Job Title

Applications close at 11:30pm AEST on Sunday, 03 May 2026. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is recruiting media, communications and public diplomacy officers with a passion for foreign policy to help shape Australias future and expand our global influence. If you enjoy storytelling and thinking of creative ways to explain Australia to the world we encourage you to join our team of communication professionals. We have vacancies in media, social media, strategic communications, public diplomacy, internal communications, speech writing, campaign management, graphic design, photography, videography and digital content production, and website publishing. As a media or communications officer, you will contribute to Australian diplomacy. You will work as part of DFATs foreign policy, trade, international development and enabling teams to advance Australias interests and keep Australians safe overseas. You will help DFAT express its mission and improve its public and internal engagement including through chasing stories to advance understanding of our role and objectives. You will work in DFATs central communications division, the Strategic Communications Division (SGD), which manages the departments principal media, communications, and public diplomacy work, or be embedded in policy and enabling teams across DFAT, undertaking targeted communications work. Areas of focus may include consular services, international development, passports and trade, and regions include the Pacific and Southeast Asia. The initial vacancies to be filled from this process are based in Canberra. This recruitment process will be used to fill current vacancies, as well as vacancies which may arise over the coming 18 months. A career in DFAT provides opportunities to serve overseas. However, applicants can expect to work in Canberra for at least two years before becoming competitive for overseas selection. As vacancies arise, candidates placed in the merit pool will be offered roles. Our Ideal Candidates APS6 specialist media, communications and public diplomacy officers at DFAT lead and deliver communications projects and work programs under direction. They advance Australias international efforts through engagement with departmental officers in Australia and across our overseas post network, whole of government partners, civil society stakeholders and with the Australian public. They demonstrate initiative and judgment and work to deliver quality outcomes. Crucially, our ideal candidate has diverse life and career experience and outstanding people skills. They will be able to work productively and collaboratively across diverse team environments, including with Australias offshore diplomatic network and a wide variety of international partners. They will demonstrate cultural sensitivity, resilience, flexibility and a proactive attitude to their work. They will be committed to nurturing positive interpersonal relationships. You will understand contemporary communication practices and have experience in government, corporate or other community engagement or public affairs roles. This may include working as a journalist, speechwriter, cultural expert, content creator, graphic designer or publisher in print, broadcast or digital roles. You will be expected to demonstrate skill in delivering proactive strategic communications materials and advice, and to help to uplift the communication and public diplomacy capabilities within the department, including through developing and delivering training. You may be required to assist with managing programs, campaigns, procurements, grants and budgets and use data and analytics to measure audience impact and engagement. You will be able to build and engage a wide network of internal and external stakeholders including across DFATs global network, Australian government agencies, partners, contractors, civil society, business, academia and foreign governments. You will be accountable for your work program and contribute to team planning, decision making and work across broader section and branch objectives. You may manage or mentor a staff member.At times, you may represent DFAT at official engagements and meetings. There may be a requirement to undertake domestic and international travel. All employees of the department are expected to abide by the APS Values and Code of Conduct and the DFAT Values Statement. For further information, please refer to the Applicant Information Pack. The key duties of the position include:DFAT has a broad array of communications positions. Key duties for some of our more specialised roles are outlined below. Your duties and responsibilities will be aligned to the relevant APS Work Level Standards. For media roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Assisting in preparation of timely and accurate responses to media enquiries in consultation with internal and external stakeholders Assisting in developing, reviewing and providing advice on media strategies, responses, materials, events and logistics including for ministerial visits Preparing and reviewing transcripts of ministerial media engagement Contribute to crisis media and communications efforts in support of DFATs response to international crises Providing secretariat support for meetings with portfolio ministers advisors Participating in rotating duty rosters to cover early morning, evening and weekend work. For strategic communications roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Developing and implementing communications strategies to deliver on DFAT policy objectives Assisting with campaign management, including developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating campaigns in accordance with Australian Government campaign guidelines Supporting crisis communications Assisting with business continuity planning and strategy development Assisting in developing and implementing resilience programs to strengthen regional resilience and build capacity and understanding of how to respond to information manipulation Applying communication analytics to improve DFATs understanding of its audiences and the resonance of its messages and to identify gaps and opportunities for strategic messaging Building relationships and engagement across DFAT including overseas posts, program delivery partners, the private sector, and civil society stakeholders. For public diplomacy roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Assisting with developing and implementing public diplomacy initiatives aimed at shaping regional and/or global perceptions of Australia to build international influence Building and maintaining engagement with a wide network of internal and external stakeholders, including across cultural and sports sectors Undertaking research and analysis to inform strategy formulation and reporting relevant to monitoring and managing Australias global reputation Assist with developing expert advice on leveraging Australias soft power levers to advance the national interest Preparing briefing, ministerial correspondence and other products, including for meetings and Senate Estimates. For social media roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Contributing to social media content development, coordination and capacity building across the Department Developing and advising on social media content and plans for ministerial offices Proactively creating, editing, and publishing social media content across various platforms and editing software Evaluating social media performance using analytics tools Contributing to social media training and providing ongoing advice to DFATs global network of posts on social media best practices Participating in rotating duty rosters to cover out of business hours work. For internal communications focused roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Assisting in preparing and reviewing communication strategies to support preparation and delivery of effective messaging on departmental policies, priorities and programs Providing communications support to the Secretary and senior executive in preparing materials for distribution to staff that supports the development of a positive work culture Developing and managing internal communication products including all staff messages, the staff newsletter and computer lock screens. For speechwriting roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Contributing to the drafting of speeches for portfolio ministers and members of the senior executive on DFATs broad areas of responsibilities in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders Assisting with speech outlines and brainstorming of innovative ideas for speech creation, as well as undertaking research and consultations to inform speech development. For graphic design focused roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Applying Australian Government and DFAT Brand Guidelines to create visual products for external and internal stakeholders, including overseas posts, the senior executive and ministers. These products may include publications, banners, computer lock screens, placemats, letterheads, social media tiles, forms and new brand concepts Developing specialised branding, logos and style guides for high-level events and initiatives Providing expert advice on branding and graphic design to clients and stakeholders. For digital content production roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Developing, managing and implementing digital communications strategies and plans in accordance with program and departmental objectives Developing and producing high-quality digital content including photography, video, animation, social media reels and livestream video for internal and external audiences Producing video, photographic and livestream coverage of departmental, media and public events, including for ministers and the senior executive, during domestic and overseas travel Managing the departments approved Digital Asset Management System and the distribution and display of digital content internally and externally. For publishing roles, your duties could include, but not be limited to: Managing requests for publishing of materials to the DFAT intranet, internet and portfolio minister websites and ensuring material is published accurately and in a timely manner and complies with Australian Government accessibility requirements Providing technical advice to internal stakeholders on web best practice, including in the areas of content navigation and accessibility Using content management systems (including GovCMS and SharePoint) and HTML coding to publish content Creating web forms and online solutions to support client communication objectives and issues Participating in rotating duty rosters to cover early morning, evening and weekend work. EligibilityUnder section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing. The department requires the successful candidate to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 2 level security clearance, unless the position to be filled has been designated as a lower or higher classification. Loss of a security clearance at any time may lead to termination of employment. In some instances, employees may be able to commence in the department on a Temporary Access arrangement prior to their security clearance being finalised. Please note: For graphic design roles, qualifications and extensive experience with the Adobe Creative Suite is essential. Applicants are asked to upload a short portfolio of recent design work (no more than 10 pieces). Graphic designers invited for interview are encouraged to bring a portfolio to interview.