Developing an APS career
There are more ways than ever to join the Australian Public Service and build a rewarding and successful career.
Australian Government Career Pathways coordinates employment opportunities across agencies. This provides applicants with a streamlined and accessible process. It encourages a diverse range of candidates from across the country to identify suitable APS jobs and apply for them.
Pathways programs include 10 graduate streams. At July 2024, these programs had received almost 12,000 applications for the 2025 rounds, representing a growth of 56% from the 2024 rounds.
Six Career Pathways programs are available for non-graduates, including digital traineeships. These traineeships offer participants support, training and on-the-job experience in a government agency. Different working arrangements and locations are available to encourage a broad range of applicants, including from groups underrepresented in the digital field.
APS Academy Campuses work in partnership with James Cook University and the University of Newcastle. They encourage students in regional areas to build digital and data skills at university level, while remaining in their communities. APS Academy Campuses provide on-site support and promote student engagement with their home agencies and the APS.
APS Professions continues to build the specialist and leadership capability of the APS. They offer a broad range of targeted learning and development programs. Communities of practice and networking events provide further opportunities for peer-to-peer and practitioner-led learning.
The Professions currently support over 25,000 human resources, digital and data professionals across the public sector. The professions of procurement and contract Management, evaluation, and complex project management are being added in 2024–25.
The APS Academy promotes a continuous learning culture across the APS. It partners with agencies, academia and non-APS partners to deliver flagship programs to build the capability of APS employees across the span of their public service careers.
Employees have opportunities for career development and progression within and between APS agencies. In 2023–24, the APSJobs platform listed 15,000 vacancies and 970 mobility opportunities. It registered 1,844 employees as willing to meet surge demand in an emergency.
In the 2024 APS Employee Census, of those indicating they wished to leave their current position, 43% indicated they were pursuing another position within their agency, and 27% indicated they were pursuing a position in another agency.
At a rate of 5.3% in 2023–24, the movement of employees between agencies on a permanent basis remained consistent over the last 3 years.
Innovative entry pathways to government employment and ongoing career development and learning opportunities align with the Australian Government’s objectives for an APS that is a model employer and has the capability to do its job well.
See also in this report
Working in the APS – APS Employee Value Proposition
Capability and leadership – APS Academy
Appendix 1–APS workforce trends
Appendix 2–State of the Service additional data
Find out more
Australian Government (2024) APSJobs – Gateway to the Australian Public Service, APSJobs website, accessed 23 July 2024.
Australian Government (2024) Digital Traineeship Program, APSJobs website, accessed 22 July 2024.
Australian Government (n.d.) APS Professions, Australian Public Service Commission website, accessed 30 September 2024.