Working with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner will put you at the forefront of data protection and access to information regulation. We are a statutory agency within the Attorney-General Department’s portfolio with responsibility for:
privacy functions under the Privacy Act 1988 and other legislation
freedom of information, in particular review of decisions made by agencies and ministers under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
The OAIC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage and welcome applications from people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and mature age people.
Selections for vacancies at the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner are based on merit.
Your application should provide enough information about your skills, knowledge and experience to allow the selection committee to assess your suitability for the position and, if interviews are being conducted, whether you should be interviewed.
Your resume should outline your previous work history in chronological order starting from your most recent position, together with a brief description of the duties associated with the positions you have held. It should also outline your education and training.
We encourage you to consider the criteria for available positions. In your written application you should address how your skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications make you the best person for the position. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for the role and your ability to work with us.
Please provide the name and contact details of at least two people who have agreed to act as a referee for your application. One of these people should be your current supervisor. You should advise your referees that they might be contacted and asked for either verbal or written comments on your work performance in relation to the selection criteria.
In most cases, your application, interview and referees’ comments are taken into account in reaching the final decision. In some cases you may also be asked to complete a written task. If you are selected for an interview, you will be advised of the date and time of the interview at least two days in advance. There may be occasions where an interview may not be necessary and assessment will be made on the basis of the application and referee report only.
All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application once the final decision has been made. The names of successful applicants will be notified in all formats of the electronic APS Employment Gazette.
Applications will be retained in the Human Resources section for 12 months after the selection and then destroyed.
Eligibility
All ongoing positions are generally open to all Australians. Australian citizenship is a usual requirement of engagement unless waived by the agency head.
There are restrictions on the employment of people who have accepted a redundancy benefit from an APS Agency or a non-APS Commonwealth employer.
More detailed general information on eligibility requirements is available on the Australian Public Service Commission website.
The OAIC is also made up of four work areas with a diverse range of work performed within each:
Dispute Resolution: Commissioner initiated investigations, notifiable data breach, privacy case management (including conciliation and mediation), privacy early resolution and enquiries.
Freedom of information: IC reviews, complaints, Commissioner initiated investigations, extension of time decisions, vexatious applicant declarations, regulatory guidance and advice
Regulation and Strategy: assessments, consumer data right, international engagement, and policy.
Corporate: information management and project services, people and culture, legal services, strategic communications, procurement and governance.
The OAIC’s 2021 Talent Register is designed to capture expressions of interest for the purposes of talent consideration and OAIC workforce management. Applicants may be considered but are not guaranteed for likely temporary, casual, non-ongoing or ongoing vacancies into the future. In the event a vacancy is identified, the OAIC reserves the right to contact you to discuss the vacancy further.
We are seeking appropriately skilled and qualified individuals to fill short term, temporary (non-ongoing — full time, part time, casual) or identified vacancies which may become ongoing (full time or part time). Temporary opportunities exist for periods up to 18 months across APS 1, APS 2, APS 3, APS 4, APS 5, APS 6, EL 1 and EL 2 classification levels (Salary ranging: $46,940 to $142,904 per annum (plus 15.4% superannuation))
What skills/qualities are we looking for?
Based in Sydney (CBD), we are looking for highly motivated applicants to tell us about what skills, experience and qualifications they can bring to the OAIC. If a position comes up, we will review the resume and application information to see if someone has what we need.
However we are always on the lookout for people with other transferrable skills in areas including:
Policy / research / brief writing
Case management / dispute resolution and conciliation
Legal interpretation and analysis / drafting guidance
Investigations / decision writing and drafting
Assessments / audits / Stakeholder engagement
Providing information on the OAIC’s functions on our national Enquiries line
Media and communication
Governance, information management and security, record management and data governance
Corporate services (people and culture, office management, finance, executive assistance)
Freedom of information
To apply
Applicants are asked to provide a current resume no longer than four pages and a covering letter no longer than two pages, indicating the area of work you have expertise in, your educational qualifications, experience and skills.
Section 22 of the Public Service Act 1999 requires that APS employees must be Australian citizens.
There are restrictions on employment of people who have, within the previous 12 months, accepted a redundancy benefit from an APS agency or a non-APS Commonwealth employer.
For the duration of your employment with the OAIC you will be required to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance.
