The Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) (and its predecessors) has carried out the International Recruitment function since the 1950s, distributing vacancies from United Nations (UN) and other international agencies for over three decades.
The International Recruitment function was transferred from the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES) to International Services Branch in 1993. The function was streamlined and computerised where possible and launched as the Australian International Recruitment Service (AIRS).
AIRS was developed:
- in response to DEST's international obligations to assist United Nations (UN) organisations in the recruitment of staff;
- to increase the number of Australians being placed with international agencies; and
- in support of a broader government drive to increase exports.
Recent advances in information technology and rapid growth in Internet usage has facilitated the improvement of United Nations information distribution capabilities via the Internet. The United Nations has improved its recruiting service, including centralisation of a number of recruitment functions across the United Nations system of organisations. Due to these advances, it is possible for prospective applicants, such as yourselves, to obtain, directly from United Nations websites, comprehensive and timely information, such as:
Vacancy announcements - often across a number of organisations, as did the AIRS service. (Eg.
United Nations Human Resource Management website 
and the
International Civil Service Commission website.
- - Guide-lines for prospective applicants;
- - Employment terms and conditions; and
- - General information on the organisation
As a result, the United Nations, other international organisations and specialist employment agencies are able to target prospective employees more effectively than ever before. This also lessens to impacts of the AIRS service. Over the past 2 years, since we started providing the source URL for every vacancy AIRS subscriptions have stagnated, as most potential subscribers choose to acquire information directly from the advertising organisation.
This raised questions about the relative value of AIRS and in particular its role in the collection and dissemination of detailed vacancy information for jobs with international government and non-government organisations. A restructure of the service is indicated below.
RESTRUCTURE
The AIRS Service was restructured to become an information and links Web page. It no longer takes an active role in gathering and disseminating vacancy information but rather provides information and links to source sites previously echoed by the AIRS service.
The Changes
a) AIRS (Australian International Recruitment Services) has been renamed OSELAP (Off-Shore Employment Links for Australian Professionals)
b) Distribution of Vacancy announcements to subscribers of AIRS, and posting of vacancy announcements on the AIRS web site has ceases and has been replaced by a web page containing information and links to source material as-well-as contact information for the United Nations Office in Sydney and New York
Increased numbers of Australians working in UN and other overseas positions has the potential to provide significant benefit for Australia through increased influence and improving the share of goods and services procured by international agencies from Australia. (It is estimated that multi-lateral agencies purchase some $30 billion worth of goods and services per annum)
OSELAP:
- targets Australian professionals, higher education institutions, industry and professional associations and government agencies, and
- provides provides links and information for vacancies within international government and non-government organisations.
OSELAP Does Not:
- provide or assist with placements within Australia;
- receive or process applications;
- endorse applications
Ensure that your application is tailored to the specific needs and requirements of the recruiting organisation by studying the full vacancy announcement as well as any links such as guidelines to applicants and Organisational environment etc.
Patience is required when applying for international job vacancies as some organisations may have slow recruitment procedures.
Different organisations have different policies on acknowledging and processing applications. Some UN organisations will only acknowledge your application if you are short-listed for interview and others may just take a while to get around to it.
The following is an extract of an e-mail I received from an Australian Professional who applied for a position with the UN providing valuable advice gained from his own personal experience.
" UN jobs take some time for the associated UN Administration to come through...I applied in March this year for 2 month consultancy position 'Lome` in Toga' and was notified of my success just last week (October).
To put you up in front of other applicants it is important to hold a current passport, up to date Immunisation record and follow the strict United Nations protocol e.g. Get the official form, photographs, double check it, and have it in on time, send it registered post, E-mail them to check if received or ring .....then they know you mean business.
I hope this helps
Regards Brian X "
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