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Policy Specialist

ANZSCO 132411

Policy Specialists advise corporations and government agencies on policy development, conducting research and analysis to inform decision-makers.

  • This role has a low level of AI exposure. Core skills such as adaptability, social intelligence, and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.
      • NT
  • 10,000 people employed in Australia
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).

How do I become a policy specialist

Get qualified to work as a policy specialist with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Related career opportunities

Browse occupations related to Policy Specialist.

Common questions

Policy Specialists generally earn between $90,000 and $130,000 per annum, depending on your specialist skills, qualifications, and the industry profile of your employer.

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There are no clear figures for Policy Specialists working in Australia right now. They are usually employed by larger corporations, non-profits, and government agencies, though some Policy Specialists work as independent consultants.

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To become a Policy Specialist in private enterprise you will need a Bachelor’s degree in business or law. The Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Business (Corporate Governance), or Bachelor of Business (Business Law) would be good starting points. Many organisations will also expect you to have post-graduate qualifications such as an MBA, Graduate Certificate in Policy and Governance or Master of Politics and Policy. If you have aspirations to provide policy advice to government officials, you should consider additional qualifications in political science and public administration.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023

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Policy Specialist careers

Policy Specialists help large corporations and government agencies develop public and legal policies. They usually have a specialist area of expertise (eg, environment, mining, business law, public health, cybersecurity, workplace safety) and carry out background research and detailed analysis of the real-world impacts of proposed policies, then provide strategic advice to decision-makers.

As a Policy Specialist you could be leading a project to review the efficiency of an existing company policy, making a presentation to the executive team to outline recommended changes to company policy, researching the legal implications of a policy change, or overseeing the writing of new policy documents with the administration department.