Company Reviews

    Working at Mackay Regional Council

    3.730 ratings in total
    5
    9
    4
    10
    3
    6
    2
    3
    1
    2
    87%
    Rate salary as high or average
    77%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.8(29 ratings)
    Career development
    3.5(29 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    3.8(29 ratings)
    Management
    3.1(29 ratings)
    Working environment
    3.5(29 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    4.1(29 ratings)
    Ratings for Mackay Regional Council are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 31 reviews sorted by most recent
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    2.0
    Officer
    Apr 2026
    Mackay QLD 47402 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    A workplace with some genuinely supportive people, but held back by inconsistent leadership.
    The good thingsThe people are easily the standout, fellow casuals are friendly, welcoming, and supportive teams that make day-to-day work enjoyable. There’s also a solid amount of work variety, especially depending on the role. You’re exposed to different tasks, projects, and departments, which keeps things interesting and helps build a broader skillset rather than doing the same repetitive work every day. In terms of opportunities, the council offers a few pathways to learn and develop. There are chances to pick up new skills, take on different responsibilities, and move into other areas over time, making it a good environment for growth within a stable organization, however it predominately benefits fulltime employees.
    The challengesLeadership and accountability can be inconsistent, with a noticeable lack of ownership at higher levels. Decision-making often feels disconnected from on-the-ground realities, which can make expectations difficult to meet in practice. Supervisors often place subordinates in challenging positions, managing workloads or directives that don’t fully reflect the scale or complexity of operations. This can create pressure points across teams and impact overall efficiency. There is a strong emphasis on policies around workplace behaviour and health and safety, but in practice, employees may feel these areas are not always handled with the seriousness, privacy or consistency they expect, Support systems and internal processes are available, but they can at times feel more focused on maintaining operations rather than resolving underlying issues. For casual employees, Penalty rates are limited, with weekend rates not consistently applied in some roles, and creating a gap inbetween employees
    4.0
    Business Support Officer
    Feb 2026
    Mackay QLD 4740Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Very welcoming people and happy environment
    The good thingsThe People The Culture
    The challengesRecruitment process is way too cumbersome.
    5.0
    Botanic Gardens Parks Officer
    Oct 2025
    Mackay QLD 47401 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Great place to work with lots of job variety
    The good thingsThe variety of different jobs you can learn and being offered different courses to extend your learning
    The challengesA long time from the job interview to be onboarded
    1.0
    Machine Operator
    Jun 2025
    Paget QLD 4740Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    A terrible place to work.
    The good thingsLeaving the place, it was that bad.
    The challengesTerrible bosses, toxic work environment. poor working hours, low pay.
    2.0
    Team Coordinator
    Jul 2023
    Mackay QLD 47401 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Avoid working for this company.
    The good thingsOpportunities to upskill paid for by the company
    The challengesManagement - turnover of same
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    network Manager
    Jun 2021
    5 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Hidden Paradise
    The good thingsFew workload demands in a 9 to 5 role with a car
    The challengesHaving to sell the idea to your staff that's its financially better for the business to contract a lot of their work out and down size the team structure and remain honest against procurement guidelines
    4.0
    Manager Business Services
    Apr 2020
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    State of organisation varies with Mayor/Council, CEO
    The good thingsOpportunities to experiment and innovate
    The challengesPublic sector bureaucracy
    1 person found this helpful
    4.0
    Officer
    Mar 2020
    Opportunities for those who are capable and resilient
    The good thingsThe flexible approach to the overall working conditions can be good although it does depend upon the role
    The challengesInconsistent decision making, although this is in part a local government issue
    3.0
    Operator
    Mar 2020
    current employee
    It's ok nothing to rate highly
    The good thingsSome of the people have great knowledge and happy to share
    The challengesThe roster is not that good
    1.0
    Machine Operator
    Mar 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Middle and upper management number one concern is self preservation along with ratepayers money waste
    The good thingsNone except for some work mates
    The challengesIncompetent middle management
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Local Law Officer
    Feb 2020
    Friendly workplace with incompetent management
    The good thingsA lot of friendly faces, work/life balance is fantastic, room to grow
    The challengesManagement not listening to real issues
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Technical and Administrative
    Nov 2019
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Was a very hard job to leave. I met some amazing people, formed some lifelong friends, got to do things completely from left field and never a day went by without a good laugh with my team mates and colleagues
    The good thingsThe people you work with
    The challengesSilos and internal management politics
    3 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Labourer truck driver loader roller operator
    Nov 2019
    7 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Great to work for just management
    The good thingsFamily friendly staff helpful willing to help you
    The challengesManagement think they know everything tell you one thing but do another thing entirely different
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    outdoors
    Sep 2019
    management takes advantage of its workers
    The good thingsmost of the people I work with are great to work with.
    The challengessections are understaffed and management refuses to do anything about it
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Parks and sustainability
    May 2019
    Experience has been divided in both good and bad!
    The good thingsGreat working team on the ground and lifestyle job is excellent for work home life balance.
    The challengesUnqualified upper management making the job difficult for on ground staff. Management not adhering to council policies.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Shared Services Centre
    Aug 2018
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Mackay Regional Council really is a great place to work!
    The good thingsFantastic people to work with, great work/life balance in a beautiful coastal community, and a multitude of opportunities to progress your career.
    The challengesnot really any.......
    5.0
    Shared Services Centre
    Aug 2018
    5 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    A great organisation to work for!
    The good thingsMackay Regional Council offers a great work/life balance
    The challengesMackay Regional Council is very diverse therefore it can sometimes be difficult to know what areas complete what services.
    4.0
    Shared Services Centre
    Aug 2018
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Great opportunity to develop
    The good thingsRole diversity and the collaborative team approach.
    The challengesSmall team for the number of employees we work with across council.
    5.0
    Contact Centre Operator
    Aug 2018
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Enjoyable place to work with a diverse range of people.
    The good thingsMRC Management provide regular updates to all staff so we understand the whole picture
    The challengesdealing with perception from the public is difficult some days
    5.0
    Shared Services Centre
    Aug 2018
    5 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Great career progression opportunities.
    The good thingsI have had the opportunity to progress my career significantly, starting as a trainee and being offered several opportunities for career progression. Supportive supervisors and coordinators. Great work life balance. Active social clubs.
    The challengesVery diverse organisation, can take time to understand the multiple areas MRC is responsible for.
    4.0
    Grave digger
    Feb 2018
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Would work for them again
    The good thingsGreat staff. Good hours.
    The challengesNone. Absolutely enjoyed working with staff amd for this council.
    2.0
    Civil Roads & Drain Repairs
    Feb 2018
    enjoyable but not use to working in a unsafe enviroment with a backward thinking mentality to work ethics
    The good thingsThe fact that i was able to put my hand up for numerous tickets. working outdoors up in the valley. Always Beautiful
    The challengesworking with old or lack of equipment. management and long term workers hard to get to know always treated as an outsider. short deadlines on big jobs and ridiculous times for short jobs
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Planning Engineer
    Dec 2017
    Not good and unless you are a passive -aggressive personality do not rock the boat.
    The good thingsgood pay and some support systems do as they claim yet in the main there is an old guard that is doggedly telling everyone they are fantastic when the foundations are crumbling
    The challengesdespite claiming to be open to challenge, do not expect anyone to listen to you once you have found things are amiss and the challenge is even when you offer solutions they sent out to destroy your credibility
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Project Officer
    Nov 2017
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Great development
    The good thingsGood work life balance
    The challengesNot many challenges, sometimes for slow progress of decisions
    3.0
    Supervisor for horticulture department
    Sep 2016
    Mackay QLD 47405 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Very difficult job trying to serve our community with so many counterproductive fellow staff
    The good thingsExcellent pay super and leave Great training opertunities for those who choose not to want to serve the community
    The challengesHaveing to maintain a good work ethic when working under and with management and staff with counterproductive ideals
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    plumber
    Feb 2016
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    eye opening to a different type of work, conditions and locations
    The good thingsWork crew and learning a different skillset in my trade field
    The challengesDifference in job locations and types of jobs
    4.0
    Procurement officer
    Feb 2016
    Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Overall a great place to work
    The good thingsGreat facilities office space
    The challengesWorkplace politics get in the way
    4.0
    Civil Designer
    Feb 2016
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Social
    The good thingsWork / lifestyle balance. Good super and benefits. Great social club and events
    The challengesGets a bit hit and sticky in summer
    4.0
    Trainee
    Feb 2016
    1 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    My experience was very challenging, but definitely worth the struggle.
    The good thingsHaving the opportunity to expand your career in many different ways.
    The challengesIt was tough trying to support myself on the wage.
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Food & Beverage Attendant
    Sep 2015
    Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    FANTASMAGORICAL!!!!
    The good thingsI love working with everyone because we all try to work as a team and it makes our jobs easier
    The challengesSometimes there are people that are quiet hard to pls but oh well I say you can never really please everybody,and there's always that one that's not so happy,but I just smile and keep up with the rest of the job that I have to do,and keep smiling away for the rest of the night
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