Generalist recruitment

The majority of positions in the Department are designated as generalist positions, which means that no particular technical skill (e.g. accounting, legal expertise) is required and the position can be filled by any otherwise qualified officer at the corresponding level. Generalist positions are filled through bulk recruitment rounds, which recruit to level rather than to specific vacancies. These selection rounds are usually held annually at each broadband level to fill from ten positions at a time.

Generalist staff can perform, during their career with the Department, a number if not all of the following types of duties:

• provision of corporate enabling services such as financial management, human resource management and property management
• administrative support to Divisions and/or the Senior Executive
• passports and consular services
• provision of security for the Department's information, staff and property
• researching and writing public affairs items and articles and liaising with Australian and foreign correspondents and media agencies
• provision of media liaison and public affairs support for international conferences, official visits and events of international significance
• contribution to the enhancement of Australia's image overseas
• development or implementation of policy
• liaising and negotiating on behalf of the department and representing the department or the Government at meetings, conferences or seminars
• provision of advice or services to the Department's clients, such as other foreign governments, other areas of the Australian Public Service and the Australian public
• provision of advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Trade as well as portfolio parliamentary secretaries
• provision of advice to the Government about international strategic, political, economic and trade issues
• provision of advice on treaties and other international legal matters.

Overseas duties may also include:

• consular services such as the protection of the interests of Australians overseas and assistance to Australians involved in accidents, arrest/imprisonment and loss of travel documents
• provision of statutory legal services such as issuing passports and authenticating and notarising documents
• administration and management of posts, including finances, personnel and property
• preparing political and economic analyses
• conducting or assisting in negotiations relating to Australia's trade interests
• management of cultural and information activities
• liaison and representation on behalf of Australian authorities, including negotiations with local authorities
• representation of the Australian Government at bilateral and multilateral conferences
• provision of immigration and visa services where DIAC is not represented.