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About the department

What we do

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) promotes and protects Australia’s international interests to support our security and prosperity.

We work with international partners and other countries to tackle global challenges, increase trade and investment opportunities, protect international rules, keep our region stable and help Australians overseas.

DFAT manages Australia’s international presence – a network of over 120 embassies, high commissions, consulates-general and representative offices across five continents – and we have over 6,000 staff located in Australia and overseas.

These staff are the diplomats, negotiators, consular officers and advisers developing and delivering Australia’s foreign, trade and development policy on behalf of Australia and Australians.

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