Policy Analysts develop and analyse policies guiding the design, implementation and modification of government or commercial operations and programs.

Skill Level

1

Alternative Titles

• Policy Adviser

Specialisations

• Research and Evaluation Analyst (NZ)
• Foreign Policy Officer

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Policy Analyst is Vocational & Education Training Assessment (VETASSESS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Qualification assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher in a highly relevant field of study AND at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years

OR

• Qualification assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher WITH an additional qualification at AQF Diploma level in a highly relevant field of study AND at least two years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years

OR

• Qualification assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher WITHOUT a highly relevant field of study AND at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years
• Applicants must meet both the qualification and employment requirements to obtain a positive skills assessment

Important

• According to VETASSESS, your pre-qualification experience may be considered in the skills assessment if it meets the following requirements:
  • 5 years of relevant pre-qualification employment; and
  • 1 year of highly relevant employment within the past five years

Collect and analyse information and data to produce intelligence and to develop and analyse policies guiding the design, implementation and modification of government and commercial operations and programs.

Tasks

• Determining organisational and client intelligence requirements
• Organising, collecting, collating and analysing data, and developing intelligence information such as electronic surveillance
• Compiling and disseminating intelligence information using briefings, maps, charts, reports and other methods
• Ascertaining the accuracy of data collected and reliability of sources
• Conducting threat and risk assessments and developing responses
• Liaising and consulting with program administrators and other interested parties to identify policy needs
• Reviewing existing policies and legislation to identify anomalies and out-of-date provisions
• Researching social, economic and industrial trends, and client expectations of programs and services provided
• Formulating and analysing policy options, preparing briefing papers and recommendations for policy changes, and advising on preferred options
• Assessing impacts, financial implications, interactions with other programs and political and administrative feasibility of policies

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Occupations in this Group

• 224411 Intelligence Officer
• 224412 Policy Analyst