By Kate Prior.
If you’re looking to work for the Australian Government, whether in the capital or nationally, you need to get your head around the matter of security clearances.
It’s important because today around half of temporary, contract and non-ongoing roles in the Australian Public Service require security clearances — and a large percentage of IT positions do too.
We have completed research from 2010 to 2016 on security clearances.
The research revealed a sharp increase in demand by the Australian Government.
This blog explains what a security clearance is, what types exist, what the stats are, why they’re needed and how you might get a clearance.
This definition of a security clearance is posted on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency’s website:
“A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information and resources after completion of a series of thorough background checks.
“These checks are undertaken to ensure that people entrusted with security classified information/resources are eligible to have access and have had their identity established.”
That they “are suitable to have access, and are willing to comply with the standards that safeguard those resources against misuse”.
Security clearances are only required for individuals who, as part of their work for the Australian Government, need to access classified information/resources.
When Departments need to fill temporary assignments or contract work, it’s because they require immediate help with their workload.
They can’t wait three months for a candidate to get a clearance. It’s that simple.
In 2014, only 28 per cent of contract roles for the Australian Public Service required a clearance.
In 2016, 47 per cent did.
So, if you don’t have a clearance, you’re not eligible to apply for around half of Government contract, temporary or non-ongoing roles.
In 2010, only 33 per cent of IT contract roles required a clearance. In 2016, a whopping 73 per cent did.
So, if you don’t have a clearance you can apply only for just over one quarter of IT contract roles.
To get a Government security clearance you must be an Australian citizen.
You can get one only if you’re sponsored by a Government Department.
You cannot apply as an individual, even if you’re prepared to pay to get one with your own money.
Organisations supplying services to Government Departments, for example, professional services companies, consulting firms or cleaning companies, can get security clearances for staff needing access to Government information or buildings.
You don’t need a security clearance to apply for a permanent Government role.
However, if you win a position, the Department will sponsor you to get a security clearance and will cover the costs.
If you’ve been on contract or in a non-ongoing role with a Department that didn’t require a security clearance, you can still be proactive and ask if the Department would consider sponsoring you for a baseline clearance.
Sometimes it’s easy for the Department to make a case and justify spending the money, especially if you’re doing a great job and the contract is for at least three months.
The other way is by working for a private company that works for the Government.
It never hurts to ask the Department because they might be able to justify the cost.
*Kate Prior is Managing Director of face2face Recruitment, an Australian owned and operated professional recruitment and scribing service based in Canberra. She can be contacted at www.f2frecruitment.com.au
This article first appeared on LinkedIn.
