The Prospect The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) seeks energetic and talented media officers, digital content producers, social media and strategic communications specialists to tell our story domestically and overseas. At DFAT you will amplify Australia’s influence to shape the kind of region we want to live in and protect and advance Australia’s interests.

We are seeking existing ongoing APS employees, or those with current security clearances, who are interested in a temporary or permanent transfer to DFAT to work in our Media and Communications Delivery Branch.

Media officers work in consultation with divisions across the department, our overseas posts and State and Territory offices, to lead DFAT's engagement with the media and support our Ministers as the key spokespeople for the portfolio. Media officers provide specialist media advice, coordinate responses to media enquiries, facilitate media background briefings, prepare and review media products, support DFAT’s response to international crises, provide media support for domestic and overseas Ministerial visits, and provide media training to DFAT staff.

Strategic communications and social media officers help communicate DFAT’s policies and priorities to domestic and international audiences. We work across DFAT and with other government agencies to develop and implement communications strategies for foreign, trade and development policy, and our consular priorities. We also support our overseas embassies, high commissions and consulates to connect with their audiences, and with Australians overseas.

This includes through DFAT’s central social media channels and our network of overseas social media accounts. We also work across the department to ensure clear, coordinated and effective communications on our foreign, trade and development policies.

Speechwriters write speeches for portfolio Ministers and the Senior Executive officers.





Website publishing officers manage the content on DFAT intranet, DFAT website and ministerial websites. They lead the department in the implementation of best practice web standards, ensure adherence to internal and whole-of-government digital publishing policies and provide training and advice on accessibility and writing for online audiences.

Digital content producers manage the production of content such as photographs, video, animation, livestream event coverage and social media reels. They cover key departmental, media and public events and work closely with Ministers and the Senior Executive. In all roles, we require a mixture of communications and policy officers who are comfortable engaging at all levels across the department, including our overseas posts and with other agencies, and foreign ministries.

Your application will remain valid until 30 June 2027. Applications are not carried over after this time. If you previously applied for the 2025-26 Media and Communications Permanent/Temporary Section 26 Transfer Register you will be required to submit a new application.

Eligibility

Applicants must be an ongoing (permanent) APS employee and where an offer for Temporary Section 26 is made, your home agency will be required to agree to release you.

The department requires the successful applicant to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 2 security clearance (or Baseline, Negative Vetting Level 1 or Positive Vetting (PV) where positions are designated as such in the DFAT Security Framework or PV organisational chart, respectively). Loss of a security clearance at any time may lead to termination of employment. Employment with the department can, however, commence on lower-level clearances or without a clearance, in some circumstances, and the department will work with you to facilitate this if you are successful.

Depending on the role into which you are placed, you may also be required to obtain and maintain a Working with Vulnerable People/Children registration (or equivalent).

📌 2026-2027 Media and Communications Section 26 Employment Register (Australia)
🏢 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
📍 Australia