Information for applicants

About the ACC

The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) is a Commonwealth statutory body working nationally with other federal, state and territory agencies to counter serious and organised crime. It aims to bring together all arms of intelligence gathering and law enforcement to unify the fight against serious and organised criminal activity.

The ACC has both intelligence and investigative functions and capabilities. To better position Australia to meet the threats posed by nationally significant crime, the ACC performs a number of important functions, including:

• Criminal intelligence collection and analysis;
• Providing advice to the ACC Board on National Criminal Intelligence Priorities (NCIPs);
• Providing and maintaining effective and efficient criminal intelligence systems including the Australian Criminal Intelligence Database; and
• Investigating federally relevant criminal activity and undertaking Task Forces as approved by the ACC Board.

The key clients of ACC intelligence products and services include Board member agencies and other government stakeholders.

Disruption of criminal entities and significant individuals

The disruption of criminal groups and significant individuals is a primary objective of ACC or joint agency operational activity. This can include disruption to the flow or continuity of the criminal behaviour and/or enterprises of a criminal entity. Operational activity undertaken by the ACC to disrupt criminal entities includes arrests, seizures of illegal drugs, firearms, and proceeds of crime action that impact on current or future criminal activity.

Special powers

The ACC has a range of special powers instrumental to combating nationally significant crime. These powers are used where ordinary law enforcement methodologies are ineffective. Use of these powers is determined by the ACC Board.

ACC Employment Screening and the Commonwealth Security Clearance Process                                                            

In assessing suitability for employment the  ACC conducts an employment screening process.  This requires the applicant to complete an Employment Screening Form for the purpose of character and background checking.   An interview may also be required as part of this process to establish further information on  identity, personality, financial circumstances and other areas of lifestyle. Applicants may also be subject to psychological assessment.

If shortlisted for interview you will be required to complete the Employment Screening Form prior to attending your interview.

Employment with the ACC requires access to highly sensitive information. To determine suitability for such access, the ACC will require all suitable applicants to undergo the security clearance process  conducted by  the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA). Progress to this process is dependant on the outcome of the employment screening process.

Due to these requirements the ACC does take longer than many other employers to complete the recruitment process. The whole process will generally take around four months, however, there are provisions in place to allow for commencement prior to the full process being completed if necessary.

Following satisfactory security checks, a commencement date will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Drug and Alcohol Program

The ACC actively promotes the health of all ACC employees through its OH&S Policy and the Drugs and Alcohol Policy. There is an organisational and public expectation that as a law enforcement agency we will adhere to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity. The ACC views substance abuse in the workplace as entirely incompatible with the ethical standards expected of ACC employees and as articulated by APS values and the APS Code of Conduct

What we offer

Our values

• Integrity:  We are honest, ethical and transparent.
• Accountability:  We take responsibility for our actions.
• Innovation:  We are committed to leading edge development of our people, products and processes.
• Courage:  We undertake our work with courage and commitment and deliver objective advice without fear or favour.
• Empowerment:  We nurture a culture where teamwork, communication, consultation and diversity are encouraged.

Work life balance

The ACC understands the need to balance work with other commitments and recognises that the working arrangements that best suit one employee may differ to that of their colleagues. We have a range of flexible working practices that are available to our employees and promote healthy work practices within all of our offices with regular Social club events.

We believe that by promoting the principles of work life balance in our offices, our workforce is able to achieve higher levels of productivity, and are healthier and happier.

Flextime, part time hours, job sharing and working from home

Flextime is a system of flexible working hours which enables employees and managers to vary working hours, patterns and arrangements, to provide maximum flexibility for both employees and the organisation. Flextime arrangements apply to APS1–6 and exclude Executive Level employees and shift workers.

The ACC also recognises that not all employees are able to work full-time hours. Therefore taking into consideration operational requirements and employees’ personal needs, part-time employment and job share arrangements may be determined.

Another arrangement which can be employed is working from home on either a regular, temporary or ad hoc basis, A number of issues such as operational requirements, feasibility, security and safety issues are to be considered before this may occur.

Further information on flexible working arrangements is outlined in the ACC Enterprise Agreement.

Learning and Development Opportunities

The ACC is committed to creating a learning and development environment which is focused on building employee capability. Learning and Development (L&D) priorities are aligned to business plans and individual performance development plans. The ACC Performance Development System (PDS) assists managers and employees to identify development needs.

The L&D priorities are delivered through a blended approach based on 70:20:10 Philosophy to development where staff learn:

• 70% from experience (on-the-job)
• 20% from others (coaching & mentoring)
• 10% through formal learning opportunities (e.g. courses etc) 

The ACC Learning and Development program addresses five main themes:

• Induction and Culture
• Leadership and High Performing Teams
• Business Skills
• Specialist Capability Development
• Tertiary Study Support

Tertiary Study Support

The ACC supports staff to develop their skills and knowledge through participation in formal tertiary studies of relevance to the ACC.

Tertiary Study Support is applicable to courses resulting in Diploma level or higher. A maximum of three study periods per financial year can be approved.

Eligibility for Tertiary Study Support

1. Tertiary Study Support is available to all ACC ongoing employees that satisfy the below conditions:
   1. Your study is directly relevant to your functional work area or of benefit to the work of the ACC.
   2. You must have commenced at the ACC prior to commencing your semester/trimester.
   3. Or as otherwise agreed and specified as a condition in your letter of offer.
2. Tertiary Study Support can be considered for ACC non-ongoing employees that satisfy the below conditions:
   1. The study is directly relevant to your position and functional work area.
   2. You have enrolled in the course prior to commencing at the ACC.
   3. You must have commenced at the ACC prior to commencing your semester/trimester.
   4. The length of your ACC employment contract must be greater than the length of your semester/trimester.
   5. As agreed and specified in your letter of offer.
3. Secondees who are paid by their home agency (i.e. Standard, Funded and Taskforce Secondees) should seek Tertiary Study Support from their home agency as the ACC does not provide Tertiary Study Support for these secondees.

Eligible staff at the discretion of their manager and Learning and Development may be entitled to one of the following options:

1. Support for courses directly related to functional work area:
   1. Up to $1000 per semester, up to 3 hours per week to attend classes and up to 12 hours per semester immediately before an exam
   2. Up to $400 per semester, up to 6 hours per week to attend classes and up to 12 hours per semester immediately before an exam
   3. Up to 3 hours per week to attend scheduled meetings with supervisors or university research for employees completing their PhD or equivalent Doctorate degree.
2. Support for courses not directly related to functional area, but of benefit to work performance within the ACC:
   1. Up to $400 per semester  and absences to prepare for examinations or to attend for examinations will be provided but will require utilisationof flex leave, time in lieu or leave without pay.

Parental leave

In addition to maternity leave, which employees are entitled to under the provisions of the Maternity Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1973, a further two weeksleave, on full pay, is granted to female employees on the birth of a child.  The employee may elect to take this period of leave at half pay, some conditions may apply.

An employee may also be entitled to one week of their personal/carer’s leave on full pay, to support a partner who is having a child.

Joint task forces

The ACC is an agency that supports and practices the concept of multi-disciplinary teams. The ACC’s joint task forces can consist of:

• investigators
• surveillance and technical operatives
• cybercrime specialists
• lawyers
• financial investigators
• monitoring staff
• operational and strategic intelligence analysts
• operational support staff
• secondees
• covert source handlers and controllers. 

As members of these multi-disciplinary teams employees are provided the opportunity to experience a unique working environment and exposure to a diverse range of expertise.

Secondment Opportunities

The ACC works collaboratively with Federal, state and territory agencies to counter serious and organised crime in Australia. Occasionally the opportunity arises in which employees can be engaged on secondment with these partnering agencies.