The Department of Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs supports a prosperous, secure and united Australia through the management of a range of functions including responsibility for Australia’s migration and citizenship programs, cyber security policy, the protection of critical infrastructure, countering terrorism, and countering foreign interference and espionage. In addition, it is responsible for strengthening multiculturalism and democratic resilience and facilitating legitimate trade and travel while maintaining the integrity of the Australian border.

Home Affairs seeks to create an environment to ensure our staff can perform to their full potential. As a department we are focused on demonstrating exemplary leadership, progressing our game-changing agenda and ensuring collaboration is at the core of what we do. Our leaders must epitomise excellence, set high standards and inspire and invest in our people to ensure that we are well positioned to continue delivering for the community into the future.

Our work is underpinned by our partnerships with government, international and industry partners.

Contribute to building a prosperous, unified and safe Australia – work in a challenging but rewarding role that touches many parts of Australian life.

Australian Border Force

The Australian Border Force sits within Home Affairs and is the steward of Australia’s international border – an asset of strategic national interest. The ABF advances a prosperous and secure Australia through trade and travel facilitation and modernisation, and effective customs, immigration, maritime and enforcement activities across the border continuum.

The ABF’s responsibilities include regulating the movement of people and goods across the border, undertaking civil maritime surveillance and response operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing onshore immigration detention and the enforcement of border-related laws. As Australia’s Customs service, the ABF plays a key role in the collection and protection of border revenue.

Our Senior Executive Service

Our SES leaders are transparent, accountable, and highly skilled communicators who contribute to and lead the strategic priorities and objectives of the organisation. We work as a team to solve some of the most challenging problems facing Australia. We deliver high quality impartial advice and work with domestic and international counterparts in federal, state and territory governments, and industry, to deliver for Australia and its national interests.

We are an organisation who puts our people at the centre of our thinking. We are driving an exciting transformation for our Department to support our people and enable us to deliver on our vision that will build our nation and secure our future.





Our SES are role models of behaviours consistent with the APS Values and Code of Conduct, the Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours (DRIVE) and our organisational values of excellence, integrity, openness and collaboration.

We want leaders who prioritise their people, who are resilient and collaborative, who can think creatively and deliver results in a large, complex and fast-paced environment. If that describes you, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

The Assistant Commissioner is responsible for ensuring the success of the ABF’s operating model and for the stewardship of specified ABF capabilities at a national level. The scope and nature of the ABF’s operational activities, the demands placed on our organisation, our constrained resource base and legislative responsibilities require that governance, risk and assurance is well understood and effective.

Maintaining a deep appreciation of and addressing the challenges faced by the workforce is essential, as is the ability to lead by example, modelling ABF’s values and creating a positive working environment for everyone.

The Assistant Commissioner must consistently demonstrate collaborative behaviours in working with colleagues, irrespective of responsibilities, and with external partners and stakeholders. Our leadership also help to build strong domestic and international relationships with industry, across government and the Department. These relationships are critical to developing the ABF’s capabilities, in order to continue operating effectively.

The key duties of the position include:

- Ensuring operational delivery against the ABF’s priorities and functions and/or driving policy, enabling and coordination outcomes to support operational delivery.
- Driving and demonstrating the highest standards of performance, behaviour, integrity, leadership and collaboration; across the ABF at all levels.
- Driving high standards of governance, assurance, risk management, workplace safety and operational planning, and fully participating in ABF and Department governance processes.
- Improving communication and engagement with our workforce to de-centralise and empower operational decision making, improve employee well-being and drive change.
- Ensuring that the ABF is supported by (both strategic and operational) and performance frameworks, and data analysis that are necessary for operational effectiveness.




- Enhancing relationships and coordination with industry partners and government agencies at the state and federal level, including international partners and organisations.

For further information about the role please refer to the Candidate Information Pack or reach out to contact officer.



Please email ***************@homeaffairs.gov.au to request a copy of the Application Form, Privacy Notice and Candidate Information Pack.

Eligibility

The successful candidate must:

- be an Australian Citizen
- obtain and maintain an AGSVA security clearance at a minimum of Negative Vetting 2
- obtain and maintain an Employment Suitability Clearance
- successfully meet and maintain all fitness requirements as set out in ABF policies and procedures as established from time to time by the ABF Commissioner
- relevant tertiary qualifications are highly desirable.

Notes

Please email ***************@homeaffairs.gov.au to request a copy of the Application Form, Privacy Notice and Candidate Information Pack.

How to Apply

As part of your application, you will need to provide:

- A completed application form – Attachment B
- A resume that outlines your career history, qualifications and achievements
- 1,000 words outlining your background, skills and experience, and how they relate to the requirements of the role
- Details of two referees

All application requirements are to be emailed to ***************@homeaffairs.gov.au by no later than 11:59 PM Wednesday 19 August 2026.

Getting to know the Department of Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for central coordination, and strategy and policy leadership in relation to cyber and critical infrastructure resilience and security, immigration, border security and management, counter-terrorism, the protection of our sovereignty, citizenship and social cohesion. The Department implements a strategically coordinated approach to the cyber security and resilience of all Australians through the appointment of a Cyber Security Coordinator and continues to enable rapid responses to threats of foreign interference through the dedicated Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator. Additionally, the Department contributes to Australia’s prosperity and unity through the management and delivery of the migration, humanitarian and refugee programs. The Department also promotes social cohesion through multicultural programs, providing settlement services and through managing and conferring citizenship. We encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability and people from other diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing a working workplace that values diversity and inclusion and supports staff to reach their full potential. For more information www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/careers/working-with-us/workplace-diversity

📌 Assistant Commissioner, Civil Maritime Capability (Australian Capital Territory)
🏢 Australian Department Of Home Affairs
📍 Australian Capital Territory