A common APS-wide classification system is inherently problematic, not just across the APS but also within APS agencies. The agency I am employed by (Services Australia) has thousands of staff at the same broadbanded level (APS 3-4) who have a range of responsibilities that do not match their level. I have worked in 3 different divisions of the agency at the same level and can absolutely confirm that the complexity of calls and the skills required are vastly different between Child Support, Centrelink and Medicare.

If this is the case just in one agency, I cannot imagine that the skills required could possibly be the same for an officer at the APS 3-4 level across the whole of the APS.

I would encourage the committee to consider perhaps the option for an agency to 'mid-broadband': for example "APS4CS" who shows the skills required for an APS4 within the Child Support Agency, remunerated and managed differently from an "APS4MC" with skills required for an APS4 in Medicare and so on.

This would build competency across agencies and departments, give officers the opportunity to more easily advance without having to be promoted - essentially being able to work even within their own agency (or another agency) with a higher skill set but remaining at level. It would also recognise the considerable differences in skills required per role/section of the agency/department.

It also supports the attraction and development of technical and specialist skills by allowing staff at level to have a specialist skill and be recognised for that.

From my understanding, this occurs in some way with Social Workers within Services Australia - recognising they have a particular skill set but cannot travel across their APS level with that skill set as they are specialists in one area (Social Work).

In line with this recommendation, decision-making and responsibility could far more easily be delegated to the lowest possible level in the hierarchy. If an officer has a delegation in line with their role (for example APS4 in Child Support) then as already occurs they could be given a higher debt repayment payment arrangement delegation along with other authorities.