This Opportunity 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing and evolving team that plays an important role in delivering on DFAT’s objectives for the NCP, which includes the expansion of the Scholarship Program. The number of scholarships awarded has been growing steadily, with more than 300 new scholars in the 2026 intake, and a goal to expand the program to an intake of 500 new scholars annually by 2028. To support this growth, NCP scholar support services will need to scale up and adapt, ensuring the delivery of consistent, high-quality assistance to scholars throughout every stage of their program journey. 

The NCP Scholar Support Services function includes a team of Scholarship Coordinators who collectively support NCP scholars to undertake immersive, quality experiences in the Indo Pacific.  Scholarship Coordinators are responsible for assisting scholars at each stage of their scholarship program, ensuring they meet the requirements of the scholarship grant agreement and are contributing to the objectives of the NCP Program. 

As a Scholarship Coordinator, you will manage a diverse caseload of scholars undertaking study, language learning and internships in various contexts and locations, ranging from small Pacific Island nations to large Asian countries. The role entails some interaction with other NCP stakeholders, including university partners, internship providers, and alumni, and is expected to maintain a high standard of professional representation at all times.

An essential part of the role is timely and precise data entry and records management, employing NCP management information systems and databases, administering scholar benefits and payments, and producing high-quality information for analysis and reporting.

​Location

This is a full-time, fixed-term position with a contract running until 30 June 2026, and with the possibility of extension. The role will be based in either Palladium’s Adelaide or Brisbane office, though we are open to considering applicants from other locations across Australia. Flexible working arrangements may also be considered.

​Reporting Lines

The role reports to the NCP MASS Manager, Scholarships, and is part of a cohesive team of Scholarship Coordinators. You will also be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues in the MASS program team.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Scholarship Coordinator, can be broadly described as follows: 

1. Demonstration of commitment to the contract requirements and service delivery standards for the NCP MASS program. 

2. Provision of effective and efficient support to NCP scholars, working as part of the wider team to support each student to successfully prepare for, undertake and complete their scholarship program.

Scholarship coordination services include advising and supporting scholars through: 

• regular and effective communication, with minimum of one monthly email exchange a month to check on program status, compliance and welfare matters, using approved templates and protocols. 

• timely responses to scholar’s queries or communications, maintaining high quality and professional standards of communication.

• compliance checks to ensure scholars are fulfilling the terms of their Scholarship Agreement and the relevant Scholarship Program Guidelines (policy documents)

• administration of travel, leave approvals and program variation requests, ensuring these comply with policy and contract requirements.

• monitoring compliance with risk management, visa and other pre-departure and on arrival requirements. 

• escalating any compliance breaches, welfare risks or issues, and safety incidents and contribute to responses as required, working with specialist welfare, safety and emergency assistance providers.

• maintaining contact with institutions (universities, internship providers, language training providers) on administrative requirements. 

• working with the finance team to ensure timely and accurate payment of grants/benefits to scholars and institutions.

• Administration of mandatory progress and final reports, and discussing issues and lessons with the scholar. 

• participating in scholar pre-departure training (online or in person), and any meetings with scholars, institutions, NCS personnel and/or other key stakeholders, as required. 

• providing flexible surge or backstopping support as directed by the Manager, as part of a team approach to scholar support services. 

   3. Timely, accurate and compliant entry of data and documentation into the Program’s online databases by:  

• maintaining accurate records of all relevant activities in the applicable database systems for the Program within required timeframes.  

• maintaining and completing all Program documentation in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures. 

• completing interactions within required timeframes across all scholarship phases, and documenting in appropriate records systems. 

• contributing to weekly statistical reporting processes by providing accurate data and information on scholar programs from the caseload, and data for other reports and data requests as required.

4.  Other duties, as required, including:

• providing support to scholar selection processes as required, including application eligibility checks, and interview processes.  

• assisting in the development and ongoing review of program documentation, SOPs and resources and business improvement.  

• supporting the communication and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) functions of the Program by identifying achievements and case studies for use in communications and MEL products and reports.   

• any other duties as required by the manager.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Demonstrated customer service and/or case management skills, applied in a relevant setting such as international education, student support services or public service/government service delivery contexts.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

• Excellent professional writing skills, with experience of communicating in client or customer facing contexts through email and other tools.

• Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume and varied workload, which involves setting priorities and overseeing workflows, as well as the capacity to execute tasks with a high degree of accuracy, adhering to deadlines.

• Experience in using online database systems and ensuring accuracy in data entry and record management. Familiarity with the Microsoft Office Suite is also essential.

• Effective problem-solving skills, which encompass the ability to gather relevant information, make decisions based on evidence, and escalate issues when necessary.

• Demonstrated sound judgment and the ability to operate within and apply guidelines and policies effectively, including implementing and adapting to changes in policy.

• A flexible and pragmatic approach to work, with the ability to adjust to changing or unexpected situations and modify actions during peak times when needed.

Desired 

• Experience providing student support to tertiary students in international education settings, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.

• Experience of working in scholarships and/or outbound student mobility programs funded by DFAT, another Australian government department or international organizations.

How to Apply

If interested, please submit your CV through the Palladium International Careers Page: Palladium - Career .

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. The closing date is 19 February 2026. For more information about the role, please send your inquiry to: NCP Recruitment at ncp.recruitment@thepalladiumgroup.com.

Please note:

• We are only accepting applications from job seekers with full working rights within Australia as this role is unable to be sponsored.

• We are not accepting resumes from recruitment agencies for this role.

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Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success, and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status. 

Should you require any adjustments or accommodation to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Palladium recognizes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the country throughout Australia, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future. 

​​Safeguarding

We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.