Government Jobs - ‘One APS career. Thousands of opportunities’

What is the Public Service?

Australian Public Service (APS)

Most Australian Government agencies employ people under the provisions of the Public Service Act 1999 – jobs in these agencies are part of the Australian Public Service (APS). In the APS you are employed by the agency you work for, on behalf of the Australian Government.

Non-APS Australian Government agencies

‘Non-APS’ agencies are still part of the Australian Government but employ people under their own Acts ― for example, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Government Solicitor.
They have their own arrangements for advertising and filling jobs, which may include advertising in the Gazette.

Jobs in the Parliamentary Service

People employed in the Parliamentary Service are employed under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999. There are three departments established under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.
Arrangements for advertising and filling jobs in the Parliamentary Service are similar to those for the APS.
Where can I find APS vacancies?

All APS agencies advertise (‘notify’) jobs in the APS Employment Gazette. The Gazette is available weekly from the APSjobs website (www.APSjobs.gov.au).
Most APS jobs are also advertised in newspapers and on individual Australian Government agency websites.
Agencies may use applications from advertised vacancies to fill similar jobs for up to 12 months from when the original vacancy was advertised in the Gazette.

Who Can apply and when?

Most APS jobs are open to all Australian citizens; however, individual agencies may decide to employ non-citizens.
Some jobs have other restrictions on who can be employed, as follows:

Existing APS employees

Jobs open to existing APS employees only are marked in the Gazette with the symbol (♣). Existing APS employees include:

temporary (‘non-ongoing’) APS employees employed at the time of the Gazette notice
Parliamentary Service staff
Australian Capital Territory public service staff
some non-APS Australian Government agency staff

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

‘Identified positions’ are jobs that are open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians who meet the selection criteria, which require:

an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people; and
the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Indigenous communities.

‘Special measures provisions’ identify jobs that are restricted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. These are to provide job opportunities for Indigenous people.

People with intellectual disability

‘Special measures provisions’ also identify jobs only open to people with intellectual disabilities to provide job opportunities for this particular group.

In addition, people who have received a redundancy benefit from the APS, the Parliamentary Service or (in certain circumstances) the Murray-Darling Basin Commission are excluded from APS employment for varying periods (depending on the amount of their redundancy benefit). Further information, including limited exceptions that may apply, is available here
The application closing dates for individual jobs are in each advertisement. The agency advertising the job decides whether to accept late applications for that job.
Applicants should be aware that the names of successful applicants will be notified in the Gazette.

What is the pay condition?

A few conditions of service ― such as long service leave ― are the same across all agencies. However, other conditions and pay levels are decided at individual agency level.
Information about pay and employment conditions for particular agencies is available from the agency.
The agency may specify conditions of engagement. These can include, for example, essential qualifications for a job, security and character clearances, or health checks.
All APS employees must behave in ways that uphold the APS Values and meet the requirements set out in the Code of Conduct. Sanctions may be imposed for breaching the Code of Conduct.

How long is the probationary period?

Generally, all new ongoing APS employees serve a probationary period. Agencies will tell you about this requirement, including the length of time, before you start in a job.
During probation, an agency assesses how suitable a person is for the job. If the agency considers that you have successfully completed the probation period, you will be advised.
If you do not successfully complete the probation period, your employment may be terminated.

How much is the Superannuation?

An agency can give people information about which superannuation schemes they are eligible to join. For new employees, APS agencies offer a choice of superannuation funds (‘Super Choice’).
APS employees who are currently members of either the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme or the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme continue to contribute to these superannuation funds.

What does the employee promotions and movements work?

A promotion occurs when an ongoing APS employee is assigned duties at a higher classification on a continuing basis. There are certain rules about when a promotion takes effect.
If an APS employee is already employed within an agency’s broadband, and moves to a job at a higher classification within that broadband, it is not considered a promotion.
Where an ongoing employee moves into a job at the same classification level, or transfer to another agency at the same level, this is a movement (transfer) not a promotion.

Can the promotion decision be reviewed?

The office of the Merit Protection Commissioner is an independent office within the Australian Public Service Commission. An important part of the Commissioner’s role is to provide a fair system for review of decisions for all APS employees.
Ongoing APS employees, who are unsuccessful applicants for promotion, may apply to the Merit Protection Commissioner to have the promotion decision reviewed by a Promotion Review Committee. Successful applicants whose promotion has not taken effect can also apply for a promotion review.
There are certain rules about when and where promotion review applications can be lodged.

What is the role of Independent Selection Advisory Committee?

An agency may ask the Merit Protection Commissioner to set up an Independent Selection Advisory Committee. The committee can make recommendations about the suitability of candidates for employment, promotion, or the type of work they should do (at levels up to and including APS Level 6).
A committee recommendation on a promotion is not binding, but:

if accepted, the promotions are not subject to the normal promotion review processes, or
if not accepted, then any subsequent promotion decisions are subject to the normal promotion review processes.

What are the Senior Executive Service Job?

The Senior Executive Service forms the senior leadership group of the Australian Public Service. The role of the SES is to provide professional expertise and policy advice within the APS. SES people are expected to have high level management and leadership skills.
The general APS assessment, probation and employment conditions apply to the SES. However, there are some different requirements and provisions:

Applicants for SES jobs are assessed against ‘core’ SES selection criteria, based on the leadership capabilities. Agencies may also apply additional job-specific criteria.
SES selection committees always include a representative of the Australian Public Service Commissioner, who is from an unrelated agency. The Commissioner needs to endorse all SES engagements and promotions.
A copy of the final selection report is forwarded to the Australian Public Service Commission at the end of the process.
SES employees' terms and conditions are set out in determinations issued under the employing legislation (where available) or individual common law arrangements; or, where the majority of SES employees in an agency choose, in an enterprise agreement.

Employment Conditions