Business Promotion and Communications Professionals

How to become a Communications Officer

Official title: Communications Officer (Public Relations)

Also called: Public Relations Professional

Plans, develops, implements and evaluates information and communication strategies that create an understanding and a favourable view of an organisation, its goods and services, and its role in the community.

Main tasks

Plans and organises publicity campaigns and communication strategies
Advises executives on the public relations implications of their policies, programs and practices
Prepares and controls the issue of news and press releases
Undertakes and commissions public opinion research, analyses the findings, and plans public relations and promotional campaigns
Organises special events, seminars, entertainment, competitions and social functions to promote goodwill and favourable publicity
Represents organisations and arranges executive interviews with publicity media
Attends business, social and other functions to promote the organisation
Commissions and obtains photographs and other illustrative material
Selects, appraises and revises material submitted by publicity writers, photographers, illustrators and others to create favourable publicity

Ways in

University: Communications & Media degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
TAFE and VET: Advanced Diploma of Marketing and Communication (BSB60520); Certificate IV in Defence Public Affairs (DEF40117); Diploma of Defence Public Affairs (DEF50517); Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication (BSB40820); Diploma of Marketing and Communication (BSB50620)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Typical full-time pay: $106,392 a year
About 30,800 people work in this job group now, and about 37,300 are projected by 2035. (+21.2%)
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Communications Officer?

Ways in include: Communications & Media degrees; Advanced Diploma of Marketing and Communication; Certificate IV in Defence Public Affairs.

How much does a Communications Officer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $106,392 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Communications Officer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 30,800 to about 37,300 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Communications Officer?

Usually. 75% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Communications Officer?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04