Organisation: Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Job Title: Director
Word Limit: 2,000 characters per response
Location: Canberra
Shapes strategic thinking
Working as an EL2 in Detention Policy for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
(DIBP), I had carriage of a project to abolish the detention debt policy. Under this policy, detainees
were charged for the time they spent in immigration detention. This policy created unwieldly
situations and was proving to be largely ineffective. Confident in my ability to apply clear analysis
and sound judgement to this complex problem, I volunteered to take ownership of the abolition
project.
To make balanced, well-informed decisions, I identified the problems created by this policy.
Through liaison with finance staff, I found that only 3% of these debts were recovered. In addition,
the large paper debt created ultimately resulted in reduced allocation of funding to the
Department as it created an appearance of access to income. Analysing this situation strategically,
it was easy to see that the interests of the Department were best served by the abolition of the
detention debt policy.
Given the complex interaction of inter- and intra-departmental interests, it was essential that I
applied judgement and common sense in pursuing the process of policy abolition. This required
ongoing liaison and negotiation with internal and external stakeholders, including the Immigration
Detention Advisory Group and various Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). The negotiation
process required that I demonstrate strong problem solving skills and maintain a firm
understanding of the essential and desirable elements of the desired change from a Departmental
perspective. I provided a series of submissions to the Minister’s office to gain policy approval, and
worked in close collaboration with the legal area to coordinate legislative drafting by the Office of
Parliamentary Counsel. Ultimately, the application of my sound strategic approach to this complex
problem resulted in the abolition of the detention debt policy.
Achieves results
As an EL1 / Acting EL2 with the Human Trafficking and Criminal Justice Visa Section of the Risk
Assessment Protection Branch of DIBP, I have recently led the legislative review of the Migration
Regulations which revised the Human Trafficking Visa Framework. These reforms involve changes
to names of visas so as to destigmatise the human trafficking cohort and redesign the temporary
visa so as to effect a single temporary visa class. The intended result of this reform was to provide
human trafficking victims with access to government services. Throughout the implementation of
this reform in a complex environment of conflicting priorities, it was essential that I ensured that
focus was maintained on delivery of these results while navigating the inevitable challenges that
emerged.
One of the challenges faced in driving this reform was the lack of specialist knowledge on the area
of visas and service access for human trafficking victims. To a large extent, this meant that I
needed to develop my own comprehensive knowledge as I undertook the process. In addition, I
build a team of knowledge resources through drawing on the expertise of Contact Officers
throughout the regional network. Having recently become members of the newly broadened
Border Force, I also needed to manage the uncertainty and competing priorities that existed for
these Contact Officers.
In planning the implementation phase of these reforms, it became clear that different agencies
within various departments operated on discrete system cycles that could only accommodate the
introduction of the reforms at certain points in the cycle. In order to achieve the required result, I
therefore devised a process of phased implementation between July 1 2015 and July 2016. I then
liaised with the stakeholders to devise workarounds to ensure that the intended result of access to
services for human trafficking victims is secured over this implementation period.
Cultivates productive working relationships
In order to deliver legislative review of the Migration Regulations which revised the Human
Trafficking Visa Framework, I was required to collaborate extensively with the designated Contact
Officers for Border Protection matters in the Department’s regional centres. This collaboration
was essential for me to gain information about their experience of the circumstances regarding
human trafficking victims and to gauge the likely effect of any proposed reforms. Depending on
the structure of the particular call centre, these Contact Officers could hold positions of anywhere
from APS4 to EL2 level. This diversity in seniority meant that the contact officers possessed varying
levels of knowledge, experience and understanding of Departmental operations. In my liaison with
them it was important that I remained mindful and respectful of these differing levels, and
assigned value to the variety of perspectives that this diversity brought to the review.
The wide-ranging impacts of the policy and operational work that I perform has seen me liaise
extensively with various government departments and agencies. Due to referral protocols for
example, I have worked collaboratively with the Australian Federal Police and the Commonwealth
Department of Public Prosecutions. Another example is the extensive liaison I undertook with the
Department of Human Services to secure government assistance for human trafficking victims
during reform implementation.
The nature of the projects I have undertaken has meant that NGOs have been significant
stakeholders in their outcomes. Having cultivated respectful and productive relationships, I have
successfully engaged and negotiated with bodies such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Despite the often-divergent views between NGOs and the government that I represent, I have
demonstrated success in finding common ground and collaborating in a meaningful way that has
achieved desired government outcomes.
Exemplifies personal drive and integrity
An example of the personal responsibility I have assumed for meeting objective deadlines has
been my management of the legislative review of the Migration Regulations which revised the
Human Trafficking Visa Framework. The key regulatory changes in this project took effect from 1
July 2015, as a result of my extensive coordination of the challenging consultation, drafting and
implementation phases. I overcame an obstacle posed by the disparate system cycles of various
service delivery agencies through developing a phased implementation with workaround
provisions to ensure that the objective deadline was met.
In the face of challenges, I remain positive and outcome-focused and consistently perform to a
high standard in my capacity as an apolitical public servant. An example of a challenge that has
required me to demonstrate both integrity and commitment has arisen in my current, newly
formed Division. I am of the opinion that there are discrepancies in the assigned visa decision-
making delegations within the Division, which leave gaps in the process and expose the
organisation to risk. In light of this, I have conferred with and sought an opinion from Special
Counsel regarding the required delegations. At one point I exercised my authority to suspend visa
decision-making as I was required to do upon assessment of an unacceptable level of risk. These
actions demonstrated my personal integrity and willingness to engage with difficult situations.
Having conveyed my opinion and the outcome of legal advice to senior management, I have been
instructed to continue to operate within the existing delegation framework. Reflecting my
commitment to the duties of my position, I have complied with this direction. Pragmatic in my
approach, I am understand of the need to maintain the functions of the Division and am
committed to delivering Divisional outcomes required of me in my employment.
Communicates with influence
An articulate and persuasive communicator, I speak and write with confidence and am adept at
tailoring both the content and the tone of my messages to their audience. Throughout my career, I
have demonstrated my capacity to concisely convey key information through the preparation of
innumerable Ministerial briefings. In these materials it is essential not only that relevant points are
covered, but that the language used is clear and unambiguous in order to prevent
misinterpretations or mixed messages. My success in securing approval for projects such as the
abolition of detention debt policy demonstrates my capacity to effectively achieve Departmental
outcomes through preparation of appropriate and persuasive ministerial communications. My
ability to prepare detailed, accurate and comprehensive written documents has been utilised in
the delivery of key policy documents, policy advice manuals, legislation and regulations. Projects
such as the reform of the human trafficking visa regulatory framework required extensive drafting
work.
In both the verbal and the written contexts, I ensure that I prepare and provide evidence to
support my position, lending credence and persuasiveness to my position. Required to negotiate
extensively, I retain a focus on the required outcomes as well as an awareness of the objectives of
others. While assertive and self-assured in my negotiations, I consistently demonstrate respect
and integrity in my communications. With highly developed interpersonal skills, I am able to
develop rapport and gain an understanding of my audience in order to facilitate productive
negotiations.
In all of my professional dealings I provide timely information, updates and responses. I maintain
accessibility to those who require my assistance or advice, and ensure that internal and external
stakeholders who are entitled to the support of the Department are able to call on me for that
support when needed.
Experience in large-scale policy and programme management
Possessing over ten years of experience in the development, implementation and management of
large-scale policy and programme exercises within DIBP, I display a demonstrated record of
success in delivering policy and programme objectives. On a macro level, I play a part in the
successful management of the Department’s immigration policy. This is largely achieved through
development of operational and strategic materials and ongoing liaison, collaboration and
communication with internal and external stakeholders.
A particular program that I have recently been managing is the human trafficking visa program.
The overall purpose of this program has been to provide an appropriate framework to support the
victims of human trafficking and provide them with access to government services. This has been
achieved in an environment where victims often feel complicit in their circumstances and in fact
may also be perpetrators. Cultural, language, educational and public perception factors also
require consideration. In this complex environment, my program management in securing
regulatory reform and negotiating delivery of government services through the phased
implementation process has successfully delivered the intended program outcome.
With an extensive record of successful policy review, abolition and implementation, I have
managed all aspects of the policy process. An example includes my carriage of the recent project
to abolish the detention debt policy, which encompassed the gamut of activities from
consultation, ministerial briefing, drafting and implementation. Comfortable with working in
complex policy environments, I have previously successfully developed policy arrangements
relating to illegal foreign fishers and maritime arrivals in a context involving considerable overlap,
interaction and competing priorities with other government departments.
