As a Special Service Officer in the AAPRS, you will need to be skilled in all aspects of public relations, and be prepared to operate for extended periods in demanding field environments in direct support of Army and ADF operations, at home and abroad.

AAPRS officers are part of a small but dynamic team of public affairs specialists supporting the Australian Army and the ADF. AAPRS officers are required to undertake the broad spectrum of public affairs functions including:

• Leading Army and tri-service public affairs teams in support of Army and ADF activities (including exercises and operations).
• Providing public affairs and issues management advice to Army and ADF commanders.
• Developing and implementing strategic, operational and tactical communication strategies.
• Undertaking effective media liaison, escort and support duties
• Prepare media releases.
• Conducting media awareness training for Army and ADF personnel.
• Overseeing the gathering, management and quality of Army and ADF public relations product (including stills and video imagery, and articles for Army and ADF publications).

All AAPRS public affairs officers will have a tertiary qualification in a communications field (public affairs, journalism or corporate communication) prior to entry. During their careers, AAPRS public affairs officers will be required to undertake a number of all-corps courses, the ADF Professional Development (Public Affairs) program and other specialist public affairs professional development opportunities as appropriate.

AARPS officers are posted to a variety of appointments throughout Australia, either in a formed public affairs unit or detachment (with the 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit in Canberra), as a staff adviser on a formation headquarters (Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville and Darwin) or at Australian Defence Headquarters in Canberra.