Unlocking the Secrets of the Department of the Senate: Your 60-Second Guide to a Government Career 🚀
Ever wondered what it’s really like to work at the Department of the Senate? We’ve done the heavy lifting and dissected their annual report, so you don’t have to! In this quickfire overview, you’ll discover everything you need to know about this department—from its core responsibilities and finances to the sorts of skills and qualifications that make a candidate shine. Whether you’re a seasoned public servant or an enthusiastic graduate, this guide will give you the inside scoop on forging a rewarding career in the Australian Public Service.
AT-A-GLANCE
Name of Department: Department of the Senate
Location: Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, Australia
CEO: Richard Pye, Clerk of the Senate
Total Revenue: $29.97 million (budgeted for 2023–24)
Total Number of Employees: Approximately 197 staff, including non-SES, SES staff, and the Clerk
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO
🎯 Top 5 Academic Qualifications Most Suited:
Political Science or Public Administration – Helps you understand legislative processes and public policy.
Law – Valuable for drafting amendments and providing procedural advice.
Communications or Media Studies – Essential for creating and disseminating public information.
Business, Commerce, or Finance – Important for budgeting, financial analysis, and maintaining good governance.
IT or Computer Science – Integral to managing and innovating the department’s digital systems and resources.
⚡️ Top 5 Certifications Most Suited:
Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) – Oversight of complex parliamentary projects.
Legislative Drafting & Statutory Interpretation – Directly assists in creating and refining bills and amendments.
Records & Information Management – Ensures accessible, accurate, and secure custody of parliamentary documents.
Financial Management (e.g., CPA, CIMA) – Essential for budget oversight, audits, and compliance.
Risk Management – Crucial for mitigating institutional risks and upholding parliamentary integrity.
💡 Top 5 Trades / Professions Most Suited:
Printing & Publishing Professionals – Producing official Senate documents, from Notice Papers to committee reports.
IT Support Technicians / Engineers – Maintaining secure and efficient digital infrastructures.
Project & Program Administrators – Coordinating inquiries, logistics, and day-to-day operations.
Facilities / Maintenance Trades – Keeping Parliament House equipment and fixtures in working order.
Transport / Logistics Operators – Ensuring timely deliveries, committee setup, and chamber operations.
🤔 Top 5 Skills Most Suited:
Analytical Thinking – Makes sense of complex legislative and policy issues.
High-Level Written & Verbal Communication – Drafting, debating, and explaining legislative content.
Collaboration & Teamwork – Cooperating across diverse teams, committees, and external stakeholders.
Adaptability – Handling ever-evolving policies, session schedules, and urgent legislative tasks.
Attention to Detail – Ensures precision in drafting, reporting, and record-keeping.
🔧 Top 5 Work Experiences Most Suited:
Government Policy or APS Administration – Familiarity with public service culture and processes.
Legal or Paralegal Background – Understanding of legislation and statutory requirements.
Committee or Secretariat Support – Experience liaising with stakeholders, organizing inquiries, and drafting documents.
Project Management – Coordinating resources and teams under tight deadlines.
Communications / Media – Managing public engagement, digital content, and press communications.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: Department of the Senate
Name of CEO: Richard Pye (Clerk of the Senate)
Location: Primarily at Parliament House in Canberra, but connected Australia-wide through inquiries and parliamentary duties.
Year Founded: 1901 (when the Australian Senate was first convened under the Constitution)
Main Mission and Purpose of the Department:
Provide advisory and administrative support services to help the Senate and senators fulfill their representative roles and exercise legislative power.
Real-World Example: Facilitating Senate debates, drafting bills, and coordinating parliamentary committees that shape the laws affecting Australians.
Main Duties of the Department:
Secretariat support for the Senate and its committees, producing records (like Hansard and the Notice Paper), facilitating debate schedules, and providing procedural advice.
Real-World Example: Organizing committee inquiries into major national issues—like cost-of-living pressures—processing public submissions, and drafting reports that advise on policy or legislative changes.
Key Projects, Strategic Priorities, Future Plans & Initiatives:
Ongoing modernization of parliamentary systems, focusing on digital transformation, accessible public information, and flexible committee procedures.
Boosting staff capabilities in legislative drafting, research, and technology for robust parliamentary support.
Did You Know?
The Parliamentary Education Office, administered by the Department of the Senate, delivers 2,000+ educational programs annually, both onsite and online.
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Number of Employees: Around 197 staff (covering both SES and non-SES roles) .
Total Number of Employees at Each Pay Level: From entry-level classifications (APS 1) to Senior Executive Service.
Salary Bands: Ranging from around $58,000 at APS 1 to $470k+ (including total remuneration package) for the Clerk of the Senate.
Average Salary in the Department: Around $100,000–$110,000, varying by classification.
Total Revenue (Budgeted): $29.97 million for 2023–24 .
Average Revenue per Employee: Approx. $152,000 per employee (based on total expenses for Outcome 1 divided by total staff).
GETTING A JOB AT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE SENATE
Which academic subjects are likely to be most sought after, and of value, to this department?
Certificate / Diploma Level:
Business Administration, IT Support, Records Management
Ensures smooth office operations, archiving, and the accurate handling of critical parliamentary documents.
Bachelor / Master Level:
Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Commerce, IT
Equips graduates with both theoretical and practical knowledge to handle legislation, finances, and modern public service delivery.
PhDs:
Law, Constitutional Studies, Governance, Cybersecurity
Provides high-level research and specialized expertise for tackling complex legislative or digital challenges.
Which trades and professions are likely to be most sought after, and of value, to this department?
Examples: Printing technicians, IT support staff, data analysts, project coordinators, and logistics operators.
They keep the Senate’s daily business—printing bills, maintaining online systems, organizing committee hearings—running smoothly.
Which work experiences are likely to be most sought after, and of value, to this department?
Examples: APS/public service roles, legal practice, committee or secretariat work, corporate governance, communications.
Such backgrounds help staff hit the ground running in a highly procedural, accountable environment.
Which skills are likely to be most sought after, and of value, to this department?
Soft Skills: Collaboration, communication, creativity, and adaptability.
Technical Skills: Legislative drafting, data processing, IT systems management, financial oversight.
General Skills: Research, project coordination, stakeholder engagement, attention to detail.
Which hobbies and interests align with the work of this department?
Enthusiasm for current affairs, public policy debates, volunteering in community groups, participating in leadership or debate clubs—anything that fosters civic-mindedness and teamwork.
Want More Information on This Department?
Contact the Department:
Address: Department of the Senate, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 3398
Email: blackrod.sen@aph.gov.au
Website: www.aph.gov.au/senate
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