What does a Risk and Intelligence Officer – APS 4 at the ATO actually do day to day?

Is anyone currently in the department, or know someone in the role, who could share some real-life insight?

What’s the work actually like, and how’s the team/work environment in NSW?

Has anyone ever had a long break from work (not sick leave) to deal with burnout or just needed a break?

How did it go and would you do it again? did it affect your job/employment?

Hi folks

Got short-listed for an interview. Anyone could guide what next steps from here could look like?

How many more interviews expected?

What type of questions are expected to be asked?

Any guidance from here will be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

After my interview and reference checks, I have been placed in the merit pool. I understand, the merit pools most likely won't mean much. However, after working at the APS for the past nearly 9 years climbing my way up and obtaining non-ongoing roles my current job is ending soon and no possibility for an extension.

I was wondering if anyone is in a similar position having worked for the APS and if so, what strategies they've been implementing outside of keep applying for more jobs?

Hi guys,

I interviewed for a government job a couple months ago. Completed references and got notified that the recruitment process is taking a while due to their internal processes. It’s been over a couple of months now and I’m interested in looking for other roles as I want to leave my current role.

If I apply for another department, can they see that I’m in the pipeline with another one and would that hurt my chances. What exactly can they see, if you can shed some light.

Thanks !

Hi All,

I have 5 years of IT experience which included leadership duties and training as well as hands on engineer role who has dealt escalations in a national level private company. I was made redundant last year and after taking some time off due to family commitments and now returning back to work and since last 3 months I have been applying APS6 and VPS5 roles. I have given 3 interviews and so far haven't been able to receive any offer.

- I am now planning to apply for temporary contract roles or try to get Govt contract roles through agencies, is that a wise choice in long term or should I stick to applying APS or VPS roles? Any recommended agencies?

- I am not applying anywhere else except APS and VPS careers, is there any other place I should be looking for more job openings?

- Any tips or information that can be helpful in setting my expectations better?

Hi everyone, I've been in the APS as a Career Starter for just under 7 months, and I've been slightly worried about how taking sick leave may impact my ability to stay in the APS.

So far, I've taken about 8 days of sick leave, however I've been told by others that this may impact my ability to progress from the Career Starter program. On the other hand my supervisor's have told me to stay home when sick, so not sure what the play is.

Should I just come in with a mask? Or would taking sick leave when necessary not be an issue realistically? I've inquired about WFH when only slightly sick, however was told that this isn't allowed in my department.

EDIT: Thank you to everyone for the advice! This has reassured me to take sick leave when necessary, however I'll also try to work out alternative WFH arrangements if possible.

I see a lot of doom and gloom around how being placed in a Merit Pool isn't exactly great since it means you were eligible for the job but there was someone better and now you're just sitting in this pool twiddling your thumbs hoping they need your merit pool.

But i'm curious whether being placed in a merit pool for a graduate program is meaningfully different from merit pools for direct applications or bulk recruitment rounds and how?

so I applied for another role in my agent last year and was found suitable in the merit pool in March 2025. the 18 month time period would have passed (job advertised in December 2024). But I am thinking of using the merit list to negotiate a promotion from APS5 to APS6 as now my team has seen a few people leaving and are hiring 6 (plucking people who was merit listed from merit pool). The merit pool was for a APS6 position in another department in my current agency.

good bargaining tool? Or should I wait for bulk round for APS6?

I’m about three months pregnant, and my contract ends at EOFY 26/27. I meet the qualifying period and will fortunately be able to take 14 weeks’ leave before the end of my contract (March–June). Are there instances where a contract has been extended so I can take this leave at half pay instead? Or will this not be entertained at all?

I’m also worried they might not extend my contract beyond that point, given how close my parental leave is to the EOFY date.

Thank you

Hey all! I’m starting my new ongoing position at the Department of Finance next week and was wondering if anyone has any tips or insights about the work-life balance, culture, and overall vibes within the department.

I also have a six-month probation period, but I have a planned two-week holiday in November. Would this potentially cause any issues with my probation? I’m planning to let my manager know straight away when I meet them.

Any tips, advice, or tricks would be amazing :)

I got a call from one Agency for the role of EA. Its a non ongoing role. I've a zoom meeting in coming days and I was being told that it will be pretty informal conversation, i'll be provided an overview of the division, role, duties. And i'll get a chance to meet informally with Assistant Secretary as well. He'll be present in meeting as well.

Now i've few questions:

- Should I keep few examples ready with STAR method?

- Any tips you would give me to make a good impression on them which can help me in getting this role.

- I've heard first time about the presence of AS in zoom meetings. Have anyone attended a zoom meeting in which AS is present?

I'm working in private sector and trying to get in APS.

Hi folks, hope everyone’s had a relaxing start to the week!

I received an interview invitation today for an APS4 Member Support Officer – Legal position with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). I was pleasantly surprised, as I’ve applied to the ART a number of times in the past without progressing, so I definitely want to make the most of this opportunity.

I’d really appreciate any tips or advice for the interview, particularly from anyone who has interviewed with or worked at the ART.

I’d also be interested to hear what the Member Support Officer role is like day-to-day, what the workplace culture is like, and whether you’ve found the ART to be a good place to work and develop your career.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Federal APS employee in the 3-5 band, being intentionally vague because the situation is quite easily identifiable for the right people.

There has been severe and ongoing breakdown of the relationship between myself (and other team members) and direct leadership over the last year or two. To the point that it's put People & Culture, the union, and potentially Comcare in the mix. There's a lot of discrimination, favouritism, and bullying and "us vs them" behaviour going on. I've been trying to move to another department for at least 8 months with very little luck, understandable in the current job climate but still very difficult to be essentially trapped in a role that's actively harmful.

I have some (loose) professional connections with an EL2 in another dept, same agency, that I've been debating reaching out to. Not to "tattle", as such, but to seek advice (and if I'm really lucky, support) on how to gtfo of this department and into another one before my mental health completely tanks beyond recovery. But I don't know if this is the wisest course of action or if I should continue pushing formal channels and forget about it.

Hello there,
Applied on 17th August for APS 4 DEWR Employment service officer contact centre .
Got assessment via email to finish .
Wanted to know what happens after completion of assessment ?
Do they conduct interviews if you are selected or if you pass the assessment then they straight away check the references? Do they tell you before they check references ?

How is it like working in it @dcs

Wanting to see if any other APS members may have had their elderly parents who will be moving in with me recognised in the system

Going from a MBR (fmr MWOD) to being a ARF (MWD)

I don’t have a partner or children but now my parents are becoming quite elderly and not fully coping as such will be moving in with me and thinking what i could possibly do

I know that it may not be possible at all it maybe restricted to ADF members only who this may be applicable too but

If someone out there has had this recognised through YCS or HR I’d be keen to know how and what you needed to provide?

And yep I’m aware i need to also inform AGSVA when they move in…..

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with the VIDA grad role programs?

I'm waiting to hear if I got into the assessment centre stage for VIDA Rail Urban Design (they said emails would go out by the end of August).

Any chance they're running behind schedule? Or should I just accept I haven't gotten through?

Applying for an APS 5 position and have to apply through the Aurion portal. Happy to put current manager but don’t want to alert them until later in the process.

Will they give me a heads up before contacting or should I not put current manager on but offer to provide there contacts upon request.

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I had applied for a NSW Gov job and had my interview around 3 weeks ago. My references were contacted last week, and were asked to complete pre-employment check via fit2work.

My fit2work status shows it’s now completed. One thing to note is that the badge is still red which is surprising since I never been charged with anything.

How long would it normally take for me to hear something back from the hiring managers, and how likely is it that I will get an offer?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

A bit of context first: I have been an APS3 with Services Australia for around three years. Over the past six SPS cycles, I have consistently achieved 100% quality, and during that time I have also been trained in additional work areas and taken on responsibilities beyond what I originally performed.

I feel that I have reached the point where there is no further development available to me at the APS3 level, which is why I recently decided to apply for broadbanding to APS4. I completed my part of the application and provided it to my Team Leader.

After approximately a week, my Team Leader advised me that they do not believe I am ready for APS4 and indicated that they would not support/put forward my application. When I asked for further details, the only explanation I was given was that I am "not ready", without any specific examples or areas that I need to improve.

My Team Leader has previously expressed concerns that I can be anxious and may not handle pressure well. However, I feel that my performance record demonstrates that I am capable of performing my current duties to the required standard, and I believe I am ready to progress.

I was hoping someone could provide some advice on how I should approach this situation. Is a Team Leader able to prevent or effectively deny a broadbanding application without it progressing to the manager?

Would it be appropriate for me to discuss the matter directly with my Manager and submit my application to them, or should I follow another process?

I am concerned that going above my Team Leader could create tension, but at the same time I don't want to be in a position where my progression is effectively blocked because my Team Leader doesn't believe I am ready, particularly when I am fully trained in my current areas and am performing a range of duties that are at, or in some cases beyond, the level of duties being performed by APS4 staff around me.

TLDR: I’ve been an APS3 at Services Australia for around 3 years, consistently achieving 100% quality for the past 6 SPS cycles and taking on additional training and duties. I recently submitted an APS4 broadbanding application, but my Team Leader has said I’m “not ready” and won’t support/put the application forward, without providing any specific reasons or areas for improvement.

I’m looking for advice on whether a Team Leader can prevent an application from progressing to the Manager, and whether I should approach my Manager directly. I’m concerned about creating tension with my Team Leader, but I also don’t want my progression blocked indefinitely when I’m fully trained and already performing duties comparable to, and in some cases beyond, those performed by APS4 staff.