What is the ILS?
The Integrated Leadership System is the Australian Public Service's capability framework. It defines what good performance looks like at every classification level, from APS1 through to SES3.
Many job ads reference ILS capabilities directly in their selection criteria. When you see terms like "Achieves Results", "Communicates with Influence", or "Shapes Strategic Thinking", these come from the ILS.
The five capability clusters
The ILS groups capabilities into five clusters:
- Shapes Strategic Thinking — Inspires a sense of purpose and direction. Focuses on strategic thinking, being aware of the bigger picture, and harnessing information to make good decisions.
- Achieves Results — Builds organisational capability and is accountable for achieving results. Covers project management, professional expertise, and driving outcomes.
- Supports Productive Working Relationships — Nurtures internal and external relationships. Includes stakeholder management, collaboration, and influencing skills.
- Exemplifies Personal Drive and Integrity — Demonstrates public service professionalism and probity. Covers resilience, self-awareness, and commitment to ethical behaviour.
- Communicates with Influence — Communicates clearly, listens, and negotiates effectively. Covers written and verbal communication, negotiation, and the ability to represent the organisation.
Proficiency levels
Each capability has proficiency levels that map to classification levels:
- Foundational — APS1 to APS3. Learning the ropes. Following processes, building knowledge, contributing to team outputs.
- Intermediate — APS4 to APS5. Applying expertise. Working more independently, coordinating activities, managing straightforward stakeholder relationships.
- Adept — APS6 to EL1. Leading in your area. Managing complexity, influencing outcomes, guiding others, taking accountability for significant work.
- Advanced — EL2. Shaping direction. Leading teams, driving organisational priorities, managing significant risk and ambiguity.
- Highly Advanced — SES. Setting the agenda. Whole-of-government perspective, transformational leadership, representing the APS externally.
How to use this in your application
When a criterion says "Achieves Results at Adept level", the panel expects examples that show:
- You took ownership of outcomes, not just tasks
- You managed competing priorities and made trade-offs
- You identified and solved problems without being told to
- Your work had measurable impact
An Adept-level answer about stakeholder management would describe influencing a resistant senior stakeholder. A Foundational-level answer about the same capability would describe building a productive relationship with a team member.
Match your examples to the level. If you're applying for an EL1 role, don't describe work that an APS3 would do — even if it went really well.