Glossary: Cracking the code
Agency: APS organisations may be referred to as agencies, and some are departments. This guide uses the term ‘agency’.
APSjobs: ongoing vacancies and longer-term non-ongoing vacancies are advertised on the www.APSjobs.gov.au website.
APS Values and Code of Conduct: the APS Values and Code of Conduct are set out in legislation. Read about them at info sheet 1.
Classification: refers to the level of the job, based on its work value. See info sheet 2.
Contact officer: often a manager or supervisor, they can tell you more about the job, the roles and responsibilities, the agency and so on. They are there for the specific purpose of answering your questions. Don’t hesitate to contact them and ask them to explain anything about the job or recruitment process that is unclear. If you are a person with disability and need adjustments made to the recruitment process, this is a good person to contact.
Cover sheet (may be part of the online application form): a form asking for your contact details, recent work history, details of your referee/s and citizenship status. You may be invited to provide other information, such as whether you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a person with disability, or are from a non-English speaking background.
Disability measures: some jobs may be advertised under the RecruitAbility scheme or as an Affirmative measure—Disability employment. See info sheet 6.
Indigenous measures: jobs may be advertised as identified positions or under the Affirmative measure—Indigenous employment. See info sheet 5.
Information or application pack: this provides information about the job, the agency, the job description and how to apply.
Job description: describes the work you would do in the role, including the key tasks and responsibilities of the job.
Mandatory qualifications: some jobs require specific qualifications that you must have to be considered for the job—for example, a driver’s license or professional qualification.
Merit: means you will be assessed on your skills, abilities and experience and how well they meet the requirements of the job, compared to other applicants. See info sheet 1.
Non-ongoing: means temporary employment for a specified time period or to complete a specific task. Non-ongoing employment may also be for irregular or intermittent duties (often referred to as casual employment).
Ongoing: permanent employment, subject to termination in certain circumstances.
Security clearance: some APS jobs require a security clearance. You do not need to hold a current security clearance to apply for these jobs—though you must be willing and able to obtain a clearance at the specified level.
Selection criteria: detail the skills and qualities required by the person to perform the job—the criteria that will be used to make selection decisions. Not all agencies use detailed criteria—you might be asked to answer some questions or provide a short ‘pitch’ telling the agency how your skills, abilities and experience make you the best person for the job. See info sheet 3.
Vacancy: a job which an agency is looking to fill, either on an ongoing or non-ongoing basis, including casual employment.