Introduction
The Senior Media & Communications Advisor at the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure develops stories and communication strategies about NSW places, projects and communities. The role handles proactive media work, high-profile enquiries and sensitive emerging issues. It is a permanent full-time opportunity based in Parramatta, with flexible working supported.
The application asks for a CV and cover letter. When planning how to apply for Senior Media & Communications Advisor, choose an example that reveals your judgement under pressure. Explain how you established the facts, assessed the issue, worked with the people involved and decided what to communicate.
Strong writing is central, alongside experience delivering campaigns and advising senior stakeholders. The role also requires availability for on-call work outside normal hours. Consider that practical condition early and give the application enough detail to show how you handle fast-moving media work responsibly.
View the official Senior Media & Communications Advisor vacancy.
Contents
- Role snapshot
- Application requirements
- Candidate evidence
- Example application structure
- Before you submit
- Role enquiries
Senior Media & Communications Advisor role snapshot
| Role | Senior Media & Communications Advisor |
| Organisation | Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure |
| Location | Parramatta; flexible working supported |
| Work type | Permanent full-time |
| Classification | Not stated in advert |
| Salary | $133,348 to $146,945 per annum plus superannuation |
| Closing date | Sunday 20 September 2026 at 11:55pm AEST |
| Reference | 552218 |
Application requirements for Senior Media & Communications Advisor
Use the cover letter to explain your suitability through relevant media, issues-management and campaign examples. The CV should make your roles, responsibilities and achievements easy to trace.
- CV.
- Cover letter.
No page limits are stated in the published application instructions. A focused two-page cover letter is a practical recommendation if the form gives no different instruction. Prioritise the decisions and outcomes that show your suitability, and check the form before finalising the files.
Essential role requirements and conditions
The role accepts qualifications or experience in journalism, communications or public affairs. You must be able to be on call as required outside normal working hours. Eligibility requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid Australian working visa for the duration of the appointment. Standard pre-employment checks include a criminal record check.
Candidate evidence for Senior Media & Communications Advisor
The advertised requirements combine media and issues management, writing, campaign delivery and trusted advice. These recommendations help translate that experience into examples the hiring team can assess.
| Requirement or capability from role | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Media and issues management | Choose a fast-moving enquiry or issue. Explain how you checked facts, assessed risks, obtained advice and developed a response. |
| Storytelling and writing for diverse audiences | Describe how you made a complex subject clear and engaging. Show the audience, message and editorial decisions involved. |
| Campaigns across visual, written and digital channels | Use a campaign with connected activity across channels. Explain how the pieces supported the objective and how you assessed performance. |
| Senior stakeholder engagement and advice | Show how you explained options or risks to a senior stakeholder and helped them reach a communication decision. |
| Creativity, adaptability and results | Describe a change in circumstances that required a new approach. Explain why you chose it and the outcome you can substantiate. |
Example application structure for Senior Media & Communications Advisor
The application requires a CV and cover letter. No page limits are advertised, so a focused two-page letter is a recommendation subject to any instructions in the form. The outline below shows how to connect media judgement, writing and campaign experience.
| Cover letter section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening and relevant media experience | Name the Senior Media & Communications Advisor role and identify your most relevant journalism, communications or public affairs experience. |
| Media or sensitive-issue example | Briefly establish the issue, your responsibility and the time pressure. Give most of the space to your judgement, checks, stakeholder advice and response. |
| Writing and campaign delivery | Use a campaign or proactive story to show your writing and channel choices. Explain how the work helped the intended audience understand or engage with the subject. |
| Senior advice and adaptability | Describe how you presented a recommendation, responded to a changed situation or balanced competing communication needs. Include a result or lesson. |
| On-call availability and closing | Briefly address the required on-call availability and connect your experience with the role. Keep the ending concise. |
What the panel will want to see in your examples
- A clear account of your own decisions in a media or issues-management situation.
- Careful handling of facts, risk and approval before communicating.
- Writing and channel choices suited to the audience.
- Advice that helped a senior stakeholder make a decision.
- Results described accurately without disclosing confidential information.
Before you submit
Check that the examples explain your judgement as well as the material produced. Remove confidential details and verify any campaign figures, dates and responsibilities. Confirm that you can meet the on-call requirement, then submit before 11:55pm on Sunday 20 September 2026.
Role enquiries
Further information about the role: Kirsty Reynolds, kirsty.reynolds@dphi.nsw.gov.au.
Help with your Senior Media & Communications Advisor application
Use the free NSW Government cover letter guide to organise the letter around the media and campaign evidence you can substantiate. If you want role-specific support preparing the CV and written application, request a Complete Government Application from Team 3Thirty.
Check the current Senior Media & Communications Advisor vacancy before submitting your application.