Australian Human Rights Commission – Sydney NSW

The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is Australia’s national human rights institution, dedicated to fostering a society where human rights are upheld, protected, and celebrated. We envision an Australia where every individual is valued equally in dignity and rights.

Our mission involves promoting and safeguarding the human rights of all Australians by:

- Advising all levels of government and various public and private organisations.
- Strengthening laws, policies, and practices while providing accessible investigation and conciliation services.
- Engaging inclusively with civil society, communities, and the private sector.
- Raising awareness about human rights and offering educational resources.
- Collaborating with partners to cultivate a culture of respect for human rights across the nation.

Our Legal Division is a small, energetic team that provides the services of in-house counsel to the Commission. Our lawyers give high level legal advice on a range of issues including human rights and anti-discrimination law, commercial issues, matters of corporate governance and FOI and privacy.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful work by providing advice on Freedom of Information and privacy matters. You will manage a diverse range of FOI requests and reviews, advise on privacy breaches and complaints, privacy notices and privacy impact assessments.

This full-time / part time, ongoing / non ongoing position offers a competitive salary range of $99,734 – $111,701 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation.

The position will initially be offered for a 12 month period, with the possibility of becoming ongoing.





We offer flexible, hybrid and remote work options.

The key duties of the position include:

What You’ll Do:

- Process and assist in the timely processing of decisions concerning applications under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth), including:
- managing a case load of routine and moderately complex FOI requests and other requests for information,
- escalating complex, sensitive or high-risk matters to senior staff,
- liaising with internal and external stakeholders to gather, compile and record relevant information in accordance with legislative and procedural requirements, and
- preparing draft FOI documents, including correspondence and decisions.

- Conduct accurate and timely regulatory work in other areas as required, including privacy work:

- assisting with privacy-related enquiries and requests from internal and external stakeholders,
- supporting the preparation of privacy threshold assessments and privacy impact assessments, and
- contributing to preliminary investigations into, and resolution of, potential privacy breaches.

- Supporting the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, templates and guidance materials, including updating documents and resources.
- Maintain office standards for timeliness, confidentiality and information management.

Eligibility





What We’re Looking For:

- Experience working for a federal, state or territory government department or agency in an FOI or privacy role will be well regarded but is not mandatory.
- Legal or other relevant qualifications from an Australian educational institution, or a comparable overseas qualification, will be well regarded but are not mandatory.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare high quality decisions within a regulatory framework and provide support in a professional manner, working independently within established policies, procedures and guidance, and escalating issues as appropriate.
- Ability to undertake work under limited direction with the opportunity for reasonable autonomy and accountability.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively manage own workload, proactively progress matters, and balance competing priorities to meet deadlines in a complex and fast-paced environment.
- Well developed organisational skills and high attention to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate records, manage documentation, and ensure work is completed to a high standard.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and professionally, and to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including when dealing with sensitive or complex matters, with appropriate guidance and support.

Notes

Why Join Us?

By becoming a part of our team, you'll play a vital role in influencing public conversations about human rights and making a meaningful impact. If you’re ready to use your skills to support a cause that matters, we want to hear from you

📌 FOI Officer (Sydney)
🏢 Australian Human Rights Commission
📍 Sydney