About the role
This role would be suited to someone at an intermediate to established stage of their career who is seeking to develop or consolidate expertise in legislative publishing and parliamentary processes. As a Publishing Officer, you will undertake complex work and exercise sound judgement within agreed parameters that maintain quality standards in proofing and publishing legislation, while also supporting capability development in others. You will be proactive, approachable, adaptable and professional as you contribute to OPC’s vision to provide clear, effective and accessible Commonwealth law for all Australians.
These duties may occasionally require work outside standard business hours.
Position duties
The Publications group is responsible for a wide range of legislative publishing and editorial activities, as well as aspects of certain parliamentary processes. As a team, Publications staff are cross-trained and supported to work across the following responsibilities, which at the APS 5 level can include:
* preparing accurate electronic compilations of Acts, instruments and other types of legislation, exercising judgment to resolve complex issues and ensure compilations meet agreed quality standards;
* proofreading and editing draft Bills, instruments and other documents, providing detailed and technical editorial feedback to improve clarity and consistency of proofed material;
* assessing and publishing Acts, instruments, Gazette notices and other documents on the Federal Register of Legislation, including resolving more complex publishing issues and stakeholder queries within agreed parameters;
* organising Bills for printing and introduction in Parliament;
* tracking the passage of Bills through Parliament and obtaining Royal Assent for Bills that have passed;
* organising the printing and delivery of instruments for tabling in Parliament;
* building and sustaining productive working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external clients, service providers and stakeholders as a representative of the Publications group;
* undertaking technical research and analysis to respond to complex client queries;
* contributing to the development and delivery of guidance materials for clients and stakeholders;
* supporting the training and development of less experienced staff in Publications group processes.
These positions require the successful candidate to be proactive, approachable, helpful and professional in performing each of the above functions.
Key capabilities
To be suitable for these roles, your capabilities will include:
* well-developed administrative support skills, including the management of complex documentation; a sound knowledge of Microsoft Office products, in particular Word; and attention to detail;
* well-developed written and oral communication skills including a sound knowledge of English grammar, usage, spelling and punctuation; the ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders effectively; and to communicate clearly and effectively with clients, including advising clients of requirements and resolving issues;
* the ability to contribute new ideas and maximise the benefits of change, including leading small process improvements and embedding changes in Publications group practices;
* well-developed organisational skills that support the timely delivery of quality work, including setting day-to-day priorities and meeting deadlines under limited direction;
* a sound knowledge of legislative processes and structures, a highly developed ability to read and understand complex legislation and the ability to undertake technical research and analysis relating to legislative queries, or the ability to acquire such knowledge and capability quickly;
* the ability to provide day-to-day leadership, support other Publications staff and contribute to the establishment of work priorities, standards and deadlines;
* the ability to train other staff in the duties of the position.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for the role, you must:
* be an Australian Citizen;
* be able to obtain and maintain an Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) clearance to Baseline status.
How to apply
To apply for this position, please visit the careers page of our website to submit your application via our e-Recruit system. Your application should:
1. provide a one-page statement (approx. 750 words) outlining how your skills, knowledge, and experience make you the right person for the role, including details of relevant achievements and examples that demonstrate your suitability
2. provide a current CV detailing recent employment history that is relevant to this position
3. provide the name and
Closing date
Applications close for this on Monday, 13 April 2026.