As a specialist government recruiter, one of the questions we are frequently asked is “how does my role and level translate to a role within the Federal public service?”
Transitioning from state or local government to Federal government can be a worthwhile career move, offering new challenges and opportunities. To make this transition smoothly, it’s important to understand the distinct roles and responsibilities at each level of government and how your skills and experiences can align with Federal government roles.
Federal Government
The Federal government handles issues of national significance. Key areas include:
- Defence and Foreign Affairs: Managing national security and international relationships.
- Trade, Commerce, and Currency: Regulating economic transactions and financial systems.
- Immigration and Social Services: Overseeing the entry of people into Australia and providing welfare services.
- Postal Services, Telecommunications, and Broadcasting: Managing, developing and regulating communication.
- Transport: Regulating safety, investing in infrastructure and operations.
- Health, Education, Environmental Issues, and Industrial Relations: Often funded federally but administered by states.
Understanding these areas may help to pinpoint where your skills might fit within the Federal structure.
State / Local Government
State governments manage a wide range of services not covered by the Federal government. These include:
- Schools and Hospitals: Administering public education and healthcare systems.
- Conservation and Environment: Protecting natural resources and managing environmental policies.
- Infrastructure: Maintaining roads, railways, and public transport systems.
- Public Works and Agriculture: Overseeing public projects and agricultural policies.
- Emergency Services and Police: Providing public safety and emergency response services.
If your experience lies in any of these areas, identifying roles within the Federal public service with overlapping responsibilities can be helpful when you’re looking for a change. Common expectations across all levels of government is the desire to serve the public, to act with integrity and to uphold public service values.
How to Transition into Federal Government
Transitioning to a Federal government role requires a strategic approach:
- Tailor Your Resume: Highlight relevant work experience, skills, and achievements that align with the job description. Emphasize how your past roles align with the requirements of the position.
- Use Keywords: Pay attention to the keywords and phrases in the job posting. Incorporate these into your resume and application to demonstrate your understanding of the role and its demands. Provide concrete examples of your accomplishments and their impact.
- Showcase Qualifications: Clearly articulate your qualifications, focusing on their relevance to the advertised role. Sometimes having highly relevant tertiary qualifications can compensate for not having prior direct Federal government experience.
- Translate Your Role to the Australian Public Service (APS): Understanding how your current role translates to the APS can help you target appropriate positions. The table below outlines equivalent levels between across state and Federal government. By understanding these equivalents, you can better position yourself for appropriate level roles.
| APS Level | ACT Gov | NSW Gov | QLD Gov | SA Gov | WA Gov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS1 | ASO1 | General Scale | L1 | ASO1 | Level 1 |
| APS2 | ASO2 | Level 1 | L2 | ASO2 | Level 2 |
| APS3 | ASO3 | Level 2 | L3 | ASO3 | Level 3 |
| APS4 | ASO4 | Level 3 | L4 | ASO4 | Level 4 |
| APS5 | ASO5 | Level 4 | L5 | ASO5 | Level 5 |
| APS6 | ASO6 | Level 5 | L6 | ASO6 | Level 6 |
| EL1 | SOG C | Level 6 | L7 | ASO7 / MAS1 | Level 6 |
| EL2 | SOG B | Level 7 | L8 | ASO8 / MAS2 / MAS3 | Level 7/8 |
| SES Band 1 | Executive Level 1 / SOG A | Class 1 | SES1 | SAES1 | Class 1 |
| SES Band 2 | Executive Level 2 | Class 2 | SES2 | SAES1/2 | Class 2 |
| SES Band 3 | Executive Level 3 | Class 3/4 | SES3/4 | SAES2 | Class 3/4 |
For more information or to speak to a CBR Recruitment Consultant please call us on 02 6103 7000 or email hello@CBRrecruitment.com.au.
