Posted 02 July, 2026
Climate Action Adviser, Australia Awards - South Asia & Mongolia
Palladium International
AU
Full Time
Reference: 7_569847_25294
Australia Awards are provided to build theskills and knowledge of individuals so that they can contribute to theircountry's development, and to support the ongoing development of links betweenAustralia and the countries to which it provides development assistance. TheAustralia Awards are an important part of the Australian Government's focus onpublic and economic diplomacy, and provide long term Scholarships, Fellowships,Short Courses and other training opportunities.
Australia Awards - South Asia &Mongolia (AASAM) is managed by the Australian Government's Department ofForeign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is administered by Palladium. It is amulti-country program with service delivery offices in Colombo, Dhaka,Islamabad, Kathmandu, Male, Thimphu and Ulaanbaatar. Leadership,coordination, and support are provided by a regional team based in Colombo and Dhakaas well as in Palladium's offices in Adelaide and Brisbane.
Australia's International DevelopmentPolicy identifies climate change as the world'sgreatest shared threat. In common with all DFAT investments, AASAM seeks toincorporate climate change as a cross-cutting imperative. Climate action is oneof the four key themes of AASAM's Annual Plan 2026-27. The Program undertakesto:
support partner countries to address climate challenges through education and collaboration
promote climate action as a priority field of study for Australia Awards Scholarships across all Program countries
deliver Short Courses such as Building Water and Agriculture Resilience (Pakistan) and Fuel Crisis Response and Energy Transition (regional) and Australian Professional Opportunities (APOs) in climate change fields
organise a program of site visits and engagement with subject matter experts specifically for scholars studying or working in climate change related fields
support the regional Champions for the Environment and Climate Action alumni community of practice
continue to award alumni grants to support local initiatives to combat climate change and mitigate disaster risk
conduct all Program activities in an environmentally responsible manner.
Summary of position
In 2026,AASAM will, for the first time, appoint a Short-term Adviser - Climate Action toguide the Program's approach.
The Climate Action Adviser will beresponsible for:
shaping the Program's thinking on and approach to climate change and climate action
working with the Team Leader on the preparation of an annual Climate Action Plan
providing advice on the implementation of that Plan
leading the Australia Awards Climate Action Working Group to support climate related initiatives and ensure that the Program is informed by environmentally responsible management practices
in collaboration with the Program's Academic Adviser, supporting the Program team in promoting climate change as a priority field of study for Australia Awards Scholarships
reviewing and commenting on Australia Awards Short Course tenders and Australia Awards Fellowships applications that have a climate change focus
in collaboration with the Manager - Continuing Professional Development Solutions, proposing ideas to regional DFAT Posts for climate change-related APOs
in collaboration with the Program's Gender, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Adviser and Indigenous Engagement Adviser, identifying and making recommendations on initiatives to highlight intersectional approaches to climate change
delivering presentations and facilitating discussions in relevant scholar and alumni forums
in collaboration with the Regional Alumni Engagement Adviser, inspiring and encouraging the regional Champions for the Environment and Climate Action alumni community of practice
enhancing the climate change awareness of Program scholars, alumni and staff.
Reporting/working relationships
The Climate Action Adviser reports to theTeam Leader. The position engages extensively with the Adelaide-based DeputyTeam Leader, the Coordinator - Scholar Enrichment Program and the RegionalAlumni Engagement Coordinator on identifying opportunities to raise the awarenessof and commitment to climate action of Program scholars and alumni. The positionprovides advice, guidance and training to the country teams in Colombo, Dhaka,Islamabad, Kathmandu, Male, Thimphu and Ulaanbaatar.
The position also engages with other Australia-basedmanagers and with the Program's GEDSI, Indigenous Engagement and Monitoring,Evaluation and Learning Advisers.
Where appropriate, the position will represent the Program in external forums and in discussionwith relevant sections within DFAT in Canberra.
Australia Awards - South Asia &Mongolia (AASAM) is managed by the Australian Government's Department ofForeign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is administered by Palladium. It is amulti-country program with service delivery offices in Colombo, Dhaka,Islamabad, Kathmandu, Male, Thimphu and Ulaanbaatar. Leadership,coordination, and support are provided by a regional team based in Colombo and Dhakaas well as in Palladium's offices in Adelaide and Brisbane.
Australia's International DevelopmentPolicy identifies climate change as the world'sgreatest shared threat. In common with all DFAT investments, AASAM seeks toincorporate climate change as a cross-cutting imperative. Climate action is oneof the four key themes of AASAM's Annual Plan 2026-27. The Program undertakesto:
support partner countries to address climate challenges through education and collaboration
promote climate action as a priority field of study for Australia Awards Scholarships across all Program countries
deliver Short Courses such as Building Water and Agriculture Resilience (Pakistan) and Fuel Crisis Response and Energy Transition (regional) and Australian Professional Opportunities (APOs) in climate change fields
organise a program of site visits and engagement with subject matter experts specifically for scholars studying or working in climate change related fields
support the regional Champions for the Environment and Climate Action alumni community of practice
continue to award alumni grants to support local initiatives to combat climate change and mitigate disaster risk
conduct all Program activities in an environmentally responsible manner.
Summary of position
In 2026,AASAM will, for the first time, appoint a Short-term Adviser - Climate Action toguide the Program's approach.
The Climate Action Adviser will beresponsible for:
shaping the Program's thinking on and approach to climate change and climate action
working with the Team Leader on the preparation of an annual Climate Action Plan
providing advice on the implementation of that Plan
leading the Australia Awards Climate Action Working Group to support climate related initiatives and ensure that the Program is informed by environmentally responsible management practices
in collaboration with the Program's Academic Adviser, supporting the Program team in promoting climate change as a priority field of study for Australia Awards Scholarships
reviewing and commenting on Australia Awards Short Course tenders and Australia Awards Fellowships applications that have a climate change focus
in collaboration with the Manager - Continuing Professional Development Solutions, proposing ideas to regional DFAT Posts for climate change-related APOs
in collaboration with the Program's Gender, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Adviser and Indigenous Engagement Adviser, identifying and making recommendations on initiatives to highlight intersectional approaches to climate change
delivering presentations and facilitating discussions in relevant scholar and alumni forums
in collaboration with the Regional Alumni Engagement Adviser, inspiring and encouraging the regional Champions for the Environment and Climate Action alumni community of practice
enhancing the climate change awareness of Program scholars, alumni and staff.
Reporting/working relationships
The Climate Action Adviser reports to theTeam Leader. The position engages extensively with the Adelaide-based DeputyTeam Leader, the Coordinator - Scholar Enrichment Program and the RegionalAlumni Engagement Coordinator on identifying opportunities to raise the awarenessof and commitment to climate action of Program scholars and alumni. The positionprovides advice, guidance and training to the country teams in Colombo, Dhaka,Islamabad, Kathmandu, Male, Thimphu and Ulaanbaatar.
The position also engages with other Australia-basedmanagers and with the Program's GEDSI, Indigenous Engagement and Monitoring,Evaluation and Learning Advisers.
Where appropriate, the position will represent the Program in external forums and in discussionwith relevant sections within DFAT in Canberra.
