About the Work

Working for AusAID is challenging and rewarding. AusAID staff are involved in supervising and managing the Government's official aid program, rather than 'hands on' field work. This is normally contracted out to the private sector or funded through non-government organisations.

Work descriptions provides further details on the work undertaken at the various Australian Public Service (APS) levels.

Country Programs

Staff working in a country program area such as Indonesia or Papua New Guinea, manage a country, regional or sectoral program involving a range of projects or activities. The work includes strategy development and monitoring, research and analysis (for example, of sector policy or operational issues), identifying and implementing aid delivery innovations, activity preparation (including project design), preparation of papers, correspondence, briefs and/or submissions on relevant matters, participation in contract negotiations, financial management, liaison with stakeholders and provision of advice to senior management, the Parliamentary Secretary or the Minister.

Humanitarian, Multilateral and Community Programs

The work relates to non-government organisations, emergency and refugee programs and multilateral organisations including development banks, United Nations and other international organisations. Work in these areas includes information analysis, policy formulation, preparation of papers, consultation with stakeholders such as the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD, UN Agencies and media organisations, representational work and provision of advice to senior management, the Parliamentary Secretary or the Minister.

Program Support

Work undertaken in program support areas includes evaluation and review of aid projects, development and management of electronic program management systems, preparation of guidelines for the development or management of aid projects, preparation of tender documents in consultation with other staff, negotiation and preparation of contracts and provision of advice to senior management, the Parliamentary Secretary or to the Minister.

Corporate Policy

Staff in corporate policy areas develop policy to guide the operation of AusAID and the aid program. Topics researched and incorporated into AusAID policy framework range from organisation structures, debt relief for developing countries and sectoral issues such as health, education and environment. The work also involves consultation with stakeholders, provision of statistical reports, the preparation of publications, and services to the Parliamentary Secretary and the Minister.

Corporate Support

Staff undertake a broad range of work including financial administration and preparation of budget documents, information systems development and management, human resource management including personnel services and staff development and training, information systems, implementation of systems, policies and/or procedures.

Overseas Posts

Staff at overseas posts examine requests for development assistance from partner authorities, undertake negotiations on the formulation and implementation of approved development programs, monitor the delivery of programs and provide advice to AusAID Canberra on issues impacting upon the aid program, including AusAID's effectiveness in delivering aid programs.

Overseas posting are normally only offered to current AusAID employees.

Specialist work

Employment opportunities in specialist career streams are available in corporate support areas such as finance/accounting, information (library) management, human resource management and statistical services. There are also some specialist positions, rather than streams, in information technology, economics, journalism and in sectoral advisory roles.