These are the performance standards we expect of employees at their classification level in all branches.

These expectations do not replace – but are aligned with – the APSC Work Level Standards and the National Archives Capability Framework.

APS 1

General capabilities

Drive for results

• Keeps track of how tasks are progressing and acts to address obstacles to delivering results.
• Adheres to relevant quality standards in completion of work.
• Manages their own time effectively to accomplish tasks.

Flexible thinking

• Is open to new information and views from diverse standpoints.
• Accepts new work, using skills to support the team.
• Asks for assistance when needed.

Self confidence

• Consults with their supervisor to clarify work goals.
• Raises issues with their supervisor as soon as they arise.

Collaborative working

• Shares all relevant or useful information.
• Supports team decisions, is a valued team player, respects others, does their share of the work.
• Supports effective stakeholder relationships.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic insight

• Can identify the key people, processes and technologies that are essential for their role.
• Has a basic understanding of the agency’s role and functions.

Build organisational capability

• Participates in the development of work area goals and objectives.
• Upholds the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles.

Lead people through change

• Participates in the implementation of change.

APS 2

General capabilities

Drive for results

• Takes action that leads to the delivery of agreed performance targets, goals or service standards.
• Shows determination to meet the objectives set by others.
• Follows their supervisor’s direction.

Flexible thinking

• Is open to and aware of relevant technological changes.
• Modifies their own thinking, and assumptions, to take account of new and diverse viewpoints.
• Responds flexibly to changes in team plans and schedules.

Self confidence

• Accepts new work, applying skills flexibly to meet demands.
• Consults others when problems arise, seeking approval from their supervisor before implementing solutions.

Collaborative working

• Keeps other team members informed and up to date about what is happening in the group.
• Supports and maintains effective stakeholder relationships.
• Builds relationships within their team to work as a supportive and co-operative team member.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic insight

• Understands how different areas within the agency are related and who the key people are.
• Has a general understanding of the role and functions of the agency; is aware of issues that may impact on the delivery of allocated work tasks.

Build organisational capability

• Contributes ideas to the development of work area goals and objectives.
• Upholds the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles.

Lead people through change

• Contributes ideas and participates in the implementation of change in the workplace.

APS 3

General capabilities

Drive for results

• Is constantly looking for ways to do things better.
• Makes specific changes in their own work methods to improve performance.
• Makes administrative and operational decisions relating to their area of responsibility and following established procedures and protocols.
• Finds workable solutions to problems, seeking advice from supervisor on the best course of action.

Flexible thinking

• Demonstrates a willingness to change ideas and perceptions based on new information.
• Has a general understanding of technological changes.
• Accepts new work, applying skills flexibly to meet a range of demands.
• Seeks advice about where to find information required to complete tasks.

Self confidence

• Draws on their own relevant experience.
• Takes responsibility for seeing their own work tasks through to completion.
• Works as directed to achieve outcomes, even in difficult circumstances.

Collaborative working

• Speaks of team members in positive terms, either to the team member directly or to a third party.
• Cultivates effective stakeholder relationships.
• Shares facts, knowledge and experience appropriately with others.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic insight

• Understands what the role of the agency is, how it is organised and how it fits within the Australian Government sector.
• Understands the role and functions of the agency, and is aware of issues that may impact on allocated work tasks.

Build organisational capability

• Has responsibility for planning their own work goals and priorities that align with and achieve their own and team outcomes.
• Upholds the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles.

Lead people through change

• Maximises the benefits of change and contributes to improved service quality and efficiency.

APS 4

General capabilities

Drive for results

• Wants to do more than the minimum required, setting goals that are achievable but that challenge them to do better than before.
• Takes actions that lead to quantifiable improvements in processes or systems.
• Identifies barriers to completing their own work and comes up with solutions.
• Makes decisions relating to their area of responsibility that impact on the work area or specific function.

Flexible thinking

• Makes sense of disparate information; sees patterns and trends.
• Identifies the implications and impacts of technology.
• Informs their supervisor when work processes could be simplified and/or improved, sharing ideas about how this could be achieved.
• Adjusts behaviour to suit new goals when team priorities change.
• Knows where to find information required to complete tasks.

Self confidence

• Sees themselves as a ‘can do’ person, and is positive about their own ability to succeed.
• Demonstrates sound judgement, escalating issues appropriately.
• Works productively to achieve goals, even in difficult circumstances.
• Searches for solutions, experiments with different ways of doing things, and tries to work things out.

Collaborative working

• Cooperates with others to achieve objectives in the broader organisation.
• Builds rapport and maintains stakeholder relationships.
• Seeks input and keeps their supervisor informed about work progress.
• Builds relationships with their team and other peers to work as a supportive and co-operative colleague.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic insight

• Understands the impact of the work area on strategic, political or operational outcomes for the agency.
• Has a sound general knowledge of the role and functions of the agency and an understanding of how these relate to a specific work area.
• Recognises how tasks contribute to achieving team goals.

Build organisational capability

• Provides suggestions and support focused on helping people handle certain situations.
• Values specialist expertise and creates an environment which facilitates the sharing and effective use of professional knowledge and skills.
• Upholds the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles.

Lead people through change

• Contributes new ideas and maximises the benefits of change, including the identification of opportunities to improve the efficiency of business processes.
• Sets up regular communications with the team (e.g. through team meetings) and makes sure the team is kept informed of what is happening.
• Explains the reasons behind key decisions.

APS 5

General capabilities

Drive for results

• Overcomes obstacles to achieving goals and, when things don’t go as expected, uses this as an opportunity to learn.
• Makes decisions within defined parameters and sets new precedents based on sound subject knowledge and professional judgement.
• Self-evaluates their own performance, benchmarking against feedback from their supervisor and relevant others.
• Develops plans and objectives for short-term tasks of the work area and contributes to strategic planning for longer-term initiatives of the section.

Flexible thinking

• Crystallises key points from a mass of disparate information and makes sense of complex situations.
• Applies innovation to maximise the benefits of change and contributes to the improvement in service quality and efficiency, including the use of new technologies.
• Remains open to new challenges, applying skills flexibly in a range of situations.
• Is aware of the way things have been customarily done and uses this understanding to manage and pace change and to implement improvements to the way the agency operates.

Self confidence

• Knows their own strengths, and development needs and is transparent about them when working with others.
• Is able to absorb and deal constructively with criticism, seeking support as necessary.
• Remains engaged and productive during challenging times.
• Sets self and others stretching goals.

Collaborative working

• Displays willingness to learn from others, including subordinates and peers.
• Solicits ideas and opinions to help form specific decisions or plans.
• Develops and maintains internal and external relationships.
• Uses communication channels effectively and appropriately.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic insight

• Thinks of new ways to support current strategies, deploying existing resources and technologies to solve current issues.
• Understands the organisation’s strategy and the implications for various work areas.
• Is aware of changes in the broader work environment that may impact on work objectives.
• Understands the impact of the work area on longer-term strategic, political or operational outcomes for the agency.

Build organisational capability

• Collaborates across teams to achieve improvements and greater economies of operation.
• Develops and oversees the implementation of improvement and change initiatives.
• Gathers and critically analyses information from diverse sources to explore ideas and complete tasks.
• Upholds the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles.

Lead people through change

• Facilitates the effectiveness of a group by obtaining and providing them with the right resource or information.
• Recognises and acknowledges individuals when they are doing a good job and reinforces the significance or impact of what they do for the agency.
• Applies innovation to maximise the benefits of change and contributes to the improvement in service quality and efficiency.
• Secures needed support or development for the benefit of both individuals and the team as a whole.

APS 6

General capabilities

Drive for results

• Encourages and supports others to find ways of improving working methods so as to improve how the agency operates.
• Takes the necessary actions to meet goals; identifies and applies measures to track and quantify achievement.
• Makes decisions using good judgement, expertise and knowledge, under limited guidance.
• Generates innovative solutions to problems, producing a range of options for consideration.

Flexible thinking

• Shows innovation in finding ways of developing improvements, including the use of new technologies.
• Comes up with new ways of explaining something complex, or seeing beyond the obvious, so that others are able to understand it.
• Proposes and facilitates innovation and contributes to business improvement strategies and changes in workplace practices.
• Demonstrates a flexible approach to work, displaying willingness to explore opportunities as they arise.

Self confidence

• Feels able to succeed and is prepared to stand up and be counted.
• Has the confidence to involve others in support of a particular goal.
• Shows initiative and judgment in the interpretation of policy and in applying practices and procedures.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of risk management and risk assessment activities within their area of responsibility.
• Understands their own strengths and development needs, and seeks opportunities for personal development and to address performance shortfalls appropriately.

Collaborative working

• Summarises progress, taking account of differing viewpoints, to clarify understanding and to establish common ground.
• Develops and supports complex relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Selects and uses communication channels appropriately and effectively.
• Collaborates effectively within team and with other work areas as required.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic insight

• Recognises opportunities that have a significant impact on the agency or that affect multiple systems and/or business processes.
• Understands organisational strategy as it relates to team and agency goals and adapts current strategy by anticipating changes based on an insightful understanding of the agency’s operating context.
• Understands the broader governance framework of the Australian Government sector and how it impacts on the operation of the agency.
• Has an in-depth knowledge of the role and functions of the agency and an understanding of how these relate to a work area.

Build organisational capability

• Builds team capacity through coaching, performance feedback; and encouraging career development.
• Understands the longer term and contributes to ensure the sustainability of initiatives.
• Builds corporate knowledge and expertise by guiding, coaching and mentoring others.
• Upholds the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles.

Lead people through change

• Gets input from others to promote the effectiveness of a team or process.
• Acts to build team spirit to promote team effectiveness.
• Contributes to managing change and uncertainty in the workplace.
• Creates the conditions that enable a team to perform at its best (provides the right structure and gets the right people doing the right things).

EL 1

General capabilities

Drive for results

• Analyses on the basis of the outcomes and risks for the agency.
• Takes responsibility for the achievements of their own and team outcomes, monitors progress and follows through to deliver quality outcomes.
• Exercises sound judgement, making independent decisions.
• Takes responsibility for timely delivery of individual and team outcomes.

Flexible thinking

• Works through obstacles and is resourceful to get back on track.
• Encourages others to be innovative, in finding ways of developing improvements, including the use of new technologies.
• Provides a significant contribution to innovation and business improvement strategies.
• Contributes to the development of an agile workforce by applying skills in a range of situations and coaching others to use skills flexibly.

Self confidence

• Rises to, and relishes, a range of challenges.
• Is prepared to actively support others who are acting consistently with the core values of the agency and the APS and challenge those who aren't.
• Engages with risk, including the conduct of risk assessment and risk management activities for areas of responsibility.
• Develops solutions with an orientation to the future, balancing immediate business needs with medium and long-term objectives.

Collaborative working

• Builds good morale or co-operation within the team, including creating symbols of group identity or other actions to build cohesiveness.
• Encourages and empowers others and promotes co-operative work practices.
• Develops and manages a range of stakeholder relationships and seeks input from team, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Is well aware of relevant interest groups and networks that influence key stakeholders and uses this understanding for the benefit of the agency.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic insight

• Creates new strategies for the agency by applying insights from other organisations or practices and/or theories.
• Coordinates and undertakes detailed or sensitive projects that impact on strategic, political or operational outcomes for the agency.
• Considers and effectively manages competing priorities and strategic directions when achieving team planning and project outcomes in line with agency goals and objectives.
• Undertakes work activities with an awareness of their possible impact on strategic, political or operational outcomes for the agency.

Build organisational capability

• Successfully addresses people or process alignment problems between teams with peers and senior leaders.
• Looks to the longer term and takes action to ensure the sustainability of initiatives.
• Maintains a continuous improvement approach to individual and team work.
• Upholds and models the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles.

Lead people through change

• Gives people a sense that changes are achievable and that their contribution matters.
• Explains the rationale for changes and key priorities.
• Implements change and manages ambiguity in the workplace.
• Supports others to maintain focus and productivity, encouraging them to embrace emerging opportunities.
• Manages and implements cultural change.

EL 2

General capabilities

Drive for results

• Makes decisions, sets priorities, or sets goals on the basis of calculated inputs and outputs.
• Commits themselves (in the face of uncertainty) to the pursuit of improved performance and the achievement of a challenging goal.
• Identifies and leads innovative solutions and communicates the implications of decisions and actions on the agency’s business objectives.
• Makes high level decisions and uses sound judgement about priorities, balancing short, medium and long-term goals.

Flexible thinking

• Demonstrates a flexible approach to work, displaying willingness to meet evolving organisational needs.
• Works through obstacles and is resourceful to get back on track.
• Leads the way in developing improvements, including the use of new technologies.
• Promotes openness to new information, approaches and ideas.
• Manages resource allocation responsively to ensure achievement of team and organisational objectives.

Self confidence

• Takes on very stretching challenges that others may back away from.
• May be a 'lone voice' challenging the status quo, but will always be able to back up their position with evidence that the action is aimed at achieving the goals of the agency.
• Identifies, manages and evaluates risk in all decision making and delivery of outcomes.
• Develops, understands and promotes organisational strategy as it relates to the achievement of team, agency and government objectives.

Collaborative working

• Responds flexibly to various stakeholder requirements and changing circumstances as they arise, varying deployment of resources within imposed constraints.
• Develops and communicates the strategic direction and vision of the agency to stakeholders.
• Initiates, establishes and maintains key strategic internal and external networks.
• Demonstrates flexibility and sound judgement in use of communication channels to influence outcomes, deliver results and support organisational strategy.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic insight

• Understands the strategic relationships with an organisation and applies and maintains an extensive understanding of the role and responsibilities of the agency.
• Sets strategic direction, develops long-term plans and implements operational strategies aimed at achieving specific agency objectives.
• Develops strategies that fundamentally change the way the agency operates and provides a strategic level of specialist, professional and/or technical expertise.
• Maintains a comprehensive understanding of the agency’s impact on the wider political and community context in which it operates.

Build organisational capability

• Builds capability in a team environment through coaching others, providing performance feedback, conflict resolution and encouraging career development.
• Delegates tasks appropriately to facilitate employee development and build team capability.
• Leads and manages change, analyses performance and takes responsibility for continuous improvement processes.
• Upholds and models the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles.

Lead people through change

• Engages and manages stakeholders through change, resolving conflict and managing sensitivities.
• Gets buy-in and commitment to the vision within the organisation and across government, involving a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Inspires people to contribute to and lead change initiatives.
• Provides leadership in implementing and promoting a climate of change and continuous improvement.
• Takes responsibility for shaping organisational culture.