APS Agencies – size and function

This page lists all entities that have staff employed under the Public Service Act 1999. Agencies are grouped according to their size (APS headcount) as reported for the APS Employee Database at 31 December 2024.

For more information about agency sizes, see – APS Data Release and Statistical Bulletins | Australian Public Service Commission

Agencies are also grouped by ‘functional clusters’ to allow comparisons to be made between agencies with similar primary functions. The six functional clusters applied to APS agencies are as follows:

• Policy: agencies involved in the development of public policy.
• Smaller operational: agencies with less than 1,000 employees involved in the implementation of public policy.
• Larger operational: agencies with 1,000 employees or more involved in the implementation of public policy.
• Regulatory: agencies involved in regulation and inspection.
• Specialist: agencies providing specialist support to government.
• National cultural institutions: agencies that maintain collections of material and offer public programs relevant to Australia’s cultural heritage.

* Indicates the entity engages staff under the Public Service Act 1999 but are not APS agencies as defined by the Act.

Micro Agency (Less than 20 Employees)

Extra Small Agency (20-100 employees)

Small Agency (101-250 employees)

Medium Agency (251-1000 employees)

Large Agency (1001-10,000 employees)

Extra Large Agency (More than 10,000 employees)

Note: In other APSC data collections, including the APS Employee Census, agencies may include staff engaged under other legislation and will differ in size.