2025-26 - Media and Communications Section 26 Employment Register

The Opportunity

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 2026. Applications are not carried over after this time. If you previously applied for the 2024-25 Media and Communications Permanent / Temporary Section 26 Transfer Register you will be required to submit a new application.

How to Apply

Submit your application via the department’s website at DFAT Careers website before the closing date.

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

Your application will need to provide :

• your personal details.
• an indication if you are prepared to be considered for other roles (as above) if the selection committee considers you have skills that are relevant to the other positions.
• a 500-word pitch using specific examples to explain how your experience, skills and qualifications make you a good fit for the role / s. When formulating your response, consider what were the challenges, how were issues resolved and what role did you play in the outcome?
• details of your professional experience and qualifications.
• details of referees.