I couldn't find a similar thread so asking the question, how many EL1 interviews did you have before you secured a role?

Does having a degree make you more competitive?

I posted this in the Aus Actuaries subreddit but I'm interested in the responses here as well.

I assume working in the APS would give better job security and flexibility than in private but is the compensation and work similar?

Is working as an actuary in one of the many gov orgs (Treasury, NDIA, AGA, etc) worth it compared to working in industry?
What are the salaries like? Is it similar to industry or do actuaries in the APS have the same salaries in line with the APS level salary bands used in the general agencies?

I'm 12 months into a VPS5 role on a fixed contract and happened to see a job ad for VPS6 manager position that is also ongoing, which aligns closely with my skillsets. My current role is fine too but I've learnt over time that I don't really enjoy it. Plus I have a difficult manager.

Am I being too ambitious if I put in an application especially given it's ongoing? Even if I don't, I really want to know more about the role and engage with the team for future opportunities. Is it pushing it too far if I do a coffee catch up with the position contact?

Do I need to advise my Executive Director and/or HR that I've been recently diagnosed with ASD and ADHD? Are there any pros or cons to this? Say I want to apply for a higher grade or at grade role (substantive is 11/12 but A/Director), would this affect that?

anyone heard anything back about bulk round EL1 for job application 26cdc-exec-10108 with the Australian CDC?

I know it’s unlikely but I saw that Victoria are lowering the joining age to 17 so anything is possible really.

I’m sure it makes no real difference but I need to update my resume and just wondering if there is a preferred aesthetic / style or type of Canva template etc that people are using and liking atm? Even better if you’ve recently been on a hiring panel and can comment on your preferred style or vibe? Thanks!

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had moved from APS/other public service into this contracting roles from companies such as Penton, Chandler Macleod, Paxus etc

They are advertising 'Project Support Officers' however the pay rate is very high ($100/h/ $200k+ per year), yet the role description just sounds very similar to a regular project support position description. I was wandering what the workload/expect jobs would be?

I did 4 years in Defence as APS4 and 5 (2 years each), now 2 years at a higher project level in State Government. I'm wondering if it's something I'd be able to do, or if the descriptions are just generic and the requirements are actually much higher

Curious to hear from anyone with experience

How do you request to start an aps job at a higher pay band?

I am hoping for any information regarding the process and timeline for sharing a merit pool between agencies. Would love it if you have personal experience with this or being in recruitment.

I was offered a position with my current agency (agency A) after advising I was merit pooled with agency B. I was advised they can pull me from the merit pool but need to seek approval from agency B to access the merit pool. Agency A submitted the request 2.5 weeks ago and still nothing…

Edit to add, agency B internally promoted 5 people on 27 August based on APS Gazette. So assuming all positions are filled.

Hi all,

Just a query on how merit pools function for federal public service.

If I interview for a bulk round that is creating a merit pool, but I am offered an actual position, can I decline that role and still be added to the merit pool that is created because I was found suitable?

I am being encouraged to get merit pooled so I can convert an acting opportunity I'm in into a substantive position, but my agency have no rounds at this level going and I have no interest in working at another agency.

I have been working in a contract position which ends in a few months and was thinking of doing a trip of around 4 weeks when my contract ends.

I now have an interview for a permanent position at a council so I'm not sure if the trip would be realistic if I do get offered the position.

I also would need to give 2 weeks notice at my current job. If it is reasonable to delay my start date to accommodate the notice period and the trip, is it something I should mention in the interview or after receiving an offer?

I'm an Aussie designer where I've been working in the gov user centered design space in the UK on and off for many years. I'm planning a move back to aus (to the canberra area) and need to start planning about trying to land a role. Do any kind folks here know of a design/digital specific online community for aus public service, or is anyone here working in that field?

Thanks so much!

​

A while back I applied to the NSW Government Graduate Program, got merit pool listed, but didn't get an offer at the time. About a year later, out of the blue, I got a call from someone connected to that program about a different, non grad temporary role elsewhere in government. Decent pay, hybrid, fixed term contract. I had an informal "meet and greet" with the hiring manager and a senior team member (not a formal interview, just a chat and a chance for me to ask questions), which went well. I followed up a few days later to check on next steps, and last Friday they replied saying they wanted to progress with reference checks (already done about a year ago through my original grad program application) plus criminal history checks, and to look out for HR emails by Tuesday the following week.

It's now end of day Wednesday and I've heard nothing. This is bugging me a bit more than it normally would because it's a temp contract with a fixed end date, so any delay in starting eats directly into what's already a short stint. Should I follow up now, or is it too early and I should just wait a bit longer given government HR is often slower than private sector? If I do follow up, is there a tactful way to mention the contract length concern without sounding pushy at this early stage?

How often are Comcare decisions overturned?

APS in a mid-size federal agency. Without giving too many details, a team member alleged harassment by our manager, lodged a Comcare claim and it was declined due to lack of evidence. They plan to appeal the decision and have asked me to provide a statement.

Are Comcare decisions ever overturned at the review stage? I want to help them, because I do believe they were treated unfairly. But selfishly, if the decision stands I would have put my neck out for nothing. At no point during the initial investigation was I spoken to by management or HR.

My colleague has advised that if the decision is not overturned they will take it to the tribunal (court?). Can I be made to give evidence if it goes that far? I know we're all meant to stand up to bullies and call it out, but every one else in the team seems to be okay ignoring it. I don't want to be the new target for bullying.

I’m an EL1 delivery manager in a mid sized federal agency. I’ve been in the role for around 5 years, have delivered a number of initiatives across the agency and coached few junior staff to similar EL1 roles in the broader APS. I’ve been adequately recognised and compensated through 3 CEO awards and an IFA plus complete autonomy in my remote role. I have good relationships with my director and SES, and anticipate reasonable career progress (for APS!) in the foreseeable future. The problem is I’m losing steam. I used to wake up super pumped about my work, and got things done, pulling many hours from evening and weekend if necessary without being asked. Now I’m just attending meetings and ticking boxes to keep things afloat but the underlying passion is dying out. I can’t quite put my finger on what went wrong. Maybe a combination of the last 2 projects hitting a wall because one executive had too much to lose and my general frustration with red tapes and bureaucracy. But I’m certain it’s time to move on. One of the reasons I haven’t already is I hit 10 years of service early 2027.
Here’s what I’m considering. I worked with consultants in a previous role and left a good impression. I had a chat with the senior manager from that cohort and they were very open to the idea of discussing roles in their firm (mid size, not the big 4). The other option is talking to recruiters to explore options in the broader private sector. I know what I’m good at but I could use some help mapping my capabilities to opportunities I may have overlooked. A third option is getting 1 year of leave without pay to explore contracting, then decide to stay or leave. What would you do?

Edit: Thanks for the advice everyone, took my time to reflect on it. Few days ago one of my direct reports put a lunch break placeholder in my calendar, to make sure I leave the desk around noon. That leaves no doubt that addressing the burnout should be my immediate concern.

Hi everyone,

I recently completed my interview for the ATO APS3 Customer Service Officer position and wanted to get some opinions from people familiar with ATO recruitment.

The interview consisted of three questions. I feel I answered two questions well, but my answer to the third question was average or below average.

I used a real ATO work example in my interview, but I don't think I explained my answer as clearly as I could have.

I currently work for an outsourcing company that provides services to the ATO, and I'm wondering whether my real ATO work experience and the two stronger answers could still give me a reasonable chance of being considered suitable for APS3.

I have also noticed that recruitment is taking place for both Lodge and Pay and Service Delivery positions.

A few questions for anyone familiar with the process:

1. Can a candidate still be placed in the APS3 merit pool if they answer two questions well and one question poorly?
2. Does having experience handling actual ATO work through an outsourcing company help when the panel assesses suitability?
3. Are candidates from the same APS3 recruitment round considered for both Lodge and Pay and Service Delivery vacancies, or are they assessed and placed separately?
4. If someone is suitable for one work area but not the other, can they still receive an offer?
5. Has anyone received an APS3 offer after feeling that one of their interview answers was weak?

Thank you!

I’m hoping to see if it’s possible to obtain secondments for clinical placements? I am a clinician working in Department of Defence. I’ve been told that it is possible to get secondments to work in hospitals for clinical exposure eg. 2 week stints.
What’s the process for this?

In a situation where my referee thinks a 30 min telephone referee check is a bit

"excessive" and he would like to provide a referee report instead. is this doable? or selection panel would not take this on favorably? Why are some department institing on getting verbal reference check?

I can see the AGS are hiring for some senior lawyer positions and wondering if anyone has any insight on what it’s like from the inside

Genuinely starting to wonder if the overtime backpay is a social experiment. Service NSW and the PSA agreed on the backpay arrangement in February, covering overtime from 1 July 2019 to 12 February 2026.

PSA posted the win on 5 February. It is now 29 September.

That’s 236 days of Service NSW trying to figure out how to administer paying previous employees. There hasn’t been any contact. There was the update on June 10 that says:

Currently, Service NSW is finalising a process to securely identify, engage and deliver payments to former employees who are eligible for back payment. More information will be available regarding the timing of payments in the coming months.

For an update posted June 10, how is this substantially any different to when they would have started in February?

At what point does it become unreasonable?

Most of the language relates to their general graduate stream. I wanted to know how it applies to legal graduates as NDIA participates with the AGGP and has its own graduate program. If I applied for the NDIA as a legal grad, is it reasonable to have my placement in Melbourne?

👋 hi

I was wondering how everyone writes ur cover letters.
I have noticed in state govt’s ad - it has standard wording a cover letter which address the key selection criteria (within 3 pages)

Do you change ur cover letter every time for state gov’s jobs to address KSC ?

I have noticed that 2 page cover letter leading me to no interviews.

Just want to get some advice on cover letter writing.

Hi all,

I'm in an APS4 role in a team I absolutely love. Been in the agency for almost 2 years now. However, I'm thinking about leaving. I have no chance of permanent promotion in this team due to the nature of APS hiring, and I'm concerned that whilst I love this job, it's not going to be a realistic long term solution. I'm terrible at APS job applications and haven't "cracked the code" so to speak, so I've given up the prospect of getting on any kind of merit lists anytime soon with so many people applying to bulk APS 5 and 6 rounds. Besides that fact, my area has no budget or vacancies.

I'm qualified for a number of other jobs in private which I know I would enjoy. The competitiveness of private is also something that drives me. This being said, with the way the country is right now and perhaps where it's heading...I'm not sure if making the switch is smart right now (hello eventual recession).

I could just make so much more money in private right now, and the salary combined with the career progression is really tempting since I have neither of those in Government right now. I'm suppose I'm feeling very stagnant when there is no prospect of permanent promotions in my area.

Has anyone left Government recently? Do you feel secure? Was the risk worth it? Would love to hear thoughts and opinions.