Embassy Structure

The Australian Embassy is headed by Australia’s Ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Embassy staff come from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Defence, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. They work in the following sections:

Political Section

The Political Section is staffed with officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Section:

Monitors political and human rights developments in Myanmar and represents Australia’s interests to the Myanmar Government
Discusses regional strategic and security issues with the Myanmar Government, including as they relate to ASEAN and the East Asia Summit
Supports the Australian Government’s people smuggling and anti-trafficking in persons policies, including through management of the Australia-Asia Program to Combat Trafficking in Persons development assistance program
Manages the democratic governance development assistance program and Direct Aid Program

Economic and Development Section

The Economic and Development Section is staffed with officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Section:

Manages Australia's bilateral and multilateral development assistance program in Myanmar
Consults with the Myanmar government, and other development partners as appropriate, on the design and implementation of Australia’s development cooperation program in Myanmar
Supports humanitarian assistance activities in Myanmar
Promotes and reports on bilateral economic relations including improved access to Myanmar markets
Advances Australian foreign, trade and other policy interests using the media and public events
Through public diplomacy, projects a positive, accurate and contemporary image of Australia and what it can offer Myanmar
Promotes education and scholarship programs

Consular and Administration Section

The Consular and Administration Section is staffed with officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Section:

Provides consular assistance to Australians in accordance with the Consular Services Charter
Issues passports to Australian citizens
Provides a range of other documentation services to Australians
Provides administrative support for the Embassy (financial, personnel, property)

Defence Section

The Defence Section is staffed with uniformed and civilian employees from the Australian Defence Organisation. The Section:

Manages bilateral military contacts and exchanges
Promotes regional and global security through transparency and mutual understanding
Monitors security and defence sector developments in Myanmar
Consults with the Myanmar military on defence and security issues

For further information, please visit www.defence.gov.au

Police Liaison Section

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are the primary law enforcement agency of the Australian Government and has important responsibilities in the international, national and local spheres.

The AFP is a progressive and multi-faceted law enforcement agency taking a strong lead in the fight against 21st century crime. Regional cooperation and the ongoing threats from transnational organised crime including narcotics, money laundering, victim crime (trafficking and child exploitation), financial crime, corruption and the threat of terrorism drives our international cooperation and capacity building assistance particularly in the region.

By employing the core principles of prevention, deterrence, partnership, and innovation, the AFP strives to build a more secure future for Australia and its global partners. The AFP has a strong commitment to international relations which drives interagency collaboration and enables transnational crime to be tackled anywhere. The AFP is a truly global policing agency committed to staying one step ahead in a rapidly evolving criminal environment. Through its network of strategically deployed Liaison Officers throughout the world, the AFP has a pro-active capacity to combat the increasing complexity and sophistication of criminal activity which has become more global by nature.

The AFP and Myanmar Police Force share a long history of cooperation in the fight against transnational and organised crime across the region. The AFP has been represented in Myanmar since 1999 and the AFP undertakes liaison with Myanmar law enforcement and associated agencies on a range of transnational organised crime matters. The AFP and Myanmar Police Force share a strong and committed partnership, working closely to counter regional narcotics trafficking and other organised crime threats and share best practice through ongoing capacity development activities which has included the provision of training across a range of transnational crime area to more than 450 Myanmar Police Force members.

The Australian Federal Police is represented in Myanmar by a Senior Liaison Officer, who represents the interests of Australia and the AFP on matters of law enforcement and includes regional responsibility for maintaining strong links with Laos and Bangladesh law enforcement.

AFP contacts:

Local Telephone: 1251810 ext 113

AFP Switchboard (24hrs via Australia): +61261313000

Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research Section

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), as part of the Australian development assistance program, assists and encourages Australian scientists and institutions to use their skills to develop solutions to agricultural problems in developing countries. ACIAR supports the Government of Myanmar and its goals on agricultural development. ACIAR research priorities in Myanmar are:

Increasing net production of food and cash incomes of rural households in the Central Dry Zone and Ayeyarwady Delta through improvements in and adoption of production and post-harvest technologies in agriculture, including livestock and fisheries;
Building capacity in agriculture, livestock and fisheries research through program activities and post-graduate and short-term training including fellowships and support for training courses; and
Providing technical assistance and advice to relevant Myanmar Government departments for policy strengthening