Assistant Commissioner, Oversight and Engagement

Location: Canberra, ACT

Application Closing Date**:Monday**24-Nov-2025** **at 11:30pm AEDT**

**Classification**

SES Band 1

**Employment Type**

Ongoing & Non-ongoing (for a period up to 24 months)

Where a non-ongoing specified term is offered, this would be for a maximum period of two (2) years. If the initial contract is for less than 2 years, it may be extended or renewed once, up to the 2 year limit.

A non-ongoing offer may result in conversion to an ongoing offer of employment, however this must occur within 18 months from the opening date of this advertisement.

**About the Defence and Veteran's Service Commission**: The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission (DVSC) provides independent oversight and evidence-based advice to government on reforms to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.

The Australian Government established the DVSC as a new non-corporate Commonwealth Entity (NCE) on 29 September 2025 in response to the key recommendation of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Key functions of the DVSC include:

- monitoring, inquiring and reporting on issues relevant to suicide and suicidality for serving and ex-serving ADF members
- monitoring, inquiring and reporting on the implementation of the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission
- improving supports for serving and ex-serving ADF members
- working with coroners to understand issues contributing to Defence and veteran deaths by suicide, and
- promoting an understanding of suicide risks and wellbeing for Defence members and veterans, including through engaging with people with lived experience.

The DVSC has a wide range of powers akin to those of a Royal Commission to undertake special inquiries - including conducting hearings, summonsing people to give evidence under oath or affirmation, search warrants and notices to produce information.

**Working at the DVSC**: As a new agency, the DVSC is recruiting staff and capabilities and will continue to do so over the coming year. You have an opportunity to join us now where your expertise can help influence and shape our strategy in support of the Commissioner’s independent oversight of wide-ranging reforms across the Defence and veteran ecosystem.

Under the current organisational structure of the Commission there are two SES Band 1 officers who will report to the Deputy Commissioner:

- Assistant Commissioner, Inquiries and Legal
- Assistant Commissioner, Oversight and Engagement.

The Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and two Assistant Commissioners will form the senior executive group of the Commission.

We are looking to recruit high performing and dedicated staff from a range of capabilities, who demonstrate integrity, independence and compassion.

SES employment conditions are outlined in individual s24(1) determinations.

**About the Role**:
As Assistant Commissioner, Oversight and Engagement you will be working closely with the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to provide independent oversight and evidence-based advice to the Australian Government on reforms to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving ADF members. You will be part of a small senior executive responsible for the strategic leadership of DVSC and have day-to-day management of two functional areas: Oversight and Evaluation, and Communications and Engagement.

The Assistant Commissioner, Oversight and Engagement will be required to provide strategic advice and leadership of oversight, evaluation, communications, and engagement functions of the DVSC. Specifically, the Assistant Commissioner, Oversight and Engagement will support the Commissioner exercising their functions in relation to:

- overseeing, inquiring into and reporting on the Australian Government's implementation of the Government's response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide; and
- promoting understanding of suicide risks for Defence members and veterans, and factors that can improve their wellbeing, including through engaging with people with lived experience and promoting that lived experience.

Specifically, the Assistant Commissioner Oversight and Engagement will be responsible for managing a branch to:

- establish, coordinate and maintain advisory councils, such as a lived experience advisory council, to assist the Commissioner understand and promote an understanding of lived experience and suicide risks
- managing media engagement with the Commission and the Commissioner
- manage the oversight of implementation of the Royal Commission's recommendations and coordinate and deliver public reports on the implementation and effectiveness of the Royal Commission’s recommendations
- strategically plan and coordinate the Commissioner’s engagement with stakeholders
- manage the Commission’s website and