APS Identified Roles and Affirmative Measure Recruitment

A pathway most candidates misunderstand

"Identified" and "affirmative measure" roles are some of the most misunderstood pathways into the APS — by candidates and by agencies. They aren't quotas, they aren't "diversity hires", and they aren't a back door. They're legally distinct recruitment mechanisms under the *Public Service Act 1999* and the Commissioner's Directions, designed to address structural under-representation.

If you're eligible, applying through an identified or affirmative measure role isn't "easier" — the bar is the same. But the candidate pool is smaller, and the panel often includes someone with lived experience of your community.

The legal basis

Affirmative measures are authorised under section 22(2)(d) and section 10A of the *Public Service Act* — they're not optional diversity programs, they're legislated. There are two distinct mechanisms:

• Identified roles — require cultural knowledge or lived experience as a genuine occupational requirement. Open to all candidates, but the criteria favour those with that background.
• Affirmative measure roles — restrict the field of applicants to a target group (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or people with disability).

What you'll need

• Eligibility evidence is usually a confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage (community-issued letter), or a statement of disability (medical or self-attested depending on agency).
• The APS Indigenous Pathways program and the APSC Disability Employment Strategy publish target classification mixes annually — useful for spotting upcoming bulk rounds.
• Reasonable adjustments at interview (extended time, written questions in advance, accessible formats) must be offered, not just permitted on request.

Writing the criteria response

Lean into the role's identified nature in your responses. If the criterion asks for cultural competence, give a specific example that demonstrates lived experience or community knowledge — not a workaround that pretends the criterion is generic.

How GovPrep helps

GovPrep responses can be tailored to draw on cultural knowledge or lived experience as evidence — turning what other applicants frame as "soft" criteria into your strongest scoring criteria.