If you’re passionate about animal care and want to contribute to protecting Australia, this is your opportunity to work with highly trained detector dogs and support their deployment across key operational sites. You’ll play a hands-on role in maintaining the health, wellbeing and readiness of our dogs while also providing essential transport and operational support.
Why YOU are important to us and what impact will you have on the Biosecurity Operations Division and the departments’ goal.
We deliver biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities to ensure goods, conveyances, travellers and mail meet Australia's import requirements. We are responsible for operational policy and front-line regulatory control settings to manage biosecurity and imported food risk through the delivery of screening, assessment and inspection activities, and stakeholder engagement and client contact services.
Cargo Operations South and Detector Dogs Branch delivers regulatory assessment and inspections of goods across the biosecurity continuum (offshore, at the border and onshore) to verify compliance with Australia's biosecurity and imported food requirements and has a presence in Victoria and Tasmania. The branch is also responsible for national delivery of client contact services, along with biosecurity detector dog program policy, training, and operations.
As the Detector Dog Kennel Attendant & Transport Driver, you will play a critical role in providing exceptional care for our detector dogs while also providing essential transport services. You will work closely with fellow team members to create a positive environment, ensuring the dogs receive both physical activities and mental stimulation to maintain their healthy, active lifestyles.
This is where you play an important role.
Key responsibilities of a Detector Dog Kennel Attendant/Transport Driver include but are not limited to the following:
- Provide daily care and husbandry for detector dogs including cleaning kennels and yards, conducting health maintenance (e.g. washing, nail clipping, ear cleaning), administering medications and delivering fitness and enrichment activities as directed.
- Monitor and report on the health and behaviour of detector dogs, identifying anomalies and escalating concerns to support welfare and operational readiness.
- Safely transport detector dogs to work locations (e.g. airports, mail facilities) utilising a range of vehicles including large vans and ute/trailer combinations and ensuring safe loading and unloading procedures are followed.
- Maintain accurate canine husbandry and kennel records to support compliance, accountability and effective decision making.
- Contribute to the upkeep of operational environments and ensuring safety and functionality by monitoring and reporting on facility maintenance requirements.
- Support logistical and administrative functions including stock control in accordance with departmental procedures.
- Participate in daily team briefings and contribute to operational planning, coordination and continuous improvement activities.
- Demonstrate a commitment to learning and development, actively applying new knowledge and skills to support your broader teams.
- Model APS Values and Code of Conduct, actively promoting a safe and respectful workplace and Work Health and Safety principles and practices.
Please note that this recruitment process will
initially be used to fill one ongoing vacancy. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill
future ongoing vacancies where the duties are of a similar nature.
Who we are looking for
Knowledge and experience
Our ideal applicant will have the following:
- Experience handling and caring for working dogs in a kennel environment or demonstrated strong skills in canine husbandry together with a sound knowledge or understanding of behaviour, welfare and care.
- Experience transporting animals safely and/or operating large transport vehicles (desirable but not mandatory).
Eligibility and other requirements
The successful applicant must:
- note that the ability to perform shift work is a requirement when applying for this position(s)
- note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work
- wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department’s uniform policy
- wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures
- hold and maintain a valid motor vehicle licence and be capable of driving in accordance with Australian road laws.
VetPaths
The Australian Public Service (APS) values the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences that veterans gain during their Australian Defence Force (ADF) employment and encourage veterans to apply. Support may be available to veterans transitioning to meaningful APS careers through participation in VetPaths, which offers veterans an opportunity to participate in a six-month program offering formal learning and development, career mentoring and activities for wellness and peer support.
