North Queensland Delegate
We are seeking a passionate and community-minded individual to join DFA as a National Delegate. This role is pivotal in representing ADF families within your region and contributing to national advocacy efforts that shape policy and improve outcomes for Defence families.
📍 Location: Northern Queensland
🕒 Work Type: Part-time / Remote
📅 Applications Close: Friday 30th October 2026
About Defence Families of Australia
Defence Families of Australia (DFA) is the ministerially appointed non-statutory, non-corporate advisory body for Defence and Government on matters pertaining to Australian Defence Force (ADF) families.
DFA provides a forum for families to raise matters and assists families in accessing the Defence information they need. Operating under the official DFA Charter, DFA provides advice to the Minister and Chief of the Defence Force, informs and collaborates with external stakeholders, provides a recognised forum for Defence families, and informs Defence families.
About the role
Reporting directly to the Defence Family Advocate of Australia, a DFA National Delegate represents the families of current serving ADF members within their region and contributes to DFA’s national advocacy goals.
The primary responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to:
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Engage with ADF members and families within their region, developing subject matter expertise on key issues for local families. This will require regular travel within a Delegate's region.
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Complete tasks and attend consultations on behalf of the Advocate, on direction of the Advocate.
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Collaborate with stakeholders to identify trends and address issues affecting Defence families.
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Complete regular reporting to the Advocate and other identified stakeholders on role duties; including but not limited to current and planned advocacy efforts, stakeholder engagement, community feedback and consultations.
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Develop and promote quality policy positions for regional and national advocacy.
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Inform and collaborate on DFA's Strategic Plan, communications, and national advocacy goals and strategies.
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Build and maintain excellent working relationships with a range of regional stakeholders for the purpose of providing informed advice and advocacy. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to, local Command, Department of Defence, State and Federal government departments, Defence families, community groups and ex-service organisations.
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Represent DFA at presentations, events, meetings and on committees as required.
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Provide Defence Families with information and referrals to relevent services when they seek support regarding individual, community or regional issues.
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Adhere to and contribute to the achievement of the outcomes set forth by the DFA Charter.
To be successful in this role you must possess the following skills and knowledge:
General
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Lived experience as a family member (including extended family) of a current or former serving member with demonstrated knowledge, empathy and understanding of Defence families
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Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines, even whilst operating remotely.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences.
Interpersonal
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Highly developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to build, maintain, and manage effective stakeholder relationships across multiple levels of an organisation.
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Ability to navigate stakeholder relationships with a strong understanding of organisational dynamics and competing priorities, whilst remaining non-partisan for the purposes of DFA
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Proven capability to exercise sound judgement, act with diplomacy, discretion, and professionalism when managing confidential or sensitive matters.
Technical
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Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, opportunities, and practical solutions. Specifically in relation to policies affecting Defence families.
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Proficiency or willingness to obtain prior to role commencement in the Microsoft 365 suite, including:
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Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
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Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Teams for collaboration, communication, meeting management, and document sharing.
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Experience using SharePoint for document management, content administration, information governance, and team collaboration.
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Basic Power BI skills, including manipulation of slicers to visualise, interpret and present data to communicate insights and support decision-making.
Essential eligibility requirements
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Must reside in, or are pending posting to, the region in which they are representing.
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A Baseline security clearance, or ability to obtain one. Applicants must have the right to work in Australia and be an Australian citizen.
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A working with vulnerable people and/or children checks relevant to the appointee’s state or territory, or the ability to obtain one.
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Ability to work independently and with some occasional flexibility for hours worked.
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Ability to travel in region to meet with key stakeholders across various locations.
Appointments to DFA are made by the Minister for Defence Personnel on recommendation of the Chief of Defence Force.
A Ministerial advisory appointee is not an employee of DFA or Defence pursuant to the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth). DFA Office Holders are ministerial appointees with the nature of the relationship being defined as an independent contractor paid and supported by Defence for the role they undertake. DFA Office Holders are subject to legislation that provides benefits, such as public office holder remuneration, superannuation guarantee, workers’ compensation and other matters that support the advisory role. Administrative oversight is provided by the First Assistant Secretary People Services and Wellbeing, Defence People Group.
In accordance with the DFA Terms of Operation, initial appointments are for a term of one year, with the capacity to be subsequently appointed for a further two years subject to Ministerial approval.
Appointments can be terminated by the Minister, who will have regard to the terms of appointment, and the DFA Terms of Operation and Operating Guidelines.
An appointee can elect to leave prior to the completion of their appointment by notifying the Minister for Defence Personnel in writing at any time.
Code of Conduct
Appointees are expected to behave and carry out their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the best interests of DFA, Defence families, Defence, and the Commonwealth in accordance with the following values, which represent DFA’s Code of Conduct:
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Honorable - DFA demonstrates leadership, is trustworthy, and acts with integrity in all that it does.
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Accountable - DFA is open and accountable to ADF families, the ADF community and within the framework of Ministerial responsibility. Appointees are accountable to the Advocate and the Advocate is accountable to the Minister.
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Impartial - DFA is apolitical and provides the Government with advice that is frank, honest, timely, and respectful and is based on the best available evidence.
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Respectful - DFA respects all people, including their rights and heritage. In engaging with each other, Defence, Minister’s families or other stakeholders, DFA do so with respect and professionalism.
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Committed to service - DFA is professional, objective, innovative and efficient, and works collaboratively to achieve the best results for Australian Defence Force families, the ADF community and the Government. DFA appointees adhere to their respective role expectations and will use their best endeavours to follow the guidance and direction provided to them by the Advocate.
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Ethical -They avoid any situation in which their private interests (or those of their immediate family) whether pecuniary or otherwise conflict, or might reasonably be thought to conflict, their public duty.
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Honest - They are to be scrupulous in their use of public property and services and should not permit their misuse by other persons.
Daily Sitting Fees
Appointees to DFA are paid daily sitting fees in accordance with the Remuneration Tribunal (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Part-Time Office Holders) Determination 2024. The current daily fee is $477 per day, with a claimable allocation of up to 208.8 days (pro rata) for the 2025-26 financial year.
Superannuation
As a Part Time Office Holder under the Remuneration Tribunal, daily sitting fees do not include superannuation component. Superannuation is paid on top of the daily sitting fee. DFA appointees receive the Superannuation Guarantee that is currently set at a contribution rate of 12%.
How to apply
To apply for this role you will need to provide the following documentation:
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A 1000-word response to the position description and eligibility criteria, outlining your skills, connection to Defence and suitability for the role
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A copy of your current CV
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A completed Private Interests Declaration Form
Once you have these documents ready, use the form below to complete and submit your application.
Applications close at 1700, 30th October 2026.
Successful applicants will be contacted directly and offered an interview via video conference.