What You Need to Know

Important information about working with the Department of Justice (The Department).

Applicants may be considered for other suitable vacancies during the six months after a selection is made. Other requirements that will impact on your suitability for a position are listed below.

Eligibility for a position

For a Permanent appointment in the Department of Justice, you must be an:

Australian citizen, or
Permanent resident of Australia (as defined by the Commonwealth Immigration Act).

For an appointment on a casual or fixed term basis by the Department of the Justice, you must be an:

Australian citizen,
Permanent resident of Australia (as defined by the Commonwealth Immigration Act.), or
Hold a relevant work visa.

If you are not an Australian citizen or resident and don’t hold a work visa, you must obtain a work visa, at your own expense, before starting at the Department. For information about visas and associated immigration issues, go to the Department of Home Affairs website.

Overseas qualifications

If you have a qualification from an educational institution outside of Australia, you must obtain an assessment from an authorised skills recognition authority before starting work with the Department.

You are encouraged to get this documentation as soon as you can as it may take some time to arrange. The assessment is only required if your qualification is essential to the job you are applying for.

50(d)

The Department recognises the purpose of section 50(d) under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 in the recruitment and selection of people from particular ethnicity as someone who can most effectively provide services to people of the same ethnicity.

For example, Aboriginality is a genuine requirement where a 50(d) position is reserved for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people and applicants must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent (ATSI). Identity as ATSI and be recognised as such by the ATSI community.

Working with children check

A Working with Children Check is a mandatory requirement for certain positions at the Department which involve child-related work.

If a position is identified under section 6 of the Working with Children Act 2004 as ‘Child Related Work’ then applicants must have a current Working with Children Check or be able to successfully apply for one to be eligible for appointment to the position. You will need to produce a current valid Working with Children Card as required by law.

For more information, refer to the Working with Children website.

Employment Screening Check

Before being employed by the Department you will be required to have an employment screening check undertaken. This may include both a National Criminal History Check and a National Security Vetting Clearance. All successful applicants, including fixed–term contract and casuals, will be required to complete employment screening checks. All information is treated in the strictest of confidence and in accordance with the Department's Employment Suitability - Criminal Record Check and Security Vetting Policy.

As part of the interview process you may be asked to complete a Criminal Record Check and Security Vetting Form and a National Police Checking Service Application Consent Form. You may also be asked to bring along to the interview original forms of identification as listed below (do not submit any original forms of identification as part of your application for a position).

You must provide four documents with your completed form to confirm your identity:

one commencement document to confirm your birth in Australia or arrival in Australia. Foreign national applicants who do not have Australian Visa, the proof of valid Visa status can be obtained from Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).
one primary and
two secondary documents to show the use of your identity in the community.

The accredited body or its legal entity customer will use these documents to verify your identity against the personal information you have provided. The personal information contained in the identity documents you provide will be used to conduct a nationally coordinated criminal history check.

The documentation you provide must include evidence of your full name and date of birth and a photograph of you. The commencement and primary documents provided must include a photo of you. If your commencement and primary documents do not include a photograph you must submit a passport-style photograph certified by a person listed in Schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 1993 (Cth).

Commencement documents

full Australian birth certificate (not an extract or birth card)
current Australian passport (not expired)
Australian Visa current at time of entry to Australia as resident or tourist
ImmiCard issued by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection that enables the cardholder to prove their visa and/or migration status and enroll in services
certificate of identity issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to refugees and non-Australian citizens for entry to Australia
document of identity issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to Australian citizens or persons who possess the nationality of a Commonwealth country, for travel purposes
certificate of evidence of resident status.
Primary documents
1. current Australian driver licence, learner permit or provisional licence issued by a state or territory, showing signature and/or photo and the same name as claimed
2. Australian marriage certificate issued by a state or territory (church or celebrant-issued certificates are not accepted)
3. current passport issued by a country other than Australia with a valid entry stamp or visa
4. current proof of age or photo identity card issued by an Australian government agency in your name with photo and signature
5. current shooter or firearm licence showing signature and photo (not minor or junior permit or licence)
6. for persons aged under 18 with no other Primary Use in Community Documents, a current student identification card with photo or signature.

Secondary documents

certificate of identity issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
document of identity issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
convention travel document secondary (United Nations) issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
foreign government issued documents (for example driver licence)
Medicare card
enrolment with the Australian Electoral Commission
security guard or crowd control photo licence
evidence of right to a government benefit (Centrelink or Veterans Affairs)
consular photo identity card issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
photo identity card issued to an officer by a police force
photo identity card issued by the Australian Defence Force
photo identity card issued by the Australian Government or a state or territory government
Aviation Security Identification Card
Maritime Security Identification card
credit reference check;
Australian tertiary student photo identity document
Australian secondary student photo identity document
certified academic transcript from an Australian university
trusted referees report
bank card – type and expiry only
credit card – type and expiry only.

Change of name

If you provide identity documents using a former name, you must provide evidence of your name change. This means providing a change of name certificate issued by the Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages or an Australian marriage certificate issued by a state or territory, in addition to your four identity documents. Church or celebrant-issued certificates are not accepted.

Applicants who have been resident overseas in the five years prior to their application will require an overseas national police certificate. The overseas national police certificate must be dated no earlier than twelve months prior to the applicant's last departure from their overseas country of residence.

Last updated: 1-Mar-2019

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