The APS has a wide range of jobs across many agencies, professions and locations. Some roles are similar to work you may have done in Defence. Others may use your transferable skills in a new context. You do not need to have worked in government before to apply.
APS jobs can be ongoing, non-ongoing, full-time, part-time, casual or temporary. Roles are available across Australia and, in some cases, overseas. Working arrangements vary by agency and role, so check the job ad and speak with the contact officer if you need more information.
Common APS job areas
APS roles are advertised under many different job categories. Examples include service delivery, operations, policy, program and project management, administration, human resources, finance, procurement and contract management, communications, information and communications technology, cyber security, data and analysis, compliance, regulation, legal services, science, engineering, logistics, property, security and intelligence.
Veterans may also be interested in APS Professions, which support career development and professional capability in areas such as human resources, digital, data, procurement and contract management, evaluation, and complex project management.
Understand APS capability expectations
The Integrated Leadership System (ILS) is an Australian Public Service Commission framework that describes the capabilities and behaviours expected at different APS levels. It can help you understand how roles change as responsibility, complexity, judgement and leadership expectations increase.
When you are looking at job ads, the ILS can help you compare your Defence experience with APS expectations. For example, it can help you think about how you have supported strategic direction, achieved results, built productive relationships, shown personal drive and integrity and communicated with influence. These are useful themes to consider when choosing roles, preparing examples and deciding which classification level may be suitable.
You can read more in the Australian Public Service Commission’s Integrated Leadership System resources and use the profiles or self-assessment tools to identify where your skills may align with APS 1–6, Executive Level or Senior Executive Service roles.
How Defence experience may translate
| If your Defence experience includes... | You may want to explore APS roles in... |
| Leading people, managing teams or coordinating operations. | Operations, service delivery, program management, project management, emergency management or compliance. |
| Planning, logistics, sustainment or resource coordination. | Procurement, contract management, project support, property, asset management, supply chain or corporate services. |
| Training, mentoring, welfare or personnel support. | Human resources, learning and development, service delivery, case management, stakeholder engagement or community programs. |
| Technical, cyber, intelligence, communications or data work. | ICT, cyber security, data analysis, intelligence, digital services, systems support or technical specialist roles. |
Look beyond job titles
APS job titles may not always match Defence job titles. Instead of searching only for direct equivalents, look for roles that match the work you enjoy, the responsibilities you have held and the capabilities you want to keep using. Read the duties, selection criteria and capabilities carefully before deciding whether to apply.
Questions to ask when searching
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What skills do I want to keep using from my Defence career?
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Do I want to work with people, systems, policy, data, operations, projects or technical problems?
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Am I looking for a role that is like my Defence work, or a role that helps me move into a new career area?
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What location, working pattern and security requirements suit my circumstances?
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Does the job ad explain the role clearly, or should I contact the listed contact officer before applying?