Contact Officer:
Georgia Croft
Closing Date:
11.59pm AEDT, Sunday 8 February 2026
The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under Section 26 of the Australian Public Service Commissioner's Directions 2016.This vacancy is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants.
The opportunity we have available
The Creative Industries Branch is responsible for engagement on arts and culture and provides high quality strategic advice to the Minister on creative sector policy and program issues. The Division also administers programs that support Australia's creative sector and stimulate participation in Australia's cultural life; and foster employment and growth across creative industries.
We have an opportunity for a Program Officer to join the Visual Arts and Design section. This section delivers the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) Program, which supports over 85 Indigenous-owned art centres, and several art fairs, regional hubs and industry service organisations. Many of the art centres are in remote and very remote parts of Australia. The section also provides support and advice to the government on visual arts and design policy, including Indigenous visual arts policy, and the Resale Royalty Scheme.
The role available is for an ongoing, full-time position to support administer the IVAIS program and undertake other tasks across the broader team, as directed.
The successful applicant will show initiative and possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills relevant to their role. Grant management experience within the APS and experience with the SmartyGrants platform is desirable but not essential.
What will you do?
As an APS 5 Program Officer in the Visual Arts and Design section, you will be required to perform duties in accordance with the APS Values and Code of Conduct, including:
* Assisting with the administration of the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program to ensure proper grant administration processes are undertaken.
* Assisting with the management of grant agreements, payments, variations, monitoring progress, and assessing of milestone reporting.
* Managing relationships with grant recipients and a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, including sensitive issues.
* Performing your work in a culturally sensitive manner, with a commitment to further your cultural capability.
* Supporting the broader goals and deliverables of the section, including providing accurate advice through the preparation of policies and procedures, ministerial correspondence, coordination requests and other briefings.
Who are we looking for?
The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the APS level 5 Work level standards.
To be successful in this role, you will have demonstrated experience in, or the ability to develop:
* Technical knowledge of grants administration, including previous grants or contract management experience or relevant similar transferable skills.
* Stakeholder management to develop and maintain internal and external relationships.
* Capacity to achieve results by having good organisational skills and attention to detail.
* Taking responsibility to set priorities, meet deadlines and ensure delivery of quality outcomes.
* Effective communication both written and verbal, to adapt information for a range of audiences.
Roles in the Office for the Arts involve working with First Nations Australians.
RecruitAbility minimum requirements
Minimum requirements for this role include:
* Ability to do computer-based work, ability to review text-based reports
* Ability to answer phones to answer questions from grantees and potential grantees about the grant program.
RecruitAbility is a scheme which aims to attract and develop applicants with disability and also facilitate cultural changes in selection panels and agency recruitment.
Job applicants with disability who met the requirements are advanced to the next stage of the selection process:
* Opt into the scheme
* Declare they have a disability, and
* Meet the minimum requirements of a vacancy advertised in the scheme
More information can be found at RecruitAbility scheme: A guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission.
What else can we offer?
Some of the benefits we offer include:
* We provide the environment you need through excellent conditions and a supportive, values-driven culture, allowing you to keep being you
* We offer job security, flexible work arrangements, regional and city work locations, generous leave and superannuation entitlements and access to higher tiered pay points in some classifications
* Our values are to be: respectful, informed, collaborative, adaptive, accountable. Through our commitment to these values, we maintain a fulfilling and supportive environment that promotes the wellbeing of our people
* Access to join our 6 staff-led diversity networks which promote a culture of inclusion to enhance work performance and the wellbeing of all staff
* You can contribute to work that enriches our communities, empowers our regions, and connects Australians
Eligibility requirements
Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:
* Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application.
* Health Assessment:The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department's preferred medical provider.
* Security Clearance:The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline level. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
* Police check: The successful candidate must satisfactory complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
* Integrity and Performance check: The successful candidate must satisfy the requirements in an Integrity and Performance check which is completed by your most recent employer.
* This role is an affirmative measure to support employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. That means only people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander are eligible to apply. For more information please visit - Affirmative measure for recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: A guide for applicants
Timeline and assessment
A selection panel will be established to assess your suitability against the advertised role.
If a merit pool is established it will be valid for 18 months from date it first appeared in the APS Gazette.
Applications open: 16 January 2026
Applications close: 8 February 2026
Application shortlisting: 13 February 2026
Further assessments: 20 February 2026
Selection report finalised: 6 March 2026
Offers and announcements: 13 March 2026
The above is indicative only, please reach out to the contact person if you have any questions on the recruitment process or timeframes.
Your application will be assessed against the requirements of the job and the Work level standards. Once the entire applicant pool has been assessed, the panel will create a shortlist of applicants. If your application is shortlisted, you may be asked to undertake further assessment, this may include work sample testing, interviews, and reference checks.
How to apply
Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEDT Sunday 8 February 2026.
In applying for this position, you are not required to address individual selection criteria. Rather, you should provide in a PDF document a statement of no more than 2 pages outlining your background, capabilities and experiences, and how these align with the advertised role.
You should also provide a tailored CV in PDF, no more than 3 pages. The capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role are identified in the 'Who are we looking for' section.
Your application should be received through the department's online recruitment system. Applications via Indeed will not be accepted.
If you experience any issues with the system please contact the recruitment team on or via email at to discuss an alternative way to submit your application.
Please advise the contact officer if you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. The department is committed to the accessibility of our systems. If you identify as someone with disability and you require accessibility assistance or more information, please email
Work with us. Apply now