Conservator Courses
Conservators preserve artworks and historical items in galleries and museums by assessing, documenting, and carrying out preservation work.
AI Exposure
Low
Core skills such as social intelligence and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).
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How do I become a Conservator
Get qualified to work as a Conservator with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Launch an exciting career in curatorship and cultural heritage with the Graduate Certificate in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies. This post-graduate qualification is perfect for museum curators, researchers, and heritage officers.
During your studies you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how fine art and heritage collections impact cultural identity, plus gain the skills you need to manage world heritage artefacts and develop supporting literature and resources.
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The Master of Museum and Heritage Studies fosters a deep understanding of historical and theoretical developments in museum and heritage practices, along with current debates. Students will explore how museums and heritage sites construct meaning through objects, cultural practices, exhibits, and educational programs. This qualification is ideal for those aiming to enhance public engagement and interpretation of museums and heritage, including areas of trauma, commemoration, and memorialisation, linking h...
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CUA30520
Duration
4 months - 24 months
Study mode
Blended, On Campus
Turn your art into your career with the CUA30520 Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts. This nationally recognised qualification will help you develop a professional arts practice and produce work that expresses your own Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity. Your studies begin with an introduction to the history and development of Aboriginal art forms, and you’ll gain a strong understanding of cultural protocols and how they inform your own arts practice. You’l...
Career opportunities
Duration
4 months - 24 months
Study mode
Blended, On Campus
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Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Conservator.
Common questions
How much do Conservators earn?
In Australia, technical staff at libraries, galleries, and museums currently earn around $1,580 per week ($82,160 annually). Conservators have highly specialist skills so you can expect a much higher salary.
What are the job opportunities for Conservators?
There are currently more than 6,800 gallery, library and museum technicians employed in Australia right now — and some of these are conservators. This occupation is projected to grow slightly (approximately 2.8%) over the next 5 years.
How do I become a Conservator?
Conservators care deeply about the preservation of art and cultural materials. Launch your career with a Bachelor of Fine Art (Conservation), Bachelor of Arts (Culture and Heritage), or Graduate Certificate in Heritage Materials Conservation.
Many conservators have supporting qualifications in art history, archaeology, chemistry, photography, natural history, library and archives management. They have usually spent time volunteering in a conservation lab.
We recommend contacting the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material for more information about entering this specialist career path.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
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More information
Conservators work at art galleries, museums, libraries, and archive institutions preserving the integrity of artworks, photographs and paintings, historical documents, artefacts and specimens. There are three main functions of their role: inspecting and assessing artefacts, carrying out actual preservation work, logging and cataloguing artefacts and preservation activities.
As a conservator you could be inspecting a museum exhibit for insect activity or damage, measuring temperature and humidity levels in storage areas, carrying out a risk assessment for deterioration and environmental damage to important collections, submitting risk reports to museum curators and officials.
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