4.4 Career pathways

A strong pipeline of diverse and capable employees is crucial for meeting current and future workforce needs. The Australian Government Career Pathways initiative aims to improve the way the APS attracts and recruits entry level talent, including career changers. It now covers a broad range of pathways into APS employment, including graduate, apprentice and cadet programs, internships, traineeships and career change programs.

Offering a coordinated and streamlined application and assessment process improves the candidate’s experience and helps establish the APS as an employer of choice. Successful candidates then build their capability in a supported environment through rewarding placements and tailored development programs across a diverse range of portfolios around Australia.

The APS Career Pathways Communications Plan and Content Strategy, launched in 2022, is increasing awareness, understanding and support of career pathways. Successes include:

  • a record number of agencies participated in the Australian Government Graduate Program (over 60), receiving more than 5,000 applications for graduate roles across seven capability streams: Digital; Data; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; HR; Economist; Generalist; and the Indigenous Graduate Pathway
  • consolidation of multiple Australian Government Indigenous Apprenticeship Programs, with Services Australia leading a consolidated approach to marketing, recruitment and pastoral care for Indigenous apprentices from 2023
  • the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations expanded its delivery of APS apprentices to a whole-of-government service offering under the Career Pathways banner, delivering the first Australian Government Apprenticeship Program
  • the Department of Veterans’ Affairs delivered its first pilot program for veterans entering the public service.

Two new capability streams are being added to the Australian Government Graduate Program – Legal and Accounting/Finance. The Australian Government Career Pathways initiative also supports the recently announced 1,000 Digital Traineeships across the APS (over four years), focusing on opportunities for women, First Nations people, older Australians, and veterans transitioning to civilian life.

The APSC is launching four APS Academy campuses in regional locations from 2023. The APS is partnering with universities to deliver digital and data internships, cadetships, and graduate programs, providing a supported pathway into the APS. Located in Newcastle, Townsville, Darwin and Launceston, campuses will support digital and data students and professionals to stay in their regions to expand their skills and secure a rewarding career to deliver for Australians. Campuses will have dedicated data and digital expert supervisors and participants will collaborate with peers from across the APS and other sectors to deliver outcomes for Australians.

Improving recruitment platforms

Organisational systems and processes are changing to facilitate easier access to the APS recruitment environment, and to support career development and mobility of employees. The main platform for these enhancements is APSJobs (Figure 4.1).

Figure 4.1: APSJobs 2021–22

This infographic describes the achievements of APSJobs. In 2021–22, APSJobs published over 12,000 vacancy notices, had over 150 agencies with active accounts and more than 20,000 job seekers with registered accounts.
A magnifying glass, signifying there are external resources to be viewed
Visit the APSJobs website
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