Employment eligibility requirements

Employment with the Department of Defence is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999.

Citizenship and security clearances are required for all employees of DST Group, including vacation placement, and Industry Experience Placement students.

Citizenship

To be eligible for employment with Defence, applicants must be Australian citizens.

Security clearance

The preferred applicant will be required to successfully undergo the security clearance vetting process at a specified clearance level. The preferred applicant must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information.

The preferred applicant must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding:

• five years for BASELINE clearances, or
• ten years for NEGATIVE VETTING 1 / NEGATIVE VETTING 2 or POSITIVE VETTING clearances.

Depending on the level of security clearance required, successful applicants must provide information on their identity and background for the prescribed period. This may include details about previous employment, education, travel and residences, relatives, contact with officials from other countries, and membership of clubs and associations. The information is forwarded to the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA). Inquiries are made to verify your identity and to check your background and character. This process takes some time and it is worthwhile staying in touch with the supervisor and recruitment officer while your clearance is being processed.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to view the relevant AGSVA fact sheets regarding the information and documents required for the clearance level of the advertised position. It is in an applicant’s interest to ensure that they have all the required documents/information available should they receive an offer of employment.   

More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.

Psychological Assessment

Some positions at DSTG require that applicants undertake a Psychological Assessment to determine organisational suitability. Psychological assessments are conducted to determine suitability to work in a high security environment and/or to hold a Positive Vetting security clearance.

The Psychological Assessment is an integrated assessment tool which comprises the completion of a consent form, written psychological tests, a face-to-face interview with a registered psychologist, and a written report completed by the interviewing psychologist. You may be asked to participate in further psychological testing if required. The assessment is administered in a manner which ensures informed consent, fair dealing with all applicants and employees, and the greatest possible degree of privacy and transparency of process.

Questions may include but are not limited to personal relationships, living circumstances, personal values, financial situation, physical and mental health history including substance use, and any civil and/or military record. The process is necessarily more intrusive than you will encounter in most other employment applications but it is important that you be honest and accurate in disclosing details about yourself.

Health Assessment

The preferred applicant will be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the Department’s preferred medical provider.