Diplomats to volunteer in the outback

The foreign affairs department is keen to send staff to volunteer in remote indigenous communities as a learning opportunity.

Australian diplomats will have the opportunity to volunteer their services in remote Aboriginal communities during work time.

That's one of the goals of a special Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strategy, released on Monday, which aims to help staff learn more about Aboriginal issues and then feed into work overseas with other indigenous and tribal groups.

The department also wants more indigenous Australians to apply for taxpayer-funded opportunities to perform, study, volunteer and work overseas and aims to consult more with indigenous people affected by the foreign aid program.