View Vacancy – AUS (Canberra) – Community Liaison Officer, AO (Part-Time)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)

Job Subcategory

Community Liaison

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British High Commission in Canberra is the HQ at the centre of our five-post Australia Network, which includes Consulate-Generals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

The primary function of the Community Liaison Officer is to support all UK-based (UKB) officers and their families in the Australia Network, including Partners Across Government, to help them prepare for, settle into, and adapt to life in a new environment. This requires working closely with the senior leadership to promote the well-being of all staff and to advocate for the provision of relevant support on family and community issues. It can also require some calls or attendance at events outside of normal working hours.

The successful candidate will join a team of around 140 passionate and enthusiastic colleagues representing more than ten different UK Government functions and departments. You will need to be discrete, empathetic, resilient, and solution focused, able to understand and cater to the needs of a diverse community. While based in Canberra, the CLO will be expected to undertake travel to Network Posts to ensure good understanding of the services available and challenges in each location, and ensure all UKB staff and families have access to CLO support.

Support to UKB staff and families before and during a Posting in Australia, including:

• Acting as a point of contact for impartial information and advice to support individuals make informed choices about applying for roles in Australia, including in relation to education, employment, recreation opportunities, and healthcare.
• Coordination and collaboration with Corporate Services and facilities management to ensure a smooth arrival process, particularly on matters such as accommodation, initial supplies, and orientation;
• Facilitate regular opportunities for families and staff to connect with likeminded groups or individuals, and support empathetic, accessible signposting to welfare resources, including FCDO Families.

Maintain key resources and reports relating to life at Post, ensuring staff, senior leadership, and FCDO UK have accurate and up to date information.

• Gather and submit regular data returns and surveys in a timely manner (Cost of Living survey, Partner Employment report);
• Lead on regular review of the Post Report and Welcome Pack for each location, ensuring these are accurate and up to date.
• Undertake site visits to assess education options, and liaise with families about schools and nurseries, including eligibility for FCDO funded nursery provision.
• Provide regular communications to UKB community about events and social matters.

Contribute to the smooth running of the Network, including through input into committees responsible for Housing, Security, Health and Safety, and People.

• Act as a welfare manager during a crisis, and ensure crisis and business continuity plans take family and welfare needs into account;
• Liaison with internal and external stakeholders, and advocacy with senior leadership, to ensure services at Post are meeting the needs of the community and are managed in line with FCDO policy.

Target date of interviews is on the week of 19 January 2026.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• You must already be entitled to live and work in Australia. We don’t sponsor visas.
• Strong interpersonal skills, genuine interest in the wellbeing of others, and ability to build productive relationships at all levels.
• Awareness of the impact of protected characteristics, and empathetic, non-judgemental approach to the concerns and issues of importance to a diverse community.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills, and an ability to work with a high degree of autonomy.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience of relocation and/or living abroad: understanding the challenges that UKB families face is an essential part of the role and will support CLOs with building relationships.
• IT literate with experience of using Microsoft Office
• Full driving licence: you may occasionally be asked to meet staff/families on arrival at the airport, or take them on brief orientation visits.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline

31 December 2025

Grade

Administrative Officer (AO)

Type of Position

Part-Time, Fixed Term

Working hours per week

30.4 (4 days per week)

Duration of Post

24 months

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Australia

Location (City)

Canberra

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

AUD

Salary

AU$84,928 (full-time), pro-rated to 0.8 FTE + 12% superannuation

Type of Salary

yearly

Start Date

23 February 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

The vacancy is advertised as a part-time, fixed term role of 2 years to be based in Canberra.

Appointment is subject to an AFP records check and UK security clearance.

As part of the pre-employment requirements, the successful candidate must have the right to work in Australia. This includes Australian citizens/permanent residents and partners/ dependants of UK-based staff currently posted in Australia. Kindly send your proof of eligibility to work and reside in Australia to [email protected]. The successful applicant must also be capable of obtaining security clearance for the role, including satisfactory police and criminal record checks.

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate General and its Consulates is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Australian employment law. Interstate applicants will be required to meet their own travel and relocation expenses.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The Australia network offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including job-specific training and broader learning delivered through the FCDO’s International Academy. There are opportunities to job-shadow other staff, and the successful applicant will be encouraged to take part in broader British High Commission initiatives and activities. Staff are supported to develop their own L&D plan tailored to their needs and interests. Some job-specific training is mandatory and will mostly be delivered through on-line e-learning courses, although there is also the opportunity to attend a CLO course in the region.

Role does not directly manage staff but offers opportunity to demonstrate people management skills through mentorship and coaching. Some limited budget management experience is also possible.

The British High Commission and Australia Network is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality, and challenge discrimination. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities where operational and security needs allow.

While based in Canberra, some travel will be required to other Missions in the Australia network. Time off in lieu is available when travelling outside of working hours.

Working Patterns:

Normal working hours for the BHC are between 0800 and 1800. Some flexibility is required to accommodate calls out of normal working hours when necessary, due to time zone differences.

Any other information (or specific local post requirements):

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British High Commission are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to Australia local employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and building a culturally diverse workplace. We actively encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Our culture of inclusion is underpinned by our excellent staff networks which cover disability, faith and belief, gender equality, social mobility, age, race, LGBT+, and how to be an ally.

Advertised start date is provisional and subject to completion of reference and security checks.

Additional information

The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.’

Your application must be submitted before 23:55 AEST-Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC/ GMT +10) on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”

Applications must include a current CV. Kindly omit any personal information such as name, birthdate, address and contact #.

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.

Advertised start date is provisional and subject to completion of reference and security checks.

Kindly check your application centre or email regularly for any update on the status of your application.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and building a culturally diverse workplace. We actively encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Our culture of inclusion is underpinned by our excellent staff networks which cover disability, faith and belief, gender equality, social mobility, age, race, LGBT+, and how to be an ally.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.