Unlocking NT Justice Careers: Inside the Department of the Attorney‑General & Justice 🏛️✨
AT‑A‑GLANCE
• Name of Department / Council: Department of the Attorney‑General and Justice (AGD)
• Location: Territory‑wide (Darwin HQ plus Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek & Nhulunbuy)
• CEO: Gemma Lake
• Total Revenue: $508.21 million in 2023‑24
• Total Number of Employees: 1 548 FTE (30 June 2024)
DID YOU KNOW? 🤔
Nearly two‑thirds of AGD’s workforce delivers Correctional Services, highlighting the Territory’s strong focus on community safety and offender rehabilitation .
THE QUALIFICATION, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO AGD
🎓 Top 5 Academic Qualifications – and Why They Matter
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) / Juris Doctor – drives policy, legislative drafting and prosecution work.
Degree in Criminology or Justice Studies – underpins offender programs and evidence‑based reforms.
Bachelor of Social Work / Psychology – supports victim services, counselling and rehabilitation initiatives.
Bachelor of Accounting / Finance – essential for managing AGD’s half‑billion‑dollar budget.
Certificate IV in Government Investigations – equips compliance officers enforcing NT consumer and safety laws.
🛡️ Top 5 Certifications
Practising Certificate (Legal Profession Act) – mandatory for courtroom advocacy.
Diploma of Government (Corrective Services) – recognised pathway to senior custodial roles.
Work Health & Safety Cert IV – critical to safe prison and construction environments.
Project Management Professional (PMP) – ensures major projects (e‑conveyancing, facility builds) stay on track.
CPA / CA – strengthens financial governance and audit capacity.
🔧 Top 5 Trades / Professions
Correctional Officer – front‑line custodial operations.
Electrician – delivers Territory‑wide electrical‑safety reforms highlighted in 2023‑24 achievements .
IT Systems Administrator – supports Smarter Justice digital reforms.
Building Maintenance Technician (Carpenter / Plumber) – maintains correctional infrastructure.
Paralegal / Law Clerk – assists with case preparation and legal research.
💡 Top 5 Skills
Legal research & statutory interpretation – applied across 156 Acts administered by AGD .
Stakeholder negotiation – vital for engaging remote Law & Justice Groups .
Data analytics – informs justice policy through the Criminal Justice Research & Statistics Unit.
Cultural competency – essential when servicing 30 + remote Aboriginal communities.
Crisis communication – critical during custodial incidents and victim‑support outreach.
🏢 Top 5 Work Experiences
Court or registry administration
Military or policing leadership
Community‑based victim support
Large‑scale capital‑works delivery (e.g., Darwin Correctional Centre upgrades)
Government policy drafting (AGD supported 9 Bills in 2023‑24)
THE KEY FACTS
• Name of Department: Department of the Attorney‑General and Justice
• CEO: Gemma Lake
• Location: Territory‑wide (HQ Darwin)
• Year Founded: 2012 (current structure)
• Main Mission & Purpose: “A safe, fair and just Territory for all.”
Example: The Alternative‑to‑Custody program graduated 9 women in 2023‑24, reducing re‑offending in Alice Springs .
Main Duties:
Administer courts, prisons, tribunals, consumer protection, legal policy & advice.
Real‑world impact: $3.393 m paid to victims of violence in 2023‑24 .
Key Projects / Strategic Priorities / Future Plans:
Smarter Justice reforms – modernising sentencing and raising criminal‑responsibility age
Territory‑wide e‑Conveyancing rollout
Expansion of women’s correctional facilities to boost capacity and rehabilitation
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
• Total Employees: 1 548 FTE
• Salary Bands: NT Public‑Sector pay ranges from AO2 ≈ $57 k to Executive ≈ $260 k (NTPS Determinations, Aug 2024).
• Average Salary: ≈ $150 k (employee expenses $232.19 m ÷ 1 548 FTE)
• Total Revenue: $508.21 m
• Average Revenue per Employee: ≈ $328 k
GETTING A JOB AT AGD 🔍
Academic Subjects in Demand
Certificate / Diploma Level: Correctional Practice, Community Services, Government Investigations, IT Networking, WHS.
Bachelor / Master Level: Law, Criminology, Psychology, Accounting, Cybersecurity, Public Policy.
PhDs: Criminology, Forensic Psychology, Indigenous Justice Policy.
Trades & Professions Sought
Electricians • Carpenters / Plumbers • Custodial & Probation Officers • ICT Security Analysts • Forensic Accountants.
Work Experience Valued
Prison, court or registry roles • Remote community engagement • Military leadership • Complex project management • Victim‑support services.
Skills the NT Needs
Soft: Resilience, cultural sensitivity, negotiation, concise report writing.
Technical: Legislative drafting, forensic data analysis, WHS risk auditing, digital case‑management.
General: Project management, budgeting, stakeholder engagement, continuous‑improvement mindset.
Hobbies & Interests That Align
Bushwalking & regional travel • Moot‑court or debate clubs • Coding & data‑visualisation • Community sport coaching • Volunteering with justice‑related NGOs.
WANT MORE INFORMATION? 📞
Department of the Attorney‑General and Justice
Old Admiralty Tower, 68 The Esplanade, Darwin NT 0800
Phone: (08) 8935 7631
Email: AGD.Governance@nt.gov.au
Jobs: jobs.nt.gov.au (search “Attorney‑General and Justice”)
Website: justice.nt.gov.au
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