|
AGENCY |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
|
POSITION NUMBER |
BK08036, BK08039, BK08081 |
|
POSITION TITLE |
Consular Officer |
|
CLASSIFICATION |
LE4 |
|
SECTION |
Consular Services Section |
|
REPORTS TO (TITLE) |
Second Secretary and Consul |
About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high quality overseas aid program and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.
The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional and bilateral interests.
About the position
The Consular Officer has a critical role in supporting the Consular Services section on a full-time basis. Under general direction, the Consular Officer provides support to clients and their family members in circumstances that include hospitalisation, arrest, death, welfare, whereabouts or crisis situations, and managers a rage of administrative functions, including processing clients fee. This position also provides efficient and secure passport and notarial services to Australian citizens in Thailand. The position conducts passport interviews and processes applications whilst providing courteous, effective and helpful advice and assistance to Australians throughout Thailand.
This position may be required to provide emergency consular assistance outside of office hours, and travel on an ad hoc basis. This includes participating in an after-hours on-call duty roster.
The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:
- Provide a range of consular services, and advise and assist Australian citizens in line with the Consular Services Charter, in circumstances that include hospitalisation, arrest, death, welfare, whereabouts or a crisis situation
- Arrange and actively participate in consular visits to hospitals, morgues, detention centres, prisons and other service providers
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including Thai government authorities (e.g. Royal Thai Police, Immigration Bureau and Corrections Department) and Thai medical and tourism service providers
- Perform consular duties outside the embassy, involving the provision of consular protection to Australian citizens who require emergency consular assistance
- Provide a range of passport services, including client interviews with Australian citizens in accordance with the Australian Passports Act
- Respond to a range of consular and passport enquiries from the general public in person, by telephone and by email
- Provide timely advice and reporting on consular and passport cases, including the drafting of correspondence
- Provide a range of notarial acts and services consistent with Australian legislation and guidelines
- Undertake a range of administrative functions, including the processing of client fees
Qualifications/Experience
- At least two years’ experience working in client services
- Fluent written and oral communication skills in English and Thai (essential)
- Demonstrated administrative skills, including the ability to prepare written reports and process accounts
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office, and experience using databases
- Tertiary qualifications in a related field would be highly desirable
Selection Criteria
- Demonstrated ability to learn, interpret and implement instructions and guidelines
- High level interpersonal and negotiation skills, including the ability to deal tactfully and sensitively with clients and service providers
- Demonstrated ability to perform effectively under pressure, manage multiple tasks, and use initiative and good judgment to resolve problems
- Experience working in a team in a cross cultural environment
- Experience providing courteous, effective and helpful assistance to clients in a customer service environment and with a demonstrated ability to resolve situations with difficult clients