Contact Officer:
Nathan Finger via [email protected] or 0438 478 858
Closing Date:
11.59pm AEST, Sunday 7 September 2025
The department supports workplace diversity and values the contribution of people from diverse backgrounds. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people with cultural and linguistic diversity, and LGBTQIA+ people. The department is committed to achieving gender equality and, in particular, supporting women’s progression into senior leadership.
The opportunity we have available
The Communication Branch provides high quality advice and support through a range of enabling services, including media engagement activities, ministerial announcements, speechwriting services, strategic communication services, video and design services, social media engagement and advertising campaigns.
This is your opportunity to join the department’s speechwriting team and develop fit-for-purpose speeches for our ministers and senior departmental staff. You will work with all areas across the department to help raise public awareness of the many programs and projects we administer on behalf of the Australian Government.
What will you do?
Working closely with the senior speechwriters, you will draft speeches and other written products to a consistently high standard while also providing constructive advice on the development of products produced outside the Branch. This work is demand-driven, with requests coming from Ministerial offices (often at short notice) and will require someone with an appetite for a fast-paced working environment.
You will have primary responsibility for the coordination of input and clearances, as well as key administrative duties, while honing your skills in developing speeches and editorial content.
Key duties include:
- Drafting and editing speeches and other products such as articles, forewords and video scripts.
- Coordination of input, fact-checking and clearance of material with subject matter experts across the department, and other portfolio agencies and APS departments.
- Dealing professionally with external stakeholders, such as ministerial staff or conference organisers, on matters relating to speeches and speech products.
- Fulfil reporting requirements, maintain forward planning activities and ensure robust record keeping is in line with APS accountability standards.
- Maintain an active interest in current affairs and the broad public policy debate, to better inform the development of speeches and other written products.
Who are we looking for?
The successful candidate for this position will demonstrate their capability against the APS Level 6 Work level standards.
We are seeking someone for this role, who will:
- Write confidently, clearly and with strong attention-to-detail when drafting products in a variety of styles.
- Use strong high level organisational and time management skills to perform multiple tasks with competing deadlines for delivery.
- Have strong interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, to foster positive working relationships with your colleagues, subject specialists and external stakeholders.
- Strong team culture is a vital element to the success of our team and it is important to us that you will support and build on the existing strengths within our Branch.
Highly desirable: An understanding of or experience working in media engagement as you will be asked on occasion to support activities within the broader Media Services Section. This may include preparing media releases or talking points.
We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.
RecruitAbility minimum requirements
Minimum requirements for this role include:
- Optimise results
- Engage successfully with stakeholders
- Communicate with influence
RecruitAbility is a scheme which aims to attract and develop applicants with disability and also facilitate cultural changes in selection panels and agency recruitment.
Job applicants with disability who met the requirements are advanced to the next stage of the selection process:
- Opt into the scheme
- Declare they have a disability, and
- Meet the minimum requirements of a vacancy advertised in the scheme
More information can be found at RecruitAbility scheme: A guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission.
What else can we offer?
- Direct relationship with ministerial and senior executive staff
- Diverse subject matter and stakeholders
- Collaborative engagement with APS agencies
- Training/development opportunities
- Mentoring/coaching
- Exposure to exciting media engagement opportunities
Eligibility requirements
Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:
- Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application.
- Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department’s preferred medical provider.
- Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline Level. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
- Qualifications: Completion of a communication focused qualification such as a speechwriting cadetship, public relations, journalism and marketing degree or diploma is highly desirable.
Timeline and assessment
A selection panel will be established to assess your suitability against the advertised role.
If a merit pool is established it will be valid for 18 months from date it first appeared in the APS Gazette.
Applications open: 22 August 2025
Applications close: 07 September 2025
Application shortlisting: 10 September 2025
Further assessments: 17 September 2025
Selection report finalised: 27 September 2025
Offers and announcements: 01 October 2025
The above is indicative only, please reach out to the contact person if you have any questions on the recruitment process or timeframes. Your application will be assessed against the requirements of the job and the Work level standards. Once the entire applicant pool has been assessed, the panel will create a shortlist of applicants. If your application is shortlisted, you may be asked to undertake further assessment, this may include work sample testing, interviews, and reference checks.
How to apply
Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEST, Sunday 07 September 2025.
In applying for this position, please provide a statement of no more than one (1) page outlining your background, capabilities and experiences, and how these align with the key duties of the role.
You should also provide a tailored CV in PDF, no more than two (2) pages, and at least one relevant example of your written work for consideration. The capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role are identified in the ‘Who are we looking for’ section. Your application should be received through the department’s online recruitment system. Applications via Indeed will not be accepted.
If you experience any issues with the system please contact the recruitment team on 02 6136 8989 or via email at [email protected] to discuss an alternative way to submit your application.
Please advise the contact officer if you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. The department is committed to the accessibility of our systems. If you identify as someone with disability and you require accessibility assistance or more information, please email [email protected]
Work with us. Apply now!
