DFAT staffing cuts — brain drain (or gain) for Australian aid?

It is less than two months before the July 1 deadline set by the Abbott government in Australia to complete the integration process of the now-defunct AusAID into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — a situation that, according to some insiders, could very well make or break Australian aid.

While many details regarding the integration process have yet to be hashed out, DFAT has confirmed it will cut a total of about 500 staff (including former AusAID employees). Although a handful have applied for voluntary redundancies that have been received until April, uncertainty among staff remains very high.