Careers with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
LES Recruitment
Locally Engaged Staff
Accredited diplomatic and consular positions in our Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates - including Ambassadorial positions - are staffed with on-going (permanent) employees of DFAT deployed on posting from Australia. If you are interested in pursuing a career with DFAT you should apply for a position in Canberra in the first instance.
Individual diplomatic and consular posts (Embassies, High Commissions or Consulates), do, however, employ 'locally engaged staff' (LES) to undertake administrative and other support roles. Roles performed by LES include accountants, personnel officers, research officers, consular and passport assistants, office managers, translators, receptionists, visits officers and drivers.
LES are not diplomatic or consular staff and therefore do not have diplomatic or consular status, privileges or immunity. LES positions are usually advertised in the local press and on the website of the post in the country concerned. Positions are open to suitably qualified persons who are legally able to work in that country. Wages and conditions of service are based on the local labour market. Prospective applicants need to demonstrate that they are eligible to work by meeting the local citizenship and/or visa requirements. To gain a position as LES, you would need to successfully compete, through a merit-based selection process, for an advertised vacancy at the relevant Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
DFAT Central Office in Canberra does not coordinate or participate in any way in the recruitment of LES. People interested in LES positions need to approach directly the relevant overseas mission. The number and availability of LES positions varies greatly from post to post. If you are successful in obtaining a position at an overseas mission you will be responsible for all costs involved in relocating yourself and your family. DFAT does not meet the costs of successful applicants for LES positions to travel from another location to the city where the position is located.
A list and contact details for Australia's posts overseas is available on this site.
Frequently asked questions
Q. If I'm a dual national, can I work overseas as an LES?
A. In most circumstances, the answer is "yes". If you have citizenship rights for the country in which the Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate is located, however you will not be eligible to apply for any position which requires access to information which has an Australian national security classification. Such positions are identified when advertised.
Q. If I'm an Australian citizen working at an Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as an LES, can I have conditions like those of Australian diplomatic and consular staff who are posted by DFAT overseas?
A. No. Australian diplomatic and consular staff are recruited in the Australian labour market by DFAT and receive a conditions of service package in line with other employers who require staff to serve overseas. LES are engaged on wages and conditions of service which apply in the local labour market of the country in which the Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate is located. Therefore, wages and conditions of service for LES vary enormously from country to country because of differences in local labour market conditions.
Q. I'm an Australian citizen and work at an Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate overseas. Can I have my salary paid in Australia?
A. No. In general, salaries are paid by the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the local currency, into employees’ local bank accounts.
Q. I'm an Australian citizen and work at an Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate overseas. Do I have to pay Australian tax?
A. Australian-resident for taxation purpose LES are liable to pay Australian income tax on income derived from all sources, including salary and wages received through employment at Australian missions abroad, unless a specific exemption is provided. DFAT is required to send statements of earnings of LES who are Australian citizens to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). However, it is up to each individual to liaise with the ATO to determine the extent of their obligations to pay Australian tax. Australian missions do not deduct and pay Australian tax at source. Individual employees are responsible for tax payments to the ATO.
Your personal circumstances may be influenced by whether Australia has in place a double taxation agreement with the country in which you are interested in working. You will need to check your personal circumstances with the ATO.
Any enquiries Australian LES might have concerning their particular residency status for income tax purposes and/or their liability to pay Australian tax should be forwarded directly to the local ATO branch office where the employee last filed an Australian income tax return, or the ATO website www.ato.gov.au
Q. I'm an Australian citizen and work at an Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate overseas. Do I have to contribute to a superannuation fund? If so, does the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as my employer make a contribution also?
A. In some countries, you will be required by law to contribute to a national social security, superannuation, or pension fund. You should seek details from the relevant Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate on the particular conditions of service which apply in the country in which you are interested.
If you are considered by the ATO to be liable for Australian tax, your employer is obliged by Australian law to pay the Superannuation Guarantee Contribution (SGC) on your behalf. This is an employer contribution, and there is no requirement for you to make a contribution. All Australian citizens deemed Australian residents for taxation purposes are entitled to receive the SCG. If you do not wish to be considered as an Australian for taxation purposes, you will need to obtain a ruling from the ATO, not your accountant, to that effect.
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