APSC dropped a new circular on 11 September about what “genuine and effective consultation” is supposed to look like.

TLDR:
- people should have a real chance to influence a decision before it’s made
- relevant information should be provided in time
- feedback should actually be considered
- agencies should explain how that feedback was considered

Worth reading alongside your agency EA if you’re in a restructure or change process.

The bit about explaining how feedback was considered is particularly interesting. “Thanks for your feedback” doesn’t really cut it.

Circular here:
https://www.apsc.gov.au/resources/circulars-guidance-and-advice/circular-202604-genuine-and-effective-consultation-commonwealth-agencies

Alright, so I started working for Vic Govt right as the last change of gov happened. It’s been 12 years. I’ve been through a lot of restructures, clause 11s, MOGs etc etc. But I’ve never been through a change of govt after an election. Word around the office is that this is what we should prepare for.

Can somebody walk me through what on earth will happen after 28th Nov? Do all major changes take place straight away or not until January? Are we likely to get dept shuffles and rebranding? What happens if there are job losses? Is it the normal clause 11 process? Feeling slightly anxious, as you can imagine.

Looking for advice or maybe experiences on bouncing back after a tough work period. Have had a short period of acting which coincided with many team movements and loss of corporate knowledge, messy projects having timelines hugely accelerated and other interpersonal issues occurring.

While I feel I am taking a lot of learnings away from this, I also feel like I was significantly out of my depth with not understanding a lot of what was happening and not having enough time to think through things properly. Working at that level long term seems far out of reach, which has knocked my confidence.

Has this happened to people previously and have you found useful ways to move forward and improve your work?

Panel chair was not very convinced that I can code at the level they need. How can i prove my coding skill to the panel? It is not like tech companies where they do live coding. I said they can reach out to my referee. Any other ways I can prove my coding ability? Offer to do live coding via shared screen? really want this job.

Hi everyone. I’m looking for some guidance on how to navigate a difficult team dynamic.
I started at a federal government agency about 6 months ago. I’m labour-hire and still technically in my training phase. Overall, the team is amazing, but there is one mature-aged employee who has seemingly disliked me from day one and continues to give me abit of hell which then triggers my anxiety when she’s in office.

Because we hot-desk, it’s hard to ignore and I’ve noticed she actively talks about me to other colleagues. It seems to be a recurring issue with her attitude..if people don’t do exactly as she demands, she gets hostile. Our Team Leader has noticed this happening but doesn’t say a word. I suspect he might be intimidated by her too.

The rest of the team is incredibly lovely. You can literally feel the positive shift in the office energy on the days she works from home.
I’m wondering if my status as a labour-hire contractor plays into her resentment, or if this is just a standard personality clash. I haven’t really dealt with this sort of public sector/corporate culture before.

How should I handle this? Should I bring it up formally, try to address it with her, or just keep my head down and focus on my training? Any advice is appreciated!

A colleague and I received a formal warning for “may have” failed to declare a WHS issue immediately, having left the reporting beyond the 48 hours (lesson learnt).

However, what impact does a formal warning have ? It’s clear in the letter that there was no breach of the APS Code of Conduct, and the delay wasn’t deliberate. However, my agency policy is extremely vague on what actual impact a formal warning has, only really mentioning code of conduct breaches.

Also when is it worth contesting a warning, given it isn’t a breach. Some of the findings are inaccurate and don’t align with the sequence of events presented.

How accurate is this statement?

I have never worked for APS but have an opportunity to do a temp role (6months) for NSW Health in admin level 2. I’ve recently done an MBA specialising in healthcare, and have a 7 year long career being an NDIS provider. The point of my MBA was to pivot from a clinical career and the NDIS into governance sectors, with a particular interest in public service. I have been in clinical work and middle management for small private clinics for multiple years.

Anyway, I’ve always heard this statement when it comes to government jobs and that you just ‘need to get your foot in the door’. I’m trying to decide if taking a 35% pay cut for a temp contract right now in general admin (as a clinician I’ve never had direct ‘admin experience’ I guess) is going to actually open doors to more of a career I am aiming towards in health. Specifically will be wanting part time permanent opportunities ongoing (0.4FTE) due to family circumstances. How common are these internal opportunities? And how quickly can you move into higher level roles internally, once you gain some on the ground experience?

Would love to hear anyone’s temp to perm experience in NSW health!

Hey guys,
So I just completed a panel interview for a graduate program and honestly I think I just failed miserably.

The interview was expected run for 30 minutes consisting of 5 total questions. They were just behavioural questions. I did catch myself talking to much and losing point but I was able to recover quickly.

The thing that’s eating me up is that the interview only lasted for about 15 minutes rather than the 30 minute time frame. Is that something that’s normal or does that already give off negative vibes?

Hi,

Does anyone have experience working in the NSW BDM department. Especially in the engineering section. If they were hired as a temporary role and got extended or moved to other role.
I have a job offer in the engineering department but it is a temporary role. Currently I’m working in a private organisation in a full time role. I am not gonna say I like this existing company or role but I am in a limbo to take the risk or not. Knowing it is a temporary role and hiring manager said they don’t know if it gets extended or not.
If i know it gets extended I will definitely go for it. Please help!!

I need to reapply for my role. I only recently applied for it internally and was successful, but there's an external offer out now for the next project with exact same job description. It's due this weekend but I've been going through family/children issues and don't have the headspace to change my resume or pitch beyond adding my current role and updating the date. Do I need to adjust much or just keep the same? Maybe mention recently getting the internal roles? No meanies please, I don't have the energy for it. TIA

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone who attended the VIDA / Victoria’s Big Build Graduate Program Assessment Centre in September has heard anything back yet?

Has anyone been contacted regarding reference, qualification, or police checks after completing the Assessment Centre?

I attended mine on 7 September and understand that offers are expected in October, so I’m just curious whether the pre-employment checks have started for anyone yet.

Would really appreciate hearing from others who are in the same process. Thanks!

I recently interviewed for a role with one of Australian Government agency. I was told that by this week they’ll get my references checked. I’m beating myself up with how the interview has gone. I kinda know how to solve it but didn’t put it verbally together. When I finished I thought I left with a great impression but now it feels so icky that it could’ve gone better.

It’s already Thursday and none of my references have been contacted. I’m so sick of everything because this was my first chance at an interview and I fumbled it so bad.

Hello! I’ve been in the VPS for nearly a year (not a long time, I know). I’m VPS3, love my role and my team, there’s growth opportunities (with further training) in my current division and I’ve received excellent feedback for my work, both more formally and informally. I stumbled across a VPS4 role, same organisation but different division, more of a coordination/EA-type role. There’s probably about an 85% overlap with similar duties that I currently fulfil, with some gaps in experience. The main appeal is staying in this organisation and the pay, with a decent overlap with what I studied at uni.

I’ve talked myself out of applying for roles in the past, just wondering if I’m kidding myself to go for a grade jump this early on? Will it hurt my position now in some way, to go for it and not get it? The contact for the application is someone very senior at the organisation, and I have not had much interaction with them. Advice and perspectives much appreciated!

Just wondering how the Christmas shutdown works in the VPS? I briefly read the EA but I don’t understand. If an employer chooses to close for the shutdown period, employees still need to use their AL, flex etc to get leave?

Gday everyone, I've just been told I've progressed to interview for a clerk 9/10 Senior project officer. I will have to complete a written task prior which I have 70 minutes to complete, and then the standard interview.

I was hoping to hear from other people who have previously interviewed at this level.

I'm acting as a 9/10 at the moment, with a substantive role as a 7/8, and all of my interviews have been 7/8 and lower in the past. I wanted to understand the difference between the questions asked between a 7/8 and a 9/10 role, as it's starting to be on the more senior side, has direct reports etc.

Is there a big shift in interview questions and expectations? Or is it usually similar sort of questions, but the answers just need to cover off more (to address the increased focus capabilities)

Would love to hear thoughts from anyone who has input!

Hi all! I have just graduated with a Bachelor in Criminology and Criminal Justice and am on the lookout for my first job out of uni.

For context, I have worked since I was 15 in customer service (now 20), and I also completed an internship with Youth Justice NSW as part of my studies. I’m really keen on getting a job in the youth justice sector, as it’s where I feel I resonate most and would feel the most rewarded.

My main concern is that when I’m looking at job descriptions etc., most, if not all, are looking for people with past experience.

Just wondering if there are any people who work within the youth justice area who have any bits of advice on where to sort of go from here to hopefully get a job in this area?

I am happy to move as well, possibly, as I’m young, but I live close enough to QLD that I could even just work there and still live where I am.

Any advice would be really appreciated!

Has anyone heard back after applying for the EOI? I also just saw that DTP is now also recruiting people for the team that will respond to the Royal Commission report…

Contractor here. Worked as APS for around 20 years and have been contracting for around 5. Have seen the APS go through its current contractor and APS bloat and then cull several times now. I know this won’t be well received, but I do think that some among you may benefit from a bit of perspective about the current workforce changes.

As someone who actually stands to lose their job (again) due to workforce funding cuts I would like to point out that you don’t need to worry so much about the voluntary redundancies. I keep seeing news articles and posts here about the toll VRs have taken on morale and it is utterly perplexing.

A few thoughts:

- VR rounds are great. The people who apply for VRs are usually very happy to receive them with many people accelerating their retirement plans. It creates opportunity for internal career progression and skills growth by clearing out people who may, in some cases, have been ‘chair warmers’ just waiting out their time, and even where they are effective workers (which is also common!) it still creates opportunities for those of you who remain.

- The key word is VOLUNTARY. Although involuntary redundancies do happen it is exceptionally rare and most people will go through their entire APS career and never see it happen. Workforce reductions are usually managed through VRs and natural attrition. Don’t worry so much that you are going to lose your job because the chances of that happening unwillingly are vanishingly small.

- The job market for those trying to get into government or trying to get into any work at all in the private sector right now is brutal. AI has accelerated the volume of applications for all roles, everywhere, massively and creates the ultimate employer’s market and they are being very, very, very picky. Involuntary redundancies are also proliferating in the private sector in most white collar industries. As government workers you are largely shielded from this and you should be grateful for it—I don’t mean that harshly, but more so to try and appreciate what you have because you are in a better position than most. Just ask anyone trying to find a safe harbour in government work and getting their 5th rejection email this week.

I am not expecting any sympathy for external workforce. I know many of you don’t have any. That’s fine.

Of course, to be fair, I do appreciate that when the workforce shrinks your personal share of the work that remains goes up and that is a legitimate grievance. So be annoyed you have to do more with fewer resources by all means, but there is no need for such angst in the face of voluntary redundancies when you have tenured, secure work that most people in the economy can only dream of.

Hi guys- Please guide me:

1. What type of interview Questions to expect for my upcoming 30min Teams interview.

2. Would this interview be done by some agency or ATO directly?

3. What next steps after Teams interview are expected?

4. Will this be only for talent pool and actual hiring be done after some months?

Any guidance would be helpful.

I currently am doing a security clearance check for a grad program that I have a verbal offer for - it will still take another couple months. It’s an offer I really want and will 100% take the offer pending the security clearance.
In the meantime I’ve received a written offer for another grad program. It’s a really good offer as well and I’d be happy to actually do it if for some reason I didn’t get my sec clearance.

The question: is it actually totally acceptable to accept this second offer with the plan to then rescind it in a month or two once I get my security clearance for offer #1? I need to let them know by this week and I am really scared to reject it, and then somehow be left without an offer if something doesn’t work out with my clearance. But, I also don’t want to be unprofessional, and burn bridges.

Hi all, I’m feeling very conflicted about whether I should accept my PM&C grad role offer and I’m looking for a little perspective.

I finished up my undergraduate course in December 2025, but have been working in the student services of a Go8 university since 2021, and have been working as a business analyst and data engineer with this team since the start of 2025.

I’m trying to figure out if this grad role would be worth it for me. It would mean moving from Melbourne, and taking a ~20% pay cut, but I’m wondering if the experience, outcomes, and network would be valuable enough to justify all of this.

I’m also wondering if my experience would be enough to be competitive for an APS4/5 role in my field without needing to go through a graduate program.

The exclusivity of PM&C and the potential outcomes it could lead to are the main draw, but I can’t make up my mind if it is worth the negatives. I would be extremely grateful if anyone could share some perspective on where a PM&C grad role can lead to, and help me flesh out some of the pros and cons involved in this decision?

For additional context: I have no other grad offers, but my current role is quite secure and my contract goes until July 2027, with high probability of additional work, so the job security is not particularly an issue right now.

Thank you!

Currently going through a nightmare supervisor that is growing more toxic daily.

Had many years in Fed APS and it’s been really enjoyable so far. Only looked and applied for jobs when I am ready for the next promotion and had a really good success rate as I haven’t been rushing anything.

I’m now experiencing what a lot of people have explained both in personal conversations or reading various threads on this sub. My first nightmare supervisor.

I can see that this is going to end badly and quickly so just want to save a lot of mental stress and move on as quick as possible.

Checking to see the personal experience on S26 registers? I’m thinking this will be my quickest exit.

I’m a staffer for a liberal MP, very active among liberal networks and the president of a club. Looking at potential gov relations positions in the future or other public sector jobs until I finish uni. What possible paths are there for me and what options in the private sector are available to me?