APS6 - Speechwriter, Communication

The opportunity we have available

The Communication Branch provides high quality advice and support through a range of enabling services, including media engagement activities, ministerial announcements, speechwriting services, strategic communication services, video and design services, social media engagement and advertising campaigns.

This is your opportunity to join the department's speechwriting team and develop fit-for purpose speeches for our ministers and senior departmental staff. You will work with all areas across the department to help raise public awareness of the many programs and projects we administer on behalf of the Australian Government.

**THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO APPLICANTS BASED IN CANBERRA OR BRISBANE**

What will you do?

Working closely with the senior speechwriters, you will draft speeches and other written products to a consistently high standard while also providing constructive advice on the development of products produced outside the Branch. This work is demand-driven, with requests coming from Ministerial offices (often at short notice) and will require someone with an appetite for a fast-paced working environment.

you will have primary responsibility for the coordination of input and clearances, as well as key administrative duties, while honing your skills in developing speeches and editorial content.

Key duties include:

• Drafting and editing speeches and other products such as articles, forewords and video scripts.
• Coordination of input, fact-checking and clearance of material with subject matter experts across the department, and other portfolio agencies and APS departments.
• Dealing professionally with external stakeholders, such as ministerial staff or conference organisers, on matters relating to speeches and speech products.
• Fulfil reporting requirements, maintain forward planning activities and ensure robust record keeping is in line with APS accountability standards.
• Maintain an active interest in current affairs and the broad public policy debate, to better inform the development of speeches and other written products

Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate for this position will demonstrate their capability against the APS Level 6 Work level standards.

We are seeking someone for this role, who will:

• Write confidently, clearly and with strong attention-to-detail when drafting products in a variety of styles.
• Use strong high level organisational and time management skills to perform multiple tasks with competing deadlines for delivery.
• Have strong interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, to foster positive working relationships with your colleagues, subject specialists and external stakeholders.
• Strong team culture is a vital element to the success of our team and it is important to us that you will support and build on the existing strengths within our Branch.

Highly desirable:

• An understanding of or experience working in media engagement as you will be asked on occasion to support activities within the broader Media Services Section. This may include preparing media releases or talking points. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Eligibility requirements

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

• Citizenship
  : candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application.
• Health Assessment
  : The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department's preferred medical provider.
• Security Clearance
  : The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline Level. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
• Qualifications
  : Completion of a communication focused qualification such as a speechwriting cadetship, public relations, journalism and marketing degree or diploma is highly desirable.

How to apply

Applications for this opportunity close at
11.59pm AEST, Sunday 07 September 2025
.