Policy Advisors develop and analyse policies guiding the design, implementation and modification of government or commercial operations and programs. They plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate policy advice and strategic planning within an organisation. 

Policy Advisors operate inside and outside of government, advocating for clean economy policies and programs that will enable Australia’s transition to an equitable, prosperous and net zero economy. 

They may work for government, designing policies and programs like the Safeguard Mechanism that requires large emitters to decarbonise, or represent an industry association, advocating for regulation on minimum fuel efficiency standards to enable the uptake of electric vehicles. 

• Business operations and financial activities 
• Communication and collaboration 
• Data, analytics, and databases 
• Human resources 
• Records, documentation, reports and research 

More information can be found in the Australian Skills Classification’s occupational profiles for:  

• Lobbyist 
• Policy Analyst 
• Policy and Planning Manager 

Policy Advisors often hold Bachelor of Arts with specialisations in the humanities or social sciences, but they can hold any Bachelor degree. 

Policy Advisors have diverse backgrounds. Some finish university and secure a job in government straight away. Others work in industry as Accountants, Engineers or Environmental Scientists before transitioning across to working in government, for advocacy organisations like peak bodies for industry or environmental groups. 

The key to being a successful Policy Advisor is having strong written expression, good attention to detail and the ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of people. They demonstrate critical thinking skills and develop expertise in specific areas of the clean economy.

Your current skills could be transferable for this role. Read more about what Policy Advisors do at yourcareer.gov.au.