The role

We're looking for applicants to tell us about what skills, experience and qualifications they can bring to the ABS. If a position comes up, we will review the resume and application responses to see if someone has what we need.

Employment contracts may vary from a few weeks to up to 18 months depending on the business area. Often these positions are required to be filled at short notice. The positions may be full-time or part-time depending on the business area requirements.  This register will close 31 December 2026.

Note: Please be aware that you will only be contacted if a position arises that matches your talents as described by you in your application form and resume. 

Applicants must have an active application on this register to be considered for any upcoming temporary opportunities at the ABS. Applicants can update their application at any time by logging into their Careers Account.

Job description

Our 2026 Census program is seeking to fill positions across a range of teams between now and mid-2026. If you are interested in a role in one of our Census teams, enter the job code CENSUS26 at question 4.1 of the application form, in addition to specifying the job family/families for which you wish to be considered.

The ABS is seeking talented people with various skills and experience who are interested in temporary (non-ongoing) work in one of our 10 offices.

Most positions are office based and may be filled at the APS 2-6 levels ($59,520 - $108,092) or Executive 1 and 2 levels ($117,593 - $169,706). Roles vary and are diverse across all areas in the ABS. Such roles may include customer service, administration, accounting and finance, human resources, statistics, ICT and research. The positions will depend on the demands of the work area and the ABS work programs.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for non-ongoing employment at the ABS, applicants should

• You must be an Australian citizen at the time you apply
• You may need to obtain (or hold) and maintain at least a Baseline security clearance
• ABS employees who have access to market sensitive information are restricted in market trading activities. You may not be allowed to trade in financial products while employed

About the agency

The Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) purpose is to inform Australia's important decisions by partnering and innovating to deliver relevant, trusted, objective data, statistics and insights. As the national statistical authority for Australia and provider of statistical services to the states and territories, we focus on three priorities: • Providing high quality official statistics and insights • Transforming the ABS for the future • Delivering new statistical solutions to maximise the value of public data. We operate in a dynamic, continually transforming environment. New technology, statistical methods and opportunities for accessing and integrating data are becoming available, growing the potential to provide new insights into matters of importance to Australians, businesses, and community organisations. The ABS houses permanent offices in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin, Dandenong and Geelong. We also have a number of field staff working across all parts of Australia. We encourage and value a diverse workforce. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with a disability are encouraged to apply. To find out more visit 'Careers' on our website at https://www.abs.gov.au/careers