Deputy Registrar

Total remuneration package $143,653 – $173,147 per annum, including 15.4% superannuation.

Position Overview

Deputy Registrars (Migration) support Judges and Judicial Registrars in facilitating the just resolution of migration proceedings as quickly, inexpensively and efficiently as possible. Deputy Registrars play a key role in achieving the Court’s reform objectives by:

• undertaking case management support and analysis, including monitoring emerging filing trends;
• exercising delegated judicial functions in relation to a variety of case management, costs and other matters;
• contributing to the development and implementation of the Court’s policies and practices; and
• liaising with Judges, Registrars, Court staff, Court users and other stakeholders.

This role presents a unique opportunity to successful candidates who demonstrate the necessary skills, leadership and experience to develop their legal skills and progress their career to the role of Judicial Registrar. There may also be an opportunity for successful applicants to fulfil the responsibilities of various coordinating and leadership roles, including working as part of a national team to inform and implement the structural changes associated with the Court’s migration reforms.

Key responsibilities and duties

Delegated judicial functions

• Exercise delegated judicial powers under section 254 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 (Cth) and related instruments, including performing costs and duty Registrar functions.
• Conduct case management hearings, including directions hearings and callovers in migration proceedings.

Support for Judges and Registrars

• Support the national allocation, case management and disposition of migration proceedings.
• Lead review and summary work to assess the nature, urgency, complexity and procedural history of migration matters, including identifying anomalies, competency issues, cohorts and specific case management requests.
• Monitor filing numbers, trends, outcomes, and maintain allocation records.
• Duty work including some after-hours duty roster work.

Policy and practice

• Support the development of Court policy and practice, including conducting legal research, drafting reasons, preparing policy papers, website content and other materials.
• Monitor significant developments in migration and general federal law with a view to keeping Judges, Registrars and other staff updated on legal developments that may impact their roles.

Key Relationships

Deputy Registrars - Migration report to the Director – National Registrar and Legal Operations and ultimately to the CEO and Principal Registrar. Deputy Registrars – Migration will also be required to engage with a wide variety of key judges and staff, including: with the Chief Judge, Deputy Chief Judge (General and Fair Work), Case Management Judges, Registrars, Court staff, Court users and other internal and external stakeholders.

This is a newly established role and its responsibilities may develop and change in response to the operational needs of the Court. Although primarily focused on migration matters, the position may also contribute to the delivery of services and support Court legal work and operations across a range of general federal law jurisdictions, including bankruptcy, Fair Work, administrative law, intellectual property, consumer law and admiralty.

Formal Qualifications

Legal qualifications and admission to practise in an Australian jurisdiction are essential, as the role involves statutory legal functions. A minimum of two or more years’ post-admission experience is required.

Competencies and Attributes

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• sound legal judgment, legal research and statutory interpretation capability;
• the ability to undertake analytical legal work and critically evaluate large volumes of information in a high-pressure environment;
• the ability to work autonomously, exercise appropriate authority and accountability, and collaborate effectively as part of a team;
• the ability to build and sustain positive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders;
• the ability to contribute to business improvement, policy, practice and nationally consistent ways of working;
• proficiency with technology, electronic legal resources, case management systems and courtroom technology; and
• an understanding of, and commitment to, the APS Values and Code of Conduct, workplace diversity, and work health and safety obligations.

Selection Criteria

1. Strong legal research, statutory interpretation, analysis and drafting skills, including the ability to apply sound judgment to complex legal and procedural issues.
2. Experience in litigation and case management in migration and/or administrative law. Additional experience in the Court’s other practice areas is desirable.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of the Court’s jurisdictions, practices, procedures and migration review pathways, or the ability to acquire that knowledge quickly.
4. Proven ability to assess large volumes of information, identify key issues, manage competing priorities and make accurate decisions in a high-pressure environment.
5. Demonstrated ability to work with limited direction, exercise appropriate authority and accountability, contribute to consistent practice, and guide or influence others to achieve outcomes. 
6. Highly developed written and oral communication skills, including the ability to build professional relationships, handle sensitive and confidential information, and engage appropriately with Judges, Registrars, Court staff, Court users and external stakeholders

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the application form on the Court’s careers portal. If you have any issues with applying, please email ***********@fedcourt.gov.au.

To be considered you will need to upload a concise expression of interest (2 page / 1000 word maximum) detailing how your experience and skills relate to the position description and selection criteria and attach a current resume. 

For more information, confidential enquiries can be made to Catherine Bull, Director – National Support and Operations, by email to **************@fcfcoa.gov.au. 

Applications close: 1 September 2026

Eligibility

Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following:

1. Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship.
2. Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment.
3. Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.

Interested applicants who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply but now that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired. 

Diversity and inclusion

The Court is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from people with disability, First Nations people, LGBTIQA+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age workers and young workers. The Court is committed to supporting an inter-generational workforce, gender equity and families. The Court will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfill the inherent requirements of the role. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recruitment

Candidates may use AI tools to assist with their participation in this recruitment process unless otherwise advised. Where AI tools are used, candidates are responsible for ensuring that all information submitted is transparent, accurate, and genuinely reflects their own skills, capabilities, and experience.

For more information, see: Principles for candidate use of AI in Recruitment 

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 (FCFCOA Act), which came into effect on 1 September 2021, merged the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia into a unified court system known as the FCFCOA. The FCFCOA (Division 1) is a superior court that handles the most complex family law cases and serves as the appellate court for family law matters. It operates nationwide, except in Western Australia. The FCFCOA (Division 2), a federal court, shares jurisdiction over family law and child support with Division 1, but also handles general federal law matters, such as administrative law, bankruptcy, intellectual property, and migration law. The Federal Court of Australia entity engages employees under the Public Service Act 1999 to support the Federal Court, the FCFCOA (Divisions 1 and 2), and the National Native Title Tribunal. Established by the 2016 Courts Administration Legislation Amendment Act, each court retains its own identity and judicial independence. FCFCOA employees are covered by the Federal Court Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027.