Following assessment of the applications, candidates will be shortlisted through a selection process, which includes written exercises, group exercises, psychological testing and an interview. The Public Service Recruitment Test, which applicants had to sit in order to enter the Public Service, no longer exists. Following the introduction of the Public Service Act 1999, any Australian citizen may apply for Public Service vacancies and compete in a merit based selection process. Each government agency is now responsible for recruiting its own graduates. Scores from previous tests are not taken into consideration as not all applicants will have such a score.
Australian citizenship is a condition of employment.
Permanent residency is not sufficient. It is a condition of employment in DFAT that you obtain and maintain a security clearance. You will be asked to provide comprehensive information about yourself and your dependants and to give the Department the right to check any information which you provide with relevant authorities such as the Australian Federal Police and financial institutions. You will also be asked to attend an interview. Only the candidates successful in the final selection process undergo a security clearance.