Specialisterne Australia offers an alternative pathway for people on the autism spectrum to connect with employers who recognise and value the contributions and talents that individuals on the spectrum can bring to their organisations.
We are excited to partner with Services Australia in their Aurora Neurodiversity Program, for a Project Officer from within our community of talented autistic candidates.
About Services Australia
We touch the lives of almost every Australian and we are here to help people meet life’s challenges. Services Australia is responsible for the delivery of advice and high quality, accessible social, health and child support services and payments.
We continually build on our foundation of service excellence to shape how government services are delivered to the Australian community. Our task is to modernise the way we work to deliver simple, helpful, respectful and transparent services every time.
We offer work that improves the lives of Australians, great working conditions, workplace diversity and inclusion that reflects the community we serve and flexible work practises for work and family life balance.
About the team
You will be working in a division responsible for the delivery of digital projects that support Services Australia customers and staff and providing project management support to a wide variety of stakeholders. In this dynamic team, you will be involved with many project governance functions ranging from providing support to project leads across the Customer Access Branch and Digital Services Division, risk and change management, benefits identification and finance tracking. The team also provides streamlined reporting and coordinates the publication of a suite of executive level reports and communication products to showcase the work of the branch and division. Services Australia offers our employees full in-house training with a wide variety of work, which is both challenging and fulfilling.
Your role within the team will include stakeholder engagement, booking and minuting stakeholder meetings, assisting other team members with duties relating to project management in our reporting tool and updating of project artefacts such as Risk Management Plans and Initial Change Assessments. To fulfil this role it is important to have attention to detail, sound written skills, basic knowledge of project management such as Agile fundamentals, sound verbal communication and the ability to use the Microsoft Office Suite.
About the roles
Job title
APS 5 Project Officer
Tenure
The role is a full-time, non-ongoing contract for up to 18 months, but part-time may be considered for the right applicant.
Location of role
The role is located in Brisbane CBD, QLD.
What you will do
Project Officers in the Portfolio Management Office provide high-level procedural, administrative and operational support by assisting in collecting, designing, analysing and reporting information.
Project Officers interpret and negotiate stakeholder requests in order to achieve optimal outcomes for both stakeholders and the agency. Working under the general direction of senior staff, they exercise a degree of independent judgement and make decisions within define parameters that require reliance on skills and knowledge.
As a Project Officer, you will work as part of a multi-skilled team to:
- Assist in project management and coordination activities.
- Draft a range of written material including business cases, plans, executive briefs, meeting minutes and corporate documentation for review by senior staff.
- Monitor or report on assigned work, priorities and practices.
- Build and maintain stakeholder relationships to support the divisions’ projects.
- Perform quality assurance activities and data validation.
- Identify or resolve problems and make recommendations for improvement.
- Perform research work and analysis including contributing to the preparation of reports, frameworks and procedures.
- Relevant administration functions required for team functioning i.e. mailbox management, booking meetings, minute taking
Specialisterne Australia exists because autistic candidates are being overlooked for employment, largely due to the many barriers that autistic candidates come up against when competing for employment in typical recruitment practices.
Specialisterne has created an end-to-end recruitment and employee support framework that removes those typically found barriers, and replaces them with practical, demonstrative assessments and activities whereby candidates, over a patient process, have the opportunity to:
- better understand the requirements of the roles they are competing for to assess if they are the right opportunities for them
- meet team members and managers throughout the process
- connect with others who have previously gained employment via this program
- demonstrate through practical assessments and activities their motivation and suitability for the available roles over a patient process
- ‘show’ what they can do (not just tell someone what you can do)
At Specialisterne Australia our values are Respect, Clarity, Accommodation, and Accessibility. We keep these in mind in all that we do. We work with our partner employers to promote and sustain a diverse and inclusive workforce. To support you further throughout your journey, we provide a mentor and buddy, and we work with you to tailor an individual plan to accommodate your needs in the workplace, also providing a period of support for both you and your future employer, ensuring a successful transition into your new role.
Please Note: All applications must go through Specialisterne Australia. Our partner employers do not handle applications directly for these opportunities.
Location of role
This role is offered in Brisbane CBD, QLD only, however applicants prepared to relocate for employment are encouraged to apply.
Applicant Requirements
Must have
To apply for these roles, these things are essential:
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must have a diagnosis of autism (including autism spectrum disorder; Asperger’s Syndrome; Autistic Disorder or PDD-NOS).
- Must have proof of Australian Citizenship and agree to background checks
- Must have or be able to obtain a Baseline security clearance
- Must live (or be willing to relocate to) a daily commutable distance to Brisbane CBD, QLD.
Should have
These things are important to have:
- Ability to work as part of a team to collaboratively develop work plans and complete tasks.
- Build rapport and maintain stakeholder relationships.
- Research and make sound decisions based on subject matter knowledge and judgement.
- Investigate and respond to identified issues and escalate as needed
- Communicate effectively and present messages in a clear, concise, and articulate manner.
- Undertake analysis and draw accurate conclusions based on evidence.
- Work in a geographically dispersed team, sometimes independently, to deliver outcomes.
- Adapt to a changing environment and assist others.
- Ability to identify concerns and escalate in a timely manner.
Nice to have
These things are not essential, but if you have them that’s great:
- Obtained a Cert IV or Diploma in Project Management or undertaken studies in Agile fundamentals or Prince 2.
- An interest or experience in any of the following or related fields: Project Management or Business Administration.
Application Process
First time with Specialisterne Australia?
Before you can apply for jobs through the Specialisterne Australia jobs portal, you must first register with us as an eligible candidate. You only need to do this once. Register using the form below, or by clicking here: Register with Specialisterne Australia
Already registered with Specialisterne Australia?
Existing candidates already registered can quickly apply for jobs at the candidate portal. If you have already registered and have an account: Click here to login at the candidate portal
NEW CANDIDATES
A member of our team will check your eligibility and you will then be sent a link to complete an online registration form with Specialisterne Australia. After you have completed your registration form, you will be sent a link to the candidate portal to upload supporting documents and apply for our jobs.
EXISTING CANDIDATES
If you have already registered as an eligible candidate with Specialisterne Australia and have an account, you can login to the Specialisterne Australia candidate jobs portal and quickly apply for the jobs or opportunities you are most interested in. A link to the candidate portal is also contained in the form provided on this page below.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to find out more about the roles while participating in activities and assessments delivered by Specialisterne and our partner employers to determine their suitability for the various opportunities.
At the conclusion of the Talent Program activities, successful candidates will be offered employment. If you are unsuccessful, you may be considered for other Specialisterne opportunities.
To commence the registration process, please make sure you have the required documents stated below:
- Evidence of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Evidence could be a Diagnostic Assessment or a letter from a treating medical practitioner.
- Proof of Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residence Visa*. Accepted documents are one of the following:
- Australian Birth Certificate
- Current Australian Passport
- Certificate of Australian Citizenship
- Permanent Residency Visa in Australia (excluding bridging visas)*
* please check individual role requirements for Citizenship
Activities will be delivered in-person and online in a virtual assessment centre environment and therefore candidates are expected to have use of their own computer with a webcam and microphone, and have access to the internet in order to participate.
Please Note: All applications must go through Specialisterne Australia. Our partner employers do not handle applications directly for these opportunities.
More information:
We look forward to receiving your applications.
Aurora Neurodiversity Program
A pathway for people with autism to start their career in the Australian Public Service (APS) with opportunities in Services Australia.
The Aurora Neurodiversity Program (the Program) recognises the unique skills and talents people who are neurodivergent can bring to work. The Program seeks to improve career outcomes and offers professional development and work experience by providing a gateway to the APS.
