public history, museum studies, humanities, journalism, communications, tourism, education, arts, heritage, or a related field
- Experience conducting archival or community-based research
- Experience facilitating tours, educational programs, or public engagement activities
- Familiarity with Melbourne history and/or the Boroondara area
- Experience with Canva, Notion, social media content, or project coordination
Why this role matters to She Shapes History
This project will launch She Shapes History’s first major council and arts precinct partnership in Melbourne.
The tour is designed not only as a September 2026 activation, but as a reusable cultural asset that can continue evolving through future partnerships, exhibitions, commemorations, and public history initiatives.
The successful candidate will play a key role in creating a project that helps make women’s history more visible, accessible, and celebrated in public space.
How to apply
Email your CV to recruitment@sheshapeshistory.com.au.
Please include a single PDF document (under 1000 words total) addressing the following questions:
- What’s motivating you to apply for this role
- A brief overview of your previous experience and how it’s relevant
- One specific experience directly related to this role (objective, strategy/tactics, results, what you learned)
- Something we wouldn’t learn from your CV that would help you thrive in this role
- How you found out about the role