Public Service Classification Rules 2000 (Cth)
made under subsection 23(1) of the
This is a compilation of the
The notes at the end of this compilation (the
If a provision of the compiled Act is affected by an uncommenced amendment, the text of the uncommenced amendment is set out in the endnotes.
If the operation of an amendment is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision, the provision is set out in the endnotes.
If a provision of the compiled instrument is affected by a textual modification that is in force, the text of the modifying provision is set out in the endnotes.
If a provision of the compiled Act has expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the Act, details of the provision are set out in the endnotes.
Contents
These Rules are the
Public Service Classification Rules 2000 .
These Rules commence on gazettal.
(1) The dictionary at the end of these Rules defines certain words and expressions, and includes references to certain words and expressions that are defined elsewhere in these Rules (
signpost definitions ).Note: The dictionary only includes a signpost definition for a word or expression if the word or expression is used in more than one rule.
(3) A definition in these Rules applies to each use of the word or expression in these Rules, unless the contrary intention appears.
For the purposes of these Rules, a classification is an
approved classification if it is:
(a) a classification under a
modern award or atransitional APCS as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time; or(b) a classification mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 1; or
(c) a training classification mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 2.
Note: Subsection 23(2) of the Act provides that the Classification Rules may apply, adopt or incorporate, with or without modification, any of the provisions of a modern award or a transitional APCS, as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time.
(1) An Agency Head must allocate an approved classification to each APS employee in the Agency.
(2) Subject to rule 7, the classification must be based on the group of duties that are determined by the Agency Head to be the duties to be performed by the employee in the Agency (other than duties temporarily assigned to the employee).
(1) This rule applies to an Agency Head if:
(a) an ongoing APS employee moves to the Agency Head’s Agency in accordance with an agreement entered into under section 26 of the Act; and
(b) the agreed movement is a temporary move.
(2) The Agency Head must not comply with rule 6.
(3) The Agency Head must allocate to the employee:
(a) the approved classification that was allocated to the employee immediately before moving to the Agency; or
(b) another approved classification that is in the same group as the classification mentioned in paragraph (a).
(4) The allocation of a classification in accordance with subrule (3) does not prevent the employee from:
(a) performing the duties that are to be performed by the employee following the move to the Agency; and
(b) receiving the pay and other entitlements that are to be paid to the employee following the move to the Agency.
For section 34 of the Act, an APS employee is classified as an
SES employee if the employee's classification is any of the following approved classifications:
(a) Senior Executive Band 1;
(b) Senior Executive Band 2;
(c) Senior Executive Band 3.
(1) An Agency Head must allocate an approved classification to each group of duties to be performed in the Agency.
(2) The allocation of an approved classification to a group of duties must be based on the work value of the group of duties.
(2A) The allocation of an APS Level classification, Executive Level classification or SES classification to a group of duties must be based on the work value of the group of duties described in the work level standards for that classification issued, in writing, by the Commissioner (as those standards exist on 1 December 2014).
(3) If a training classification is allocated to a group of duties, the Agency Head must ensure that the duties include a requirement to undergo training.
(4) If a group of duties to be performed in an Agency involves work value applying to more than one classification, the Agency Head may allocate more than one classification (called a broadband) to the group of duties.
(5) However, subrule (4) does not apply to a group of duties to be performed by an SES employee.
An Agency Head must issue, in writing, work level standards for each classification, other than an APS Level classification, Executive Level classification or SES classification, describing the work value of the group of duties to be performed in the Agency at that classification.
(1) If an APS employee who is employed at a training classification satisfactorily finishes each training requirement for the training classification, the Agency Head must allocate to the employee a classification mentioned in column 3 of Schedule 2 that relates to the employee’s training classification.
(2) Subrule (1) does not apply to a non-ongoing non-SES employee engaged for a specified term for the purpose mentioned in subparagraph 13(4)(c)(i) of the
Public Service Regulations 2023 .
For the purposes of subsection 23(4) of the Act, the classification of an APS employee is reduced if the Agency Head allocates to the employee a classification that is in a lower classification group than the employee’s classification before the reduction.
(1) An Agency Head may, in writing, delegate to a person any of the Agency Head’s powers or functions under these Rules (other than this rule).
(2) However, an Agency Head cannot delegate powers or functions to an outsider (within the meaning of subsection 78(8) of the Act) without the prior written consent of the Commissioner.
(3) A person (the
first delegate ) to whom powers or functions are delegated under subrule (1) may, in writing, delegate any of the powers or functions to another person (thesecond delegate ).(4) However, if the first delegate is subject to directions about the exercise of a power or function delegated under subrule (3), the first delegate must give corresponding directions to the second delegate.
(5) A power or function that is exercised or performed by a person under a delegation under subrule (3) is taken, for the purposes of these Rules, to have been exercised or performed by the person who originally delegated the corresponding power or function under subrule (1).
(6) A person exercising powers or functions under a delegation under this rule must comply with any directions of the Agency Head who delegated the power or function.
(1) Despite the amendments of rules 9 and 10 and the Dictionary made by Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the
Public Service Classification Amendment (Work Level Standards and Other Measures) Rule 2014 :(a) an approved classification that, before 1 December 2014, was allocated to a group of duties to be performed in an Agency continues to have effect on and after that day; and
(b) work level standards for a classification, other than an APS Level classification or Executive Level classification, that were in effect under rule 10 immediately before 1 December 2014 continue to have effect on and after that day as if they had been issued under rule 10 as in force on or after that day.
(2) However, if an Agency Head allocates an APS Level classification, Executive Level classification or SES classification to a group of duties on or after 1 December 2014, the allocation must be done in accordance with these Rules as in force on or after that day.
Note: The effect of this subrule is that the allocation would need to be based on the work value of the group of duties described in the work level standards for the relevant classification issued, in writing, by the Commissioner (see subrule 9(2A)).
(paragraph 5(b))
Group 1 | APS Level 1 |
Group 2 | APS Level 2 |
Group 3 | APS Level 3 APS Meat Inspector 1 Customs Level 1 |
Group 4 | APS Level 4 APS Meat Inspector 2 DAFF Band 1 |
Group 5 | APS Level 5 APS Meat Inspector 3 Customs Level 2 |
Group 6 | APS Level 6 APS Meat Inspector 4 Customs Level 3 DAFF Band 2 Examiner of Patents Medical Officer Class 1 Valuer |
Group 7 | Antarctic Medical Practitioner Level 1 Customs Level 4 Executive Level 1 Medical Officer Class 2 |
Group 8 | Antarctic Medical Practitioner Level 2 Customs Level 5 DAFF Band 3 Executive Level 2 Medical Officer Class 3 Medical Officer Class 4 |
Group 9 | Antarctic Medical Practitioner Level 3 Chief of Division Grade 1 Chief Research Scientist Grade 1 Medical Officer Class 5 Senior Executive Band 1 |
Group 10 | Chief of Division Grade 2 Chief Research Scientist Grade 2 Medical Officer Class 6 Senior Executive Band 2 |
Group 11 | Chief of Division Grade 3 DAFF Band 4 Senior Executive Band 3 |
(rules 5 and 11)
APS Trainees | Apprentice APS (Trades) | APS Level 2 |
Cadet APS | APS Level 3 | |
Cadet APS (Research Scientist) | APS Level 6 | |
Graduate APS | APS Level 3 | |
Trainee APS (Administrative) | APS Level 1 | |
Trainee APS (Technical) | APS Level 3 | |
Agency Trainees | Aboriginal Cadet | Customs Level 1 |
Customs Trainee | Customs Level 1 | |
Cadet APS | Customs Level 1 | |
Customs Trainee Graduate | Customs Level 2 | |
Valuer‑in‑training | Valuer |
(rule 3)
Note 1: See rule 4.
Note 2: A number of expressions used in these Rules are defined in the Act, including the following:
(a) Agency;
(b) Agency Head;
(c) APS employee;
(d) modern award;
(e) SES;
(f) SES employee.
Act means thePublic Service Act 1999 .
approved classification see rule 5.
APS Level classification means any of the following classifications mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 1:
(a) APS Level 1;
(b) APS Level 2;
(c) APS Level 3;
(d) APS Level 4;
(e) APS Level 5;
(f) APS Level 6.
classification includes a training classification.
classification group means a group of classifications mentioned in column 1 of Schedule 1.
Executive Level classification means either of the following classifications mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 1:
(a) Executive Level 1;
(b) Executive Level 2.
SES classification means the classifications of Senior Executive Band 1, Senior Executive Band 2 and Senior Executive Band 3.
training classification means a classification mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 2.
transitional APCS has the meaning given by subsection 23(6) of the Act.
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Endnotes about misdescribed amendments and other matters are included in a compilation only as necessary.
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is set out in the endnotes.
A = Act |
|
ad = added or inserted |
|
am = amended | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |
amdt = amendment | pres = present |
c = clause(s) | prev = previous |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | (prev…) = previously |
Ch = Chapter(s) | Pt = Part(s) |
def = definition(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |
Dict = Dictionary | Reg = Regulation/Regulations |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | reloc = relocated |
Div = Division(s) | renum = renumbered |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | rep = repealed |
effect | rs = repealed and substituted |
F = Federal Register of Legislative Instruments | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
gaz = gazette | Sch = Schedule(s) |
LI = Legislative Instrument | Sdiv = Subdivision(s) |
LIA = | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
(md) = misdescribed amendment | SR = Statutory Rules |
mod = modified/modification | Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |
No. = Number(s) | SubPt = Subpart(s) |
o = order(s) | |
Ord = Ordinance | commenced or to be commenced |
Public Service Classification Rules 2000 | 29 Nov 2000 (gaz 2000, No GN47) | 29 Nov 2000 (s 2) | |
Public Service Classification Amendment Rules 2006 (No. 1) | 23 June 2006 (F2006L01950) | 1 July 2006 (s 2) | — |
Public Service Classification Rules Amendment 2012 (No. 1) | 4 Dec 2012 (F2012L02311) | 5 Dec 2012 (s 2) | Sch 2 (item 1) |
Public Service Classification Rules Amendment 2013 (No. 1) | 1 Feb 2013 (F2013L00146) | 2 Feb 2013 (s 2) | — |
Public Service Classification Amendment (Work Level Standards and Other Measures) Rule 2014 | 28 Nov 2014 (F2014L01601) | 1 Dec 2013 (s 2) | — |
Public Service Classification Amendment (2025 Measures No.1) Rules 2025 | 4 June 2025 (F2025L00646) | 5 June 2025 (s 2) | — |
r 3............................................. | rep F2014L01601 |
r 4............................................. | am F2014L01601 |
r 5............................................. | am 2012 No 1; 2013 No 1 |
r 7............................................. | am F2025L00646 |
r 8............................................. | am 2012 No 1; 2013 No 1 |
r 9............................................. | am 2012 No 1; F2014L01601 |
r 10............................................ | am 2012 No 1 |
rs F2014L01601 | |
r 11............................................ | am F2014L01601 am F2025L00646 |
r 13............................................ | am F2025L00646 |
r 14............................................ | ad F2014L01601 |
Dictionary.................................. | am F2014L01601 |
Schedule 1.................................. | rs 2006 No 1 |
am 2012 No 1 |
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