Australian Civilian Corps

The Australian Civilian Corps represents a significant new step in how Australia responds to natural disasters and conflicts overseas. It will enable the rapid deployment of civilian specialists to countries affected by natural disaster or conflict. These civilian specialists will contribute to Australia’s efforts to assist stabilisation and recovery in affected countries with the urgency required in these terrible situations.

The Australian Civilian Corps builds on Australia’s history of providing technical assistance in times of crisis, such as that provided in Solomon Islands and East Timor. It will complement Australia’s humanitarian responses and bilateral development efforts.

The Australian Civilian Corps will make a lasting contribution to countries affected by natural disaster or conflict, working with and within partner governments to resuscitate markets, livelihoods and services, accelerating progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The Australian Civilian Corps will comprise a register of up to 500 civilian specialists. Specialists will be chosen for their skills in areas such as public administration and finance, law and justice, engineering, health administration and community development. Specialists will also be selected for their ability to work in challenging overseas environments. Personnel will be sought from all levels of government and the broader Australian community and will remain in their regular employment until accepting a deployment. Deployments will be managed by the Office of the Australian Civilian Corps, located in the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) in Canberra, in cooperation with other Australian government agencies.

For more information, go to the Australian Civilian Corps webpage: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/acc/