About the Department of Home Affairs (HA)

The Department of Home Affairs is a central policy agency, providing coordinated strategy and policy leadership for Australia's national and transport security, federal law enforcement, criminal justice, cyber security, border, immigration, multicultural affairs, emergency management and trade related functions.

The Department of Home Affairs protects Australian borders and manages the movement of people and goods across them, contributing to achieving three principal government outcomes of strong national security, a strong economy, and a prosperous and cohesive society.

Our diverse portfolio includes managing migration, humanitarian and citizenship policy and programs, and keeping Australia secure through border management and facilitating travellers and goods crossing the border.

The Home Affairs office in Shanghai is one of the Department’s largest visa processing offices.

About the position - LE3 Visa Processing Officer

Under the direction and supervision of the Team Leader, the Visa Processing Officer is responsible for providing excellent client service while making fair and lawful decisions on visa applications to varying degrees of complexity.

The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

1. Process applications for visas and citizenship in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.

2. Assess and decide temporary visa applications within productivity targets and service standards. Make fair, lawful and timely decisions on routine and complex cases.

3. Liaise effectively with clients and other stakeholders to achieve work area and departmental business objectives.

4. Interview clients by phone and request information verbally and in writing.

5. Record written outcomes clearly and concisely in English in case notes and records of decisions.

6. Investigate cases that have been referred from operational areas, analyse outcomes and record findings clearly and accurately in English.

7. Manage and organise high volume caseloads with limited supervision.

8. Provide specialist advice to other areas of the office.

9. Understand and apply complex migration legislation and policy.

10. Manage client enquiries by phone, email and in-person and prepare outgoing correspondence.

11. Translate documents and undertake interpreting, as required

12. Undertake other administrative duties, as directed

The successful applicant will meet the following selection criteria:

1. Ability to make sound assessments on visa applications based on Australian migration legislation, policy and processes.

2. Well-developed organisational and work management skills, including the ability to manage personal work, maintain high work standards and deliver workplace goals within deadlines.

3. Ability to work in a team, build productive working relationships and contributing to ongoing team and business improvements.

4. Excellent written and oral English language skills and fluency in Mandarin, including writing clear case notes and decision records, and translating and interpreting between languages.

5. Capacity to respond and adapt positively to change, including supporting the implementation of organisational change.

6. Proficiency with personal computer based software applications, including Microsoft Office suite and departmental systems and tools

Additional information

The position is initially for a period of up to four months, however successful applicants may be offered a further contract. The successful applicant is required to complete relevant pre-employment procedures before commencement.

Applications are invited from both Chinese and Australian nationals. Australian national employees receive a salary loading in lieu of local benefits they are not eligible to receive.

The successful applicant(s) will be required to work across a range of teams within the Home Affairs section and agree to change position (at level) if required.

How to Apply

Submit an application via email to recruitment-sh-diac@dfat.gov.au by 5.00pm, Tuesday 1 March 2022. Applications received after the closing date and time may not be considered. The subject line of your email should include the Position Number and Position Title you are applying for.

Your application, written in English, should include:

- A statement of claims for the position separately addressing each of the selection criteria (1 page maximum);

- Curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages); and

- Contact details for two work-related referees.

- Applications must be in either Microsoft Word or PDF format, with a maximum email size of 3MB.

- For inquiries regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources section at recruitment-sh-diac@dfat.gov.au.

Please note that due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to each applicant. We endeavour to respond to applicants of interest within a period of four weeks from the application closing date. If you are not requested to attend an interview, please consider your application unsuccessful.