What we do
- provide foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Government
- develop and implement foreign, trade and development policy
- represent and advocate Australia’s interests to foreign governments and in international and regional organisations
- negotiate international agreements
- deliver an effective aid program
- build public understanding, both in Australia and internationally, of Australian Government policies and priorities through advocacy and outreach activities
- facilitate safe and secure travel for Australians overseas through timely and responsive travel advice, consular services and a secure passport system
- provide and maintain the Government’s global classified communications system, delivering ICT services to over 45 agencies in Australia
- deliver management and administration services to government departments and agencies with an overseas presence.
2784 Staff in Canberra
DFAT staff: Staff in Canberra 2784; Australian staff posted overseas 864; Locally engaged staff overseas 2451; Staff in state and territory offices 302.
864Australian staff posted overseas
2451Locally engaged staff overseas
302Staff in state and territory offices
APS staff at overseas posts by region
DFAT APS staff at overseas posts by region: Americas, 2013 – 64, 2014 – 73; Asia, 2013 – 281, 2014 – 384; Pacific, 2013 – 65, 2014 – 156; Europe, 2013 – 97; 2014 – 95; Middle East and Africa, 2013 – 95, 2014 – 107; Multilateral, 2013 – 46, 2014 – 49.
Supported more than 127 overseas visits,
including by ministers, current and former PMs and MPs
Cabled 142,945 formal messages across our diplomatic network
Issued over
1.8 million passports – 98.6% of these were issued within 10 working days
Assisted 14,558 Australians in difficulty overseas
1330 Hospitalisations
27 Medical evacuations
1215 Deaths overseas
47 Australians assisted
to return home
4794 Whereabouts enquiries
1185 Arrests
339 Prisoners
5621 General welfare and guidance
Overseas network of 95 posts in 77 countries with staff conducting business in
29 languages
The countries covered by our 9 concluded FTAs and current 7 FTA negotiations represent 73% of Australia’s total trade – around
$473.7 billion - 73%
Reshaping Australia’s
$5 billion
aid program
1300
students benefitting from New Colombo Plan mobility programs; 40 scholarships awarded
ISSN 1032-2019 (print)
ISSN 1839-5147 (online)
ISBN 978-1-74322-166-2 (book)
ISBN 978-1-74322-167-9 (pdf)
ISBN 978-1-74322-168-6 (online)
