About the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission
The Defence and Veterans' Service Commission (DVSC) provides independent oversight and evidence-based advice to government on reforms to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.
The Australian Government established the DVSC as a new Non-corporate Commonwealth Entity (NCE) on 29 September 2025 in response to the key recommendation of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Key functions of the DVSC include:
* monitoring, inquiring and reporting on issues relevant to suicide and suicidality for serving and ex-serving ADF members
* monitoring, inquiring and reporting on the implementation of the Government's response to the recommendations of the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission
* improving supports for serving and ex-serving ADF members
* working with coroners to understand issues contributing to Defence and veteran deaths by suicide, and
* promoting an understanding of suicide risks and wellbeing for Defence members and veterans, including through engaging with people with lived experience.
Working at the DVSC
As a new agency, the DVSC is now recruiting staff and capabilities and will continue to do so over the coming year. You have an opportunity to join us now where your expertise can help influence and shape our strategy in support of the Commissioner's independent oversight of wide-ranging reforms across the Defence and veteran ecosystem.
We are looking to recruit high performing and dedicated staff with a range of capabilities, who demonstrate integrity, independence and compassion.
A key focus of the DVSC's work is the prevention of suicide and suicidality. While the DVSC has a proactive wellbeing program, applicants are encouraged to consider their personal circumstances when applying for this role. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the findings and recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide for further information.
The DVSC is an independent agency. We are currently physically located in Canberra, within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under a shared service arrangement. While we transition our employment framework, the successful candidate may be on-boarded via the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and subsequently transitioned to the DVSC.
Employment with the DVSC is offered under the Public Service (Terms and Conditions of Employment) (Defence and Veterans' Service Commission) Determination 2025.
About the Role
The Assistant Director, Research and Analysis, will work as a part of a small team to support the Director to develop the agency's strategic research and analysis capability. The Assistant Director will help to shape a centralised capability to support the provision of accurate, well-researched, evidence-based information to the Commissioner and other line areas in the DVSC for the inquiry, oversight, evaluation, reporting, corporate and promotion of suicide prevention functions.
Located in the Chief Operating Officer functional line of the DVSC, the Assistant Director will work collegiately with senior leadership and staff across the DVSC as a central enabling capability. The Assistant Director will also assist in engaging with a broad range of Commonwealth agencies and external stakeholders to gather information and data.
The Assistant Director will play a key role in the collation, analysis and management of relevant research and data relating to Defence and veteran suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes to inform the DVSC's work. This will be drawn from a range of sources including qualitative and quantitative data, literature, lived experience, reports from government agencies and jurisdictions, and other data holdings in the Defence and veteran ecosystem. The Assistant Director will also supervise junior APS staff.
The key duties of the position include:
What you will bring
The occupant of this role demonstrates integrity, independence and compassion while delivering the work of the Commission and:
* Demonstrated strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to research, analyse and report on information from a range of sources to support the delivery of statutory functions of the Commissioner and the DVSC.
* Sound understanding of data analysis and data management, or ability to quickly acquire it.
* Well-developed written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and well-structured reports, correspondence, and briefing materials tailored to the intended audience.
* Well-developed stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to engage effectively across government and with non-government stakeholders.
* A high level of personal integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values, with the ability to uphold the DVSC's independence and impartiality.
* Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to manage, develop and motivate staff, and to work effectively with other DVSC capability areas.
Eligibility
* Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing. At PM&C to be eligible for this position you should be an Australian Citizen by the completion of the recruitment process, except under exceptional circumstances.
* The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance, or hold a current security clearance of an appropriate level.
* The successful candidate will be assessed through our pre-employment screening checks, such as an Australian Criminal History Check, and will normally be subject to a six-month probation period if new to the APS or has not yet completed their probation period elsewhere in the APS.
Notes
Ongoing & Non-ongoing (for a period of up to 24 months)
This role is being advertised as both ongoing and non-ongoing, with the employment type to be determined in negotiation with the preferred candidate and the PM&C delegate.
Where a non-ongoing specified term is offered, this would be for a maximum period of two (2) years. If the initial contract is for less than 2 years, it may be extended or renewed once, up to the 2 year limit.
A non-ongoing offer may result in conversion to an ongoing offer of employment, however this must occur within 18 months from the opening date of this advertisement.
Getting to know the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) advances Australia's national interests through high quality support to the Prime Minister and the operations of Cabinet. PM&C supports the Prime Minister as leader of the Government and of Cabinet and as leader of the country. This positions us both to provide visibility of Government priorities and influence outcomes across all Commonwealth portfolios, state jurisdictions, the Australian Public Service (APS) as an institution, and on the international stage. Our role is to provide fresh thinking and creative advice to government as stewards for the APS. We contribute ideas on the many and varied issues facing Australia, taking into consideration the views and opinions of a range of stakeholders across the private, public, not-for-profit and community sectors. The PM&C team provides pragmatic advice and finds solutions to problems so that Government policies can be effectively designed and implemented. We give particular weight to issues that are important to the Prime Minister. Our focus, put in its simplest terms, is to find new ways to improve the lives of all Australians.