About us

The Australian Human Rights Commission, located in the heart of Sydney CBD, is looking for a passionate individual to support as an ongoing Specialist Adviser working on matters relating to immigration and asylum seekers & OPCAT in Australia within our Human Rights Scrutiny Team.

This full-time, ongoing position offers a competitive salary range of $111,649pa -$124,836 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation. We offer flexible hybrid & remote work options.

About Us

The Australian Human Rights 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.

About the team

The Policy Division supports our President and seven statutory Commissioners (race, age, sex, disability discrimination; children; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice and human rights) to promote awareness and understanding of human rights, conduct research and advocacy, and make recommendations to government to fully implement Australia’s human rights obligations.

Join Our Team as a Specialist Adviser

The role will work on the development and implementation of the Commission’s annual workplan on matters relating to immigration and asylum seekers and OPCAT.

The role also requires the provision of policy advice on matters relating to immigration and asylum seekers and OPCAT to the President, Commissioners and senior staff.

The Specialist Advisor also undertakes engagement with relevant communities and organisations, government, non-government, industry and community organisations and other bodies, as a representative of the Commission.

What You’ll Do:

Development and implementation of an annual workplan on relevant matters.

Skills & Experience

• Develop an annual workplan for immigration detention inspections/reporting, other projects and reports, in conjunction with the Commissioner and the team’s Director.
• Implement the plan in a professional and timely manner, including meeting internal reporting and monitoring requirements.
• Identify and respond to emerging issues as well as government inquiries into relevant issues, including preparation of background briefs, submissions, attendance at hearings, liaising with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders across the Commission on the workplan activities.
• Provide other organisational and logistical support for other activities conducted by the Human Rights Scrutiny Team as required.

Policy advice to the President, Commissioners and senior staff.

• Identify emerging issues and prepare background briefs.
• Draft correspondence, reports, speech notes, briefings and submissions as required.

Engagement with relevant communities and organisations on behalf of the Commission.

• Identify relevant stakeholders in government and civil society
• Develop and maintain relationships.
• Attend and contribute to approved meetings, conferences, webinars and other events.
• Report back to the Commissioner and the team’s Director.

What We’re Looking For:

• A demonstrated specialist knowledge, understanding and expertise in both immigration and asylum seeker & OPCAT issues and an understanding of how these issues affect different groups in contemporary Australian society and in an international and dynamic political context.
• A demonstrated ability to undertake research tasks, develop policy positions and provide high quality evidence-based analysis and advice.
• Leadership and management skills to develop team goals, strategies and work plans.
• Ability to build and nurture positive relationships within the Commission and with external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to write in plain English and to communicate, liaise and build productive, positive relationships with a wide range of people in a professional manner.

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.

Additional Information

We strongly encourage First Nations people and individuals from other negatively racialised backgrounds to apply.

We value inclusivity and diversity and seek people who support and model the behaviours we promote in our workforce. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations Australians, mature workers, people from culturally & linguistically diverse backgrounds, culturally and marginalised communities, carers, LGBTIQA+ and people with disability.

Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).

The Commission is committed to providing an accessible, inclusive work environment to enable people with a disability to participate fully in all aspects of employment. Applicants are encouraged to request reasonable adjustment as required to assist your participation in this recruitment process.

The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the Commission where the duties are of a similar nature.

How to Apply

Please provide a resume and a statement (maximum of 2 pages) outlining your interest in this position(s), your experience that would lead to impactful outcomes in the role, and the skills and capabilities you bring.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to fulfill the requirements of the role in an impartial and respectful manner as required by the APS Code of Conduct. The successful candidate will uphold the integrity and independence of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

As part of the recruitment and selection process, applicants will be required to consent to and undergo background checks which may include character and social media checks.

For more Information

Information about the role and Commission practices may be sought from Joanna Maxwell, Director, Human Rights Scrutiny Team via email [email protected], using the subject line: Specialist Adviser - Immigration & OPCAT enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.