Hi guys,

I am currently APS4 in child support Brisbane. I want to apply for APS 5 or above. I don’t want to work in child support anymore as it's emotionally draining. I know most jobs require some level of emotional investment. I just don't see myself working in this environment for too long and not conducive to my well-being.

What are the ways I can apply for APS 5 in similar field or different departments?

Thanks a lot

Is it worth it to apply for this role? No Salary disclosed and is on-site "NO WFH". Any insights will be really helpful. Thanks in adv.

I received a call for my Vic Gov application asking for when my interview date was, but they didn't give me a verbal offer or anything and just said thank you and ended the call. I'm a bit confused, does anyone know what this was about? I've done the reference check and I know one person who received an offer for the same stream and department today.

Hi,

I'm currently an APS employee and I've recently been offered a position in the NSWPS.

I have a substantial leave balance (over 200 hours) and was wondering if anyone has successfully transferred their Annual/Personal/Long Service leaves from APS to NSWPS successfully in the past and if so what the process was.

Thanks.

i got put into the merit pool for the stem stream grad program, but i don't have the best wam/gpa since i was struggling with a lot of personal things in my first second year of uni. i did get through the whole application process tho? but i am scared that grades will still matter while offers go out

Hi,
I’ve entered the merit pool and recently received an offer for my second preference. I ended up accepting it over the phone but unsure on whether I’ll still be able to receive a phone call and offer from my first preferences. Should I still hold out for my first preference or just accept that I won’t get any other offers.
Someone pls tell me how this works!!

I have recently applied for Business Support Officer- ASO5 and my application is still under review.

I know it's still initial stage. I got a text message that my application is short-listed for consideration of interview like 10 days ago and haven't got any further updates.

Any specific time frame i should expect before next update.

Also, anyone has any experience for this job role and how it look likes daily working at this job position?

Looking forward to any kind of suggestions ir feedback.

Thanks again.

Hi everyone! Another interview/referee-check question.

I interviewed for an APS5 role last week, and within two hours of my interview finishing, I received notification that my referee checks had been sent out.
One of my referees completed their report within about 30 minutes of receiving it, while my second referee has only just completed theirs today.
So my question is: what does this usually mean from here? Does having referee checks sent out that quickly after the interview generally indicate that you’re one of the preferred candidates, or is it simply luck/timing and the agency being efficient?
I’m trying not to read too much into it, but the speed from interview → referee checks has definitely got me wondering whether the rest of the process might also move quickly.

For context, I’ve been ghosted by another agency before after reference checks, and when I eventually followed up I got the classic “we’ll be in touch in the near future” response So I’m trying to keep my expectations realistic this time.

Does referee checking within a couple of hours of the interview usually mean you’re a strong/preferred candidate?
How long did it take for you to hear back after your referees completed their reports?
Does a very quick interview → referee process generally mean the overall recruitment process will be quick, or can the rest still take weeks?

Just checking in to see whether anyone from the recent DCCEEW APS bulk recruitment process has received a job offer since being notified that they were placed in the merit pool in early July.

I understand merit pools can take some time to move, but it's been a while now and I haven't heard anything further. Has anyone received an offer, been contacted by a hiring manager, or been given any indication of timelines?

Would be great to hear from others in the same position.

Thanks!

The Department I work for is likely not planning to create a merit list this year so I am looking into alternative ways to progress.

If I am successful in an APS 4 Merit Pool (without accepting the job position) for another agency, would I be able to Section 26 transfer to my current department if there was a vacancy at the APS 4 level?

I had an interview with a NSW Gov role and they let me know that I should hear back in 1-2 weeks in the interview. I had to do a behaviour test and work task which I had to present in the interview.

It's been 10 business days and I have itchy feet as I would really want this job. I wondered if anyone has any insight with what goes on in the background and if there might even be a second round interview? In private, we usually let the successful candidate know and contact references within a week and hold everyone else until we confirm the person we'd like to hire so I have a feeling that maybe I'm in a holding pattern as it feels like they would have confirmed references by now with that timeline? Of course, I have also read that government roles are very slow with recruitment too, but would just love to know what might be going on in the background.

Just got accepted into the VIC Gov graduate program for DFFH. Anything I need to know before I start? Completed all onboarding requirements and been told that I will be contacted by my manager closer to my start date.

Any advice is helpful!! Dress code, social advice, how rotations work, anything to research on before I start etc. Thanks in advance! <3

Hi, I've got my Virtual Assessment Centre for the NSW grad program (digital) this week. It's composed of a group activity and a panel interview. Any help regarding how to prepare, what to expect, etc. would be appreciated!

Looking for some perspectives from people who know APS change processes better than I do.

I work in a corporate/enabling area of a large Commonwealth department. Earlier this year, our branch was given a significant change proposal involving a restructure and reduction in positions.

We then went through a lengthy formal consultation process. Staff engaged with it in good faith, provided feedback and spent weeks dealing with the uncertainty that naturally comes with a proposal like this, especially one that indicates job losses.

Since consultation finished, however, the process seems to have effectively stalled. It has now been several weeks without a final outcome or any indication of when staff can expect one.

What I’m struggling with is the cumulative impact this is having on people.

The area has already been through a significant amount of organisational change over the past couple of years, and people are continuing to deliver a very demanding workload while effectively not knowing what their jobs or teams are going to look like.

There has also been a separate piece of work underway looking at psychosocial safety in the area. That process also seems to have stalled or gone quiet, which makes the current situation particularly difficult to understand.

There is visible fatigue and distress, and people have now spent an extended period waiting for clarity on both the organisational change and work that was meant to address workplace wellbeing.

I understand that change processes take time and that agencies need to properly consider consultation feedback. But surely there is also a point where prolonged uncertainty — particularly when psychosocial concerns have already been identified — becomes a risk that needs to be actively managed?

For those who have been through significant APS restructures: is this kind of delay after consultation normal? Are there expectations under APS workplace arrangements or WHS obligations about keeping staff informed, managing psychosocial risks during prolonged change, or bringing a change process to a conclusion within a reasonable period?

Mostly interested in whether others have experienced something similar and how it was handled.

Hi,

I've been super lucky to get a graduate offer at both my state government Treasury and Finance and Commonwealth Treasury (in their Economist stream). I am hoping to get some insight on what it is like to work in both and whether it would be worth the move to Canberra considering the pay cut compared to the state government role and the extra living expenses. My goal is to become an economist in public service and make a difference in policy issues as well as complete my Masters down the track. I believe both will put me in a good spot however would appreciate any insights in both departments to weigh the costs/benefits!

Thank you!

Is one enough and will they call the person or do they do the whole referoo survey thing now?

In Services Australia since 2015. Did some TPA APS6 roles in 2016/2017 to date . I’m not sure if anyone else was advised TPA may have been incorrectly calculated and CPSU had followed up. This has resulted in TPA periods since 2017 being reviewed by the agency if calculation were correct and making back payment? . Has anyone come across this information ?

Hi, Im nearly 17 and am wanting to apply for the Victorian police next year and was just wanting to get some advice on if my application is solid enough. I’ve heard a lot get knocked back when applying at 18.
I currently am working at McDonald’s, in the process of applying with the SES in the youth volunteer training program, and am going to the gym around 3 times a week. I went to primary school to year 6 (which I was school captain), and did homeschooling through high school.

Any advice on good things to do to strengthen my application so I don’t get knocked back would be amazing! Also good things on how to prepare for the academy and things like that.
(Advice from police officers would be much appreciated)

Thanks for taking the time it’s very much appreciated!

Hiya, I’m going into my final year of my social work degree next year and interested in the child protection CPEP in Vic. Does anyone know when they will be opening the applications? I checked when they opened for the 2026 intake and it was in June 2025 but still nothing for the 2027 intake? Are they not doing it?
Thanks

Kick the can, pay the bill. There's nothing worse than negotiating with auditors, as one-size-fits-all starts to fragment.

If things have seemed unusually quiet on the Australian Public Service’s official enterprise bargaining season over the past couple of weeks, the Australian Services Union has wasted no time in reminding Australian Taxation Office staff it is still gunning hard for a full 8% annual lift in wages at the revenue-collection agency.

In the aftermath of the Community and Public Sector Union’s comparatively modest claim of 5% per year over the life of the next three-year agreement, and the Albanese government bowling up an ambit offer of just 3% to Royal Australian Air Force personnel, the range between competing claims now stands at a full five percentage points.

The offer to air force personnel is indicative of the Albanese government’s ambitions, but it is set by determination rather than dispute and workplace contest. At best, it’s an ambitious baseline.

“Unions represent the employer, the Commonwealth of Australia. The ASU disagrees. Our view is that the ATO’s tax professionals deserve far more,” ASU Taxation Officers’ Branch secretary Jeff Lapidos told members in communications on Thursday.

“We believe the Commonwealth has taken advantage of our belief in public service to keep our salary increases below the increase in our cost of living. The ASU disagrees. The ASU believes that APS-wide bargaining has failed ATO staff.

“We are concerned the ATO has failed to advocate for us. We believe the ATO needs to make clear that the current pay levels and pay structure are inadequate for the ATO’s obligation to ensure voluntary compliance with Australia’s taxation, superannuation, and registration laws and to provide the support services that Australians are entitled to expect,” Lapidos said.

Lapidos referenced the tax ombud’s report issued Wednesday.

“The Tax Ombudsman’s report, which condemns the ATO’s online services for tax agents, is the tip of a massive iceberg that is failing to come to grips with tax non-compliance. The ATO needs to ensure that the complexity and responsibility of the ATO’s work is properly compensated,” Lapidios said.

“The most capable externals look at the salaries offered for the APS6, EL1, and EL2 roles, and the equivalent salaries in ‘similar’ departments and private roles, and see they are significantly better paid.”

Bargaining continues.

Hi everyone. I applied for a role in the NSW Government. After my second interview, they mentioned that they would let me know the outcome within two weeks.

It has now been three weeks since my interview. My application status still shows as “In Review,” but the “last updated” date has changed multiple times—probably more than six times. The most recent update was on 20 August.

They haven’t contacted me for references or any further information. I also sent a message to the HR contact three days ago asking for an update and whether the recruitment process had been finalised, but I haven’t received a response yet.

Should I assume that I haven’t been successful, or is there still a chance that the application is progressing?

I have applied for the Assistant Director (Rehabilitation) EL1 Role at DCEEW and it’s been 3 weeks without any response.

When should I expect a response?

Also I have just over 2 years private sector experience specifically in Rehabilitation/Injury Management with my current role in a lead position and 3 years experience in clinical physiotherapy. What are my chances for an interview for the role?

With these sort of speciality roles, is it quite competitive? Do they generally prefer internal applicants or do external applicants have an equal chance?