The RAAF Specialist Reserve (RAAFSR) Public Affairs element is made up of Public Affairs Officers and Photographer Airmen.

Entry to the RAAFSR Public Affairs Officer employment category is competitive and applicants will be assessed on their employment experience, skills and qualifications in public affairs or allied disciplines.

Public Affairs Officers perform a wide range of public affairs duties in a military context that may include:

• support to military operations and exercises within Australia and overseas;
• community and governmental relations;
• preparing senior officers and military personnel for media engagements;
• media liaison;
• issues management;
• public affairs projects such as preparing public affairs plans, writing and editing and drafting public information products;
• public information management; and
• to a lesser extent, ceremonial and public events and events management.

Employment opportunities are sponsored by Air Force Headquarters and the Public Affairs Branch within Australian Defence Headquarters. Air Force public affairs work is undertaken within a variety of situations which may include single Service, tri-service military or departmental environments.

The Public Affairs Officer employment category is only available within the RAAF Specialist Reserve. Occasional opportunities arise for Public Affairs Officers to undertake contracted full-time service within the Permanent Air Force to meet particular Air Force staffing requirements or to deploy on military operations overseas.

Opportunities for entry as a RAAFSR Public Affairs Officer are limited. Preference will be given to applicants who possess relevant professional employment experience in the fields of public affairs, organisational communication, journalism or allied disciplines.Tertiary qualifications in those disciplines are also preferred.