Gaz - Aps5 - Act/nsw/sa/qld/vic - Foi Officer

**Contact**: hiringManagerName **Phone**:(03) 8682 2432

**Period of Vacancy**:Ongoing
**Number of Vacancies**:Several

**Who can apply**:
Please note this opportunity is available to current Australian Public Service employees and all eligible members of the community.

**About the Department of Home Affairs**:
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The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for centrally coordinated strategy and policy leadership in relation to domestic national security arrangements, law enforcement, emergency management, counter-terrorism, social cohesion, the protection of our sovereignty, the integrity of our border and the resilience of our national infrastructure.

The Australian Border Force, an operationally independent body within the Department of Home Affairs, is Australia's frontline border law enforcement agency and Australia's customs service. The Australian Border Force's mission is to protect Australia's border and facilitate the legitimate movement of people and goods across it.

**Overview of the Branch and Section**:
The **FOI and Records Management Branch **manages storage of and public access to information in accordance with legislation and Government policy. The Branch works across all areas of the Department to ensure that information is handled as a key strategic and operational business asset, managed in accordance with legislative and business requirements to support accountable and effective evidence-based decisions. Our functions include managing Freedom of Information requests and records management activities.

**FOI Section **is responsible for processing FOI access and amendment requests on behalf of the Department. The Section processes all FOI requests in collaboration with business areas within the Department and Australian Border Force. The Section develops policies, procedures and makes business improvements to the FOI program to ensure that the Department complies with its obligations for accessing and publishing information. The Section is a central coordination point for the Department's engagement with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) in relation to reviews of decisions and complaints under the _Freedom of Information (FOi) Act 1982 _(the FOI Act).

**About the role**:
We are looking for strong leaders and complex decision makers who can make an impact.

APS 5 staff in the FOI Section work as Team Leaders and/or Case Officers, and are responsible for day-to-day-service delivery of the FOI program.

APS 5 Case Officers make FOI access decisions and/or develop Non-Personal FOI access recommendations for nominated decision makers. Case Officers must have or be able to develop quickly a sound knowledge of the FOI Act, as they work on both routine and sensitive/complex access requests. Case Officers frequently liaise with business areas, including SES Band 1 decision makers, to identify relevant documents and consult on proposed exemptions. On occasion, Case Officers are required to engage with individuals, other agencies and third parties in formal consultation processes.

**Specific duties/responsibilities these positions include the ability to**:

- Plan and action work allocations in accordance with established priorities, manage workflows, and undertake quality assurance to achieve agreed outputs
- Communicate with applicants, liaise and consult with internal and external stakeholders and represent the Department with external stakeholders
- Achieve high-quality results within statutory timeframes with excellent attention to detail
- Contribute to a high-performance culture.

**Role requirements/qualifications**:

- Strong communications skills and the ability to clearly convey technical information to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience in interpreting legislation or the ability to quickly acquire the same
- Experience managing staff, including workflow planning and developing APS4 team members to achieve results.
- The ability to work in a fast-paced service delivery environment and manage competing priorities.
- Strong commitment to the principles of government transparency and accountability.

**Applicant response**:
Please prepare a one-page Applicant Response in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

- How your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role
- Why you are interested in the role and what you can offer us
- Any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

**How to apply**:

- Your CV
- Your Applicant Response document
- Details of referees
- Include your full name and the Requisition Number - **id** in the footer of any documents being uploaded.

**Eligibility