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Public Service Officer

Public Service Officers work across various government roles, including administration and management, in the Australian Public Service.

How do I become a public service officer

Get qualified to work as a public service officer with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Common questions

Salaries for Public Service Officers vary greatly and are determined by your actual job role as well as your specialist skills, professional experience, and qualifications.

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There are around 150,000 Public Service Officers employed across Australia right now. This ranges from entry-level clerks to high-end departmental officials and senior managers.

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There are many career paths within the Australian Public Service (APS) and the best way to get started is to obtain a qualification in your area of interest (eg, business administration, accounting, law, marketing, human resources, workplace safety, environmental science, community services) along with a VET qualification from the Public Sector Training Package (eg, Certificate IV of Government, Diploma of Government).

Source: Parliament of Australia 2023

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Further reading

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Choosing a security licence course in Australia: A step-by-step guide for jobseekers

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7 reasons to start a career in community services

15th June 2018

Public Service Officer careers

Public Service Officers work for state, territory, and federal government agencies in a variety of job roles including administrative, technical, professional, and management positions. Public Service Officer is a collective term for anyone working in the Australian Public Service (APS) and also includes the term Public Servant.

Jobs in the Australian Public Service (APS) are mostly found in the state and territory capitals, regional cities, and larger towns. Employment opportunities for Public Service Officers are available in nearly all work sectors including community welfare, education, defence, correctional services, construction, health, water supply, public policy, planning, legal services, natural resources, and environment.