Temporary employment

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade periodically engages non-ongoing employees to fill short-term vacancies. Examples of the types of roles filled on a short-term basis are:

• personal assistants
• administrative assistants
• budget coordinators
• freedom of information decision makers (SES level positions)
• accountants
• medical doctors (to serve overseas)
• staff for project work
• researchers
• staff for passports or consular duties
• IT staff.

The duration of a non-ongoing vacancy may range from a week to several months. Positions that are available for a period over 12 months must be advertised in the Gazette (see General Recruitment).

The majority of the Department's non-ongoing vacancies are filled from the Department's Temporary Employment Register. The Register is managed by the Department's human resources services provider, Candle ICT. For information on how to register for non-ongoing employment please email dfat@candlerecruit.com.

The Department's state and territory offices use alternative arrangements for the employment of non-ongoing staff. Please contact State and Territory offices directly for information about short-term work opportunities.

Terms and conditions of employment

Terms and conditions of employment for non-ongoing staff are similar to those for ongoing staff and are covered by the Department's Collective Agreement (PDF 362KB).

Australian Citizenship

Under the Public Service Act 1999, all employees of the Department must be Australian citizens.

Security Clearance

Pursuant to Section 22 (6) of the Public Service Act 1999, a security clearance is a condition of employment for employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Department is responsible for organising and conducting the security clearance process. This process consists of several steps and can take up to six months to complete. In addition to providing detailed and comprehensive financial, relationship and other information, preferred candidates for vacancies will be required to give their written consent for the Department and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to conduct their own detailed background checks and enquiries.

If a preferred candidate is not successful in obtaining a security clearance, his/her offer of employment with the Department will be withdrawn. However:

• should ASIO issue a qualified or adverse assessment, DFAT will advise the preferred candidate in writing so that, if the preferred candidate wishes, he/she can seek a review of ASIO's assessment by the Security Appeals Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
• if the Department does not grant a security clearance to the preferred candidate on grounds other than the ASIO security assessment, the preferred candidate may request a review of that decision by first writing to the Secretary of the Department. If the preferred candidate is not satisfied with the outcome or the progress of this review, he/she may then request that the Merit Protection Commission (if he/she is a current Commonwealth employee) or the Commonwealth Ombudsman (if he/she is not a Commonwealth employee) conduct a further investigation on the preferred candidate's behalf.

Once a person has been appointed to the Department, loss of a security clearance at any time will result in the termination of the person's employment with the Department.

Medical clearance

All employees commencing work in the Australian Public Service must have passed a standard medical/fitness examination.