Australia’s intelligence agency, ASIO, has launched a recruitment drive as it seeks to boost capability with more analysts, and intelligence and surveillance officers, according to the Canberra Times. 

It is specifically targeting university graduates, who are expected to bolster its ranks by nearly 20%, the paper says.

In its latest annual report, the intelligence service revealed an annual graduate-focused recruitment spend of AUS$870k (£410.3k).

Recruitment spend increased from $599k a year earlier with the agency expected to welcome close to 325 new staff by 2020, adding to its existing 1,715.

An agency spokesman told the Canberra Times it was looking for graduates with an ability to learn quickly, and with critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills.

While the paper didn’t go as far as to say the recruitment drive was in response to global terrorism threats, it did say the agency has previously said Australia is not immune to such threats.

According to ASIO’s website, the agency is “currently experiencing a period of broad organisation-wide growth”.

It lists specific roles in technical & engineering, ICT, intelligence analysis, linguistics, and business & corporate services.

It is only hiring Australian citizens, “with a checkable background”.

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