Market Read

Federal Government and Defence, November 2026

We spend a good part of our time watching where Federal Government and Defence work is heading, so we've compiled what we're seeing in the federal space right now, across ICT and the project, commercial, finance, governance and other roles around it, with a short look at the states. Every point below comes with what we think it means for you and how to line yourself up with it. We hope it's useful, particularly if you're looking for your next role now or will be in the coming months.

1Budget constraints: the rhetoric and the reality

The federal push to cut external labour continues. The May Budget added a further $2.7 billion in savings in 2029-30 from external labour and non-wage costs (2026-27 Budget Paper No. 4).

So whatAgencies will keep having to justify every contractor. Make it easy for them by being clear about the outcome you deliver.

Another 1,400 contractor and third-party roles are being converted to APS jobs, taking the total since 2022 to 13,200 (2026-27 Budget, reported by The Canberra Times, May 2026).

So whatLong-running generalist roles are the most exposed. If your role looks like permanent business-as-usual work, expect it to be reviewed.

Canberra recruiters report agencies moving from large contract workforces with generic skills to smaller teams with specialist capability, and absorbing more work in-house (The Canberra Times, July 2026).

So whatSpecialisation is your protection. Be known for one thing agencies struggle to staff.

Yet five large agencies signed $4.92 billion in contracts in June 2026, up 13% on June 2025. The ATO cited specialist ICT expertise among its needs, while June spend fell 36% to 40% at Home Affairs, Social Services and Services Australia (The Canberra Times, September 2026).

So whatThe money hasn't gone, it has moved. Target the growing agencies: Defence, the Australian Submarine Agency, Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Australian Digital Health Agency (The Canberra Times, May 2026).

Most agencies no longer publish specific insourcing targets, and 62 reported they had little or no outsourced core work left (The Canberra Times, July 2026).

So whatThe easy conversions are largely done. What's left for contractors is the work agencies can't easily staff themselves, which is where you want to be.

2Rates: the push down

What we're seeing across the federal market: agencies working within tighter budgets and other market pressures are asking suppliers to bring ceiling rates down across the board. This is now the norm rather than a one-off, and we expect it to keep tightening.

What we're seeingAt renewal or on a new role, holding the same rate is often the best case, and many contractors are being asked to come down. Some have been out of work for months waiting for their previous rate to be offered again, and a number are still waiting more than six months on. It's not impossible, but it is difficult, and for many it looks improbable.

Rate is now the biggest factor in whether a role is won. Many departments won't consider a candidate's capability at all if the rate is deemed too high. Value for money is being judged with rate carrying the most weight, and many areas are working to their own internal rate targets on top of the budget settings below. The budget pressure is real. It's a buyer's market. A client that likes your capability isn't going to stretch the rate to secure you. The rate is what it is, and if yours doesn't fit, they move on to the next candidate.

So whatA strong CV at the wrong rate may never be read. Before you're put forward, ask where the client's rate expectations sit, and decide early whether you can work within them.

The budget settings driving this are locked in. A further $2.7 billion in savings in 2029-30 comes from external labour and non-wage costs (2026-27 Budget Paper No. 4). Agency heads must also provide extra information on any new or varied consultancy contract worth $2 million or more (The Canberra Times, May 2026).

So whatThe pressure is structural, not seasonal. Don't wait for it to ease before making decisions about your next move.

More people are chasing fewer roles. ACT unemployment rose from 3% at the end of 2024 to 4.4% in May 2026, the steepest proportional rise in the country. Over the year, federal job ads fell 18.1% and non-ongoing contract ads fell 37.9% (HorizonOne, reported by The Canberra Times, July 2026).

So whatCompetition for each role is up, which gives agencies room to hold rates down. Being first in with a strong, tailored application matters more than it did.

Unemployment is rising nationally, and forecast to keep rising. The rate was 4.7% in September 2026 (ABS). The Reserve Bank forecasts 4.9% by December 2027 and 5.1% by the end of 2028, about a quarter of a point higher than it previously expected (RBA, November 2026). By state in September: Victoria 5.1%, Tasmania 5.0%, NSW 4.7%, Queensland 4.5%, South Australia and Western Australia 4.2%, with the NT at 4.8% and the ACT at 4.2% on the ABS trend measure.

So whatThe forecasts point to more competition for roles through to 2028, not less. Plan for a longer search than you may have needed in the past.

ICT recruiters are reporting the same pattern. Rate growth is no longer universal: specific skills and experience decide who holds their rate, and shorter contracts for defined projects are becoming the norm (Hays IT Contractor Rates Guide FY26/27).

So whatScarce, cleared skills have a little more room than most, but even there the client's rate ceiling usually decides. Common skill sets are where ceilings are being cut hardest.

In ICT, program managers top contractor day rates nationally, with architecture, AI and cyber close behind (Talent, March 2026).

So whatDelivery accountability is still valued. If you've run programs to budget and schedule, quantify it.

3Platforms and technology that are growing

The whole-of-government cloud policy took effect on 1 July 2026. It directs agencies to prioritise cloud in new ICT investments and move away from legacy systems (DTA, July 2026).

So whatMigration, cloud security, cost governance and legacy decommissioning skills will stay in demand. Legacy system knowledge is also worth something, because someone has to move it.

A new five-year Microsoft agreement started on 1 July 2026, aimed partly at helping the APS adopt AI and other new technology (DTA, February 2026).

So whatMicrosoft platform skills, including Azure, M365 security and AI tooling, have a long runway across federal agencies.

APS cloud and DevOps vacancies rose from 34 in 2023 to 61 in 2025, and network engineering from 21 to 37, while total APS vacancies fell about a quarter in 2025 (AwardedTenders, May 2026). APS AI and data science roles have sat at 40 to 55 a year since 2022 (AwardedTenders, April 2026).

So whatDon't read the AI talk as a flood of AI-only jobs. The growth is in cloud, infrastructure and security, with AI as a skill layered on top. Add AI to the role you already do rather than pivoting away from it.

Defence Digital Group's engineering branch works under SAFe, and its outside help is shifting to shorter, defined engagements (AwardedTenders, March 2026).

So whatIf you want Defence digital work, agile delivery at scale and clear deliverables are what it is set up to buy.

4Government roadmap initiatives to align with

APS AI Plan. Every agency was required to appoint a Chief AI Officer by mid-2026, and GovAI Chat is rolling out to APS staff this year (Department of Finance; GovAI).

So whatAgencies need people who can make AI safe, governed and useful. Governance, risk, data quality and change management around AI are the practical openings.

Essential Eight to Essentials. ASD is moving the Essential Eight into a new Essentials series over roughly two years, starting with Essentials for enterprise IT (ASD, June 2026; Australian Cyber Security Magazine, June 2026). The June 2026 ISM update added new controls, including cyber threat intelligence in detection (Cosive, July 2026). PSPF Release 2026 took effect in July (Agilient, July 2026).

So whatEvery agency will need to re-map its controls. People who know both the old and new frameworks will be in demand through 2027 and 2028.

Defence reform. The 2024 and 2026 National Defence Strategies add $117 billion over the decade to 2035-36, and the Defence Delivery Group becomes the independent Defence Delivery Agency on 1 July 2027 (Defence Ministers, July 2026). Around $35 billion of the just under $60 billion Defence budget will move into it (Minister Conroy, reported by Australian Defence Magazine, June 2026).

So whatA transition this size needs project controls, commercial, reporting, data and systems people over the next 12 months. Frame your experience around delivery, assurance and cost visibility.

5The gaps

The APS needs to fill more than 8,000 digital roles by 2030. Over 70% of agencies report critical digital skill shortages, and almost one in five digital professionals will reach average retirement age by 2030 (Digital Transformation Agency, November 2025).

So whatThe shortage is structural, and specialist contractors remain part of the answer for years, even in a tight market.

58.3% of the APS digital workforce sits in the ACT, which holds 4.6% of the national ICT talent pool (AwardedTenders, April 2026).

So whatCleared people with specialist skills in Canberra still have leverage. If you're outside Canberra, look for federal roles offering hybrid or interstate locations, which the DTA is encouraging agencies to broaden.

Defence is the largest federal digital recruiter, with 1,667 APS digital vacancies from 2023 to 2025. Seven of the nine most re-advertised APS digital roles are at Defence (AwardedTenders, April and May 2026).

So whatRoles advertised again and again are the hardest to fill. Those are where contractors are most likely to be brought in.

6The top 20 roles and capabilities federal agencies are recruiting for

All of these sit in a smaller market. APS vacancy notices fell 34.9% in FY26, with APS 5 to EL 1 down 38% to 40% (AwardedTenders, October 2026).

Digital and ICT

Based on APS Gazette vacancy data (AwardedTenders, April and May 2026) unless noted.

Cyber security. 366 vacancies in 2025, the largest digital cluster, and it fell far less than the overall market.

AlignSecurity governance, ISM, IRAP and threat intelligence experience.
ICT service management and operations. 155 vacancies in 2025, and ICT Service Manager at Defence was the most re-advertised role, with 34 ads.

AlignITIL 4 and service platform experience.
Data analytics and business intelligence. 133 vacancies in 2025, and Data Analyst was the second most re-advertised role.

AlignData quality and governance, which AI adoption depends on.
Cloud and DevOps. Up almost 80% from 2023 to 2025.

AlignAzure and AWS, infrastructure as code, and migration experience.
Network engineering. Up from 21 to 37 vacancies over the same period.

AlignSecure network and infrastructure modernisation.
Enterprise architecture. Two Defence architecture roles are among the most re-advertised.

AlignCloud and security architecture tied to the new cloud policy.
ICT business analysis. 18 re-advertisements at Defence.

AlignRequirements work on platform and legacy migration.
ICT management. 12 re-advertisements at Defence.

AlignLeading teams through restructure and transition.
Application development. Led by the ATO.

AlignModern development practices and secure-by-design.
Program and project management. Tops ICT contractor day rates nationally (Talent, March 2026).

AlignQuantified delivery against budget and schedule, and SAFe for Defence.

Adjacent roles

There's no equivalent published ranking outside digital, so these are our read of where the programs and pressures in this report point, not a strict order.

Project controls, scheduling and PMO. The Defence Delivery Agency transition and decades-long shipbuilding programs run on schedules, cost reporting and assurance (sections 4 and 10).

AlignScheduling tools, earned value and reporting to senior stakeholders.
Commercial and contract management. External spend is under closer scrutiny, and agency heads must give extra information on large new or varied consultancy contracts (section 2).

AlignSupplier performance, contract variations and value for money.
Procurement. Thousands of contracts expire around December and 30 June, and each needs to be replaced, extended or closed (section 9).

AlignThe Commonwealth Procurement Rules and running approaches to market.
Finance and cost management. Savings targets, and around $35 billion of the Defence budget moving into a new agency, put a premium on cost visibility (sections 1 and 4).

AlignBudget management, forecasting and financial reporting.
Policy, program and grants administration. A steady share of the APS 4 to APS 6 contract roles we see in Canberra, and much of the work behind each initiative in section 4.

AlignProgram delivery, compliance and briefing experience.
Business analysis and process improvement. Agencies moving to smaller teams and absorbing work in-house need their processes redesigned, not only their systems (section 1).

AlignMapping processes and showing the efficiency gained.
Change, workforce and communications. Cloud, Copilot, the APS AI Plan and restructures only land if people adopt them, and contractor conversions all need workforce support.

AlignAdoption results, stakeholder engagement and training delivery.
Governance, risk, assurance and audit. The APS AI Plan, PSPF Release 2026 and the closer assurance of large investments all need people who can test and report on control.

AlignRisk frameworks, audit and reporting to governance committees.
Protective security. PSPF Release 2026, DISP obligations and more selective clearance sponsorship (section 8) keep personnel and physical security work in demand.

AlignSecurity officer, vetting support and DISP compliance experience.
Engineering, logistics and sustainment. The Hunter class frigates and the Osborne submarine yard need these skills for decades (section 10).

AlignSystems engineering, integrated logistics support and configuration management.

7Certifications and training in high demand

Digital, ICT and security

ISM, Essential Eight and the Essentials series (ASD, June 2026).

WhyEvery federal agency must re-map to the new series.

IRAP. Needs an NV1 (ASD will sponsor it if needed), five years of ICT experience including two in ISM-based security, two approved qualifications, and ASD's new starter course and exam (ASD).

WhyIt is one of the clearest routes into senior federal security assessment work.

PSPF Release 2026 (Agilient, July 2026).

WhyISM and PSPF knowledge can get you considered for federal security work before you hold a higher clearance.

CISSP, ITIL 4, and AWS or Azure. CISSP is one of the most requested certifications for government compliance work, ITIL 4 signals service management maturity, and cloud certifications appear consistently in job ads (Emanate Technology, February 2026).

WhyThey map directly to top 20 roles 1, 2 and 4.

ServiceNow. Various agencies run ServiceNow as their IT service management platform, and Defence is replacing HP DSMS with ServiceNow too. Demand for platform-specific skills runs right across the lifecycle, from project managers and business analysts to developers and master architects. ServiceNow's training is free; you only pay when you sit an exam.

WhyA platform skill set in demand across many role types, with a low cost to get started. It also lines up with top 20 role 2.

SAFe, used by Defence Digital Group's engineering branch (AwardedTenders, March 2026).

WhyIt is how Defence digital delivery is organised.

AI governance. AI capability and governance and risk skills are becoming a prerequisite for higher-value contract work (Hays IT Contractor Rates Guide FY26/27).

WhyThe APS AI Plan needs it in every agency.

Adjacent roles

Project, program and PMO: PMP, PRINCE2 or AgilePM, plus P3O for PMO roles.

WhyRoles 10 and 11. SAFe also helps for Defence delivery.

Commercial and procurement: a Certificate IV in Government (Procurement and Contracting), or CIPS.

WhyRoles 12 and 13. The government qualification speaks directly to how agencies buy.

Finance: CPA or Chartered Accountant status.

WhyRole 14. A recognised signal for senior finance and cost roles.

Policy and program: a Certificate IV or Diploma of Government.

WhyRole 15. Most useful if you're moving in from outside government.

Business analysis and process improvement: CBAP or Lean Six Sigma.

WhyRoles 7 and 16.

Change: Prosci.

WhyRole 17. A widely recognised change management credential.

Governance, risk and audit: Certified Internal Auditor, or ISO 31000 risk management training.

WhyRole 18.

Protective security: a Certificate IV in Government Security, plus working knowledge of the PSPF and DISP.

WhyRole 19.

Engineering and logistics: Chartered status through Engineers Australia, or INCOSE systems engineering certification.

WhyRole 20. Especially relevant to naval shipbuilding work.

Across every role

Microsoft Copilot micro-credentials. Copilot is the AI tool government is using across departments, backed by the new five-year Microsoft agreement (section 3). Any short AI credential across Copilot is worth having, and so is the practical skill behind it: knowing how to write and build effective prompts, and keeping a library of the ones that work for your role.

WhyIt makes you more productive from day one, and that is value an agency can see straight away, whatever your role.

Vocational and micro-credentials. The DTA recommends agencies broaden entry routes beyond degrees (Digital Transformation Agency, November 2025).

WhyA targeted short course can now carry real weight, especially if you're not in government yet.

8Clearances

You can't apply for one yourself. Individuals cannot apply for an Australian Government security clearance independently. Clearances must be initiated and held by an authorised sponsoring organisation operating under DISP and PSPF obligations, and that sponsor is legally accountable to AGSVA for the candidate's file.

FYISponsorship can come from an employer, an agency or a DISP-accredited workforce provider. Profectus runs a sponsorship program, which is one of the ways that pathway can be established.

Most cleared roles never reach the public market. They're filled through DISP-accredited workforce providers, primes and partner networks that can move a vetted candidate into a secure environment quickly. Recruiters and delivery partners prioritise candidates who are already eligible to work in those environments, not candidates who might become eligible later.

So whatWithout a clearance and an active sponsor, you're not in the conversation. With both, you're positioned: when roles surface, the candidates already sponsored, pre-qualified and inside a workforce provider's pipeline are the ones put forward.

Clearances now cost sponsors more. From 1 July 2026, AGSVA's fees rose about 40% for NV1, 52% for NV2 and 15% for Positive Vetting, while Baseline rose by less than 1%. The fees apply to assessments, upgrades and revalidations, and they're charged to the sponsoring organisation, not to you (AGSVA).

So whatWe expect agencies and other sponsors to be more selective about how many people they sponsor and at what level, particularly above Baseline. That makes higher clearances rarer, and more valuable to those who already hold one.

Where sponsorship matters most:

Career-pivoters moving into Defence, national security or government from a non-cleared background.
Contractors between roles whose sponsorship lapsed when their last contract ended, and who want to stay in the cleared talent pool.
Specialist consultants who sell directly into government and need a sponsor to access cleared engagements.

If you hold a clearance, maintain it. Stay on top of it through myClearance, AGSVA's online portal: keep your details current and report changes in your circumstances.

So whatIf you're between contracts, ask what happens to your sponsorship before your engagement ends.

If you can get one, consider it. If you want to work in the government sector, a clearance is effectively necessary. AGSVA's targets, once your application is complete, are 20 business days for Baseline, 70 for NV1 and 100 for NV2. You have up to 20 business days to complete the application, and AGSVA aims to check it within 10 (AGSVA).

So whatA smooth Baseline takes around 10 weeks start to finish. A Baseline role is the most direct way into federal work and puts you in line for an upgrade.

9Timing

Demand follows a yearly rhythm. The two busiest periods are the lead-up to the end of the financial year and the end of the calendar year. That's when large numbers of contracts expire, extensions are decided and remaining budget is committed.

So whatBe ready before each window opens, not once it's under way. Expect quieter stretches over the Christmas shutdown and in early July while new budgets settle.

More than 7,600 federal contracts end in November and December, including 3,197 on 31 December (AwardedTenders, September 2026).

So whatGet your CV and availability current before the December shutdown.

30 June 2027 is the biggest federal expiry date of the year, with 12,116 contracts ending that day. About 41% of contracts expiring in the year to September 2027 carry an extension option (AwardedTenders, September 2026).

So whatBe visible from February to May. If you're on a contract with an option, ask your manager early whether it will be used, and give them the evidence to defend it: outcomes delivered, knowledge that would be hard to replace, and cost.

Defence's 12-month separation rule. Since August 2023, APS employees and full-time or part-time ADF members (SERCAT 6 and 7) who left Defence in the previous 12 months can only return as above-the-line contractors by exception. It doesn't stop you working for Defence industry partners, consultancies or outsourced providers, and Reservists aren't covered (Defence Connect, August 2023).

So whatIf you're planning to leave Defence and come back as a contractor, build the 12 months into your plan, or look at an industry role in the meantime.

Key dates for the year ahead

28 November 2026Victorian election. Caretaker applies from 3 November until the result is clear.
Late December to early JanuaryChristmas shutdown. Most agencies slow right down, and 3,197 federal contracts end on 31 December.
13 March 2027NSW election, brought forward from 27 March to avoid Easter (NSW Electoral Commission).
May 2027Federal Budget. Sets agency funding and external labour settings for 2027-28.
30 June 2027The biggest contract expiry date of the year, with 12,116 federal contracts ending.
1 July 2027The Defence Delivery Agency is established.

10A short look at the states

Victoria has been in caretaker mode since 3 November ahead of the 28 November election (Victorian Government caretaker guidelines, 2026).

So whatExpect little new Victorian work until the result is clear.

Melbourne's government market was tightening before caretaker began. Victoria is cutting more than 1,000 public sector roles, including about 330 senior executive and technical specialist roles, and reducing consultant spending to save $113 million (ABC, December 2025). Its IT projects are also under scrutiny: about 40% cost more than budgeted and 61% ran late (ABC, February 2026).

So whatWhoever forms government, expect an early look at spending, and possibly delays before new work flows.

The ACT Government's June budget forecast a $323.4 million deficit and pushed the return to surplus out to 2028-29. It also introduced new controls to limit the use of external contractors, and a Restructure Fund to help agencies stay within budget (ACT Treasury; ABC, June 2026).

So whatTerritory work in Canberra is under the same contractor pressure as federal, so don't count on it as an overflow for federal roles.

South Australia is where Defence's shipbuilding and submarine build is concentrated. The keel of the first Hunter class frigate was laid at Osborne in August, with more than 2,500 people working on the program (Defence Connect, August 2026). In July the Government added $4.6 billion to the Osborne submarine yard, taking its contribution to $8.5 billion, with about 1,100 people already working on the yard and related initiatives (Defence Industry Europe, July 2026). The Australian Submarine Agency expects 4,000 to 5,500 direct jobs building the submarines in SA at peak (ASA).

So whatThese are decades-long programs that need project controls, engineering, systems, data and cleared ICT people in Adelaide. If you can relocate or work hybrid, SA Defence is worth a serious look.

Queensland is putting more than $300 million into digital modernisation through its $1 billion Digital Fund, with every ICT investment over $5 million now reviewed by assurance committees (Queensland Government, July 2026).

So whatThere is steady work, but expect slower starts.

NSW's June budget was the last before the 13 March 2027 election (Business NSW, June 2026; NSW Electoral Commission).

So whatBe selective and watch for post-election priorities.

What does that practically mean for you?

If you're looking now

Lead your CV with whichever top 20 capability you can evidence best, in the words agencies use.
Price on evidence. Know whether your skill set sits in the scarce market or the common one, and negotiate accordingly.
Get visible before the December shutdown, and move quickly when a good role appears, because competition is up.

If you're looking in the next six months

Close one certification gap ASAP.
Be visible from February to May for the 30 June cohort.
If you're not in government yet, aim for a Baseline role with a sponsor, and consider federal roles based outside Canberra.

Treat your career like a product

Most people wait for an ad, then apply alongside everyone else who saw it. With non-ongoing contract ads down 37.9% over the year (section 2), that queue is getting longer. If you're keen on work, don't just wait for opportunities to respond to. Go and create them.

Reach out to the companies that sell what you do. The consultancies, services firms and labour-hire suppliers that deliver your capability into government hold the contracts and panel seats. They often need people before a role is ever advertised, whether to staff new work, replace someone leaving or name people in a bid.

So whatIf they know you, are confident in your capability and know you're available, you're in the conversation before the ad exists. If they don't, you're one CV among many after it's posted.

Build your list. Find 20 to 30 firms that deliver your capability. Look at who you've seen delivering work in the agencies you want to work with, ask your network who they rate, and note where your former colleagues now work.
Reach out directly. Send a short, specific note to the practice lead or delivery manager, not a generic CV drop: what you do, an outcome you've delivered, your clearance and when you're available.
Follow up once. After a week or two, send one polite follow-up. Many non-replies are about timing, not a no.
Track it and refine. Note who replied and what they said, sharpen your message, and go again.

Most won't reply. Some will say no. A few will listen, and those few are where the opportunities come from. Some of the most proactive candidates we work with land roles before they're advertised.

Know what you're selling

Outreach only works if your offer is clear. Before you send a single message, answer these four questions the way a business would about its product:

Who is your customer? The two or three agencies or programs you most want to work for, and the firms that supply them.

From this readDefence, the Australian Submarine Agency, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Australian Digital Health Agency are growing (section 1).

What problems do they have? Look at what they keep re-advertising and the deadlines they're working to.

From this readRe-advertised Defence roles (section 5), plus the cloud policy, the Essentials series and the Defence Delivery Agency (section 4).

Why you, over anyone else? Your capability, your clearance and evidence that you've solved this problem before.

Test itCan you say it in one sentence that names the outcome you deliver? If not, no one can buy it.

How will you handle objections? Have answers ready for rate, clearance and availability before anyone asks.

So whatA confident, prepared answer is often what moves you from "interesting" to "put forward".

If you're early in your career, put most of your effort into building the product: skills, a clearance and evidence of delivery. Be intentional, refine the product, and then make the sale.

Screening has changed

With more applicants using AI to tailor CVs and answer selection criteria, clients are adding evidence-based, human checks. Here's what we're seeing:

Referee reports matter more than ever. Clients are relying on them heavily.
Proof is being requested. If a role requires a certification and you've claimed it, expect to show it.
Pre-interview interviews are increasingly required.
AI is screening too. Many areas use it for initial vetting to detect discrepancies, and assessors are noticing polished, premium-sounding responses.
Your CV and criteria must match. The scrutiny on both is high.
Owning or directing a company can count against you. You may be deemed a risk, on the concern that work time could go to your other responsibilities.

AI will answer the criteria whether or not the answer is true of you. If you don't feed it real detail and check what it writes, it may get you to interview, but it will destroy your reputation when the write-up doesn't match reality.

Our adviceDon't use AI indiscriminately, and back whatever you claim. Download and save your certificates and degrees now, ready to provide as evidence.

Preparing for interviews

You may not know the specific questions, but you can know what the agency is trying to achieve. Understanding its requirements and how your role fits into the big picture goes a long way.

Study the job description. Know what the role is asking for and what capability it needs.
Research the agency's direction. Look at the capability, programs and roadmap it's rolling out over the next two years, or longer if that's available. Read about it and learn it.
Connect your role to the bigger goal. Work out how the role applies to the larger program, and be ready to talk about how you'd contribute to it.

Your picture won't always be 100% right, and that's fine. Showing you've done the work and can see beyond the position description is what sets you apart.

Why remote work is being wound back

The feedback we've received from departments is consistent: nobody is bringing people back for the sake of it. Productivity is part of it, but at its core the problem is countless examples of workers holding more than one job. It's worse than most people think, and it sometimes means broad, blanket changes.

Worth knowingPeople don't always understand why this is happening. This is one very real and reasonable reason.

Wishing you all the best with whatever comes next.

Nic

Profectus Ventures

Glossary

New to government work? These are the terms used throughout this read.

APS: The Australian Public Service: the people employed directly by Commonwealth departments and agencies.
Ongoing and non-ongoing: Ongoing APS roles are permanent. Non-ongoing roles are APS jobs for a fixed term or a specific task. Contractors engaged through a supplier are separate from both.
AGSVA: The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency, which processes most security clearances.
Baseline, NV1, NV2 and PV: The four clearance levels. Baseline gives access up to PROTECTED, NV1 up to SECRET, NV2 up to TOP SECRET, and PV to TOP SECRET including caveated and code word information (AGSVA).
Sponsor: The organisation that initiates and holds your clearance and is accountable for it. You can't sponsor yourself.
DISP: The Defence Industry Security Program: Defence's security accreditation for businesses working with Defence. Members can sponsor clearances for Defence-related work.
PSPF: The Protective Security Policy Framework: the Australian Government's rules for protecting its people, information and assets.
ISM: The Information Security Manual: ASD's framework of cyber security controls for government systems.
Essential Eight and Essentials: ASD's prioritised set of cyber mitigation strategies, now being moved into a new Essentials series.
IRAP: The Infosec Registered Assessors Program: ASD-endorsed assessors who assess systems against the ISM.
Above the line: Contractors working inside an agency in roles an APS employee could normally perform, rather than delivering an outsourced service.
Panels: Pre-approved lists of suppliers that agencies buy from. Most federal contract roles are filled through a supplier on a panel, which is why who holds the panel seat matters.
Primes: The large companies holding major Defence contracts, which often subcontract work and people to smaller firms.

Sources

Budget Paper No. 4: Agency Resourcing 2026-27, Australian Government, 12 May 2026. budget.gov.au
APS grows again, but not every agency a winner in 2026 budget, The Canberra Times, 12 May 2026. canberratimes.com.au
The government wants less outsourcing. These agencies spent $500m more, The Canberra Times (via inkl), September 2026. inkl.com
APS outsourcing targets scrapped despite $1.2 billion surge, The Canberra Times (via Bega District News), July 2026. begadistrictnews.com.au
Canberra's job market sees unemployment rise as roles shift, The Canberra Times, 5 July 2026. canberratimes.com.au
Your guide to the new Canberra job market amid cuts and AI shifts, The Canberra Times, 19 July 2026. canberratimes.com.au
IT Contractor Rates Guide FY26/27, Hays, 2026. hays.com.au
Top 10 contractor day rates in Australia in 2026, Talent, 6 March 2026. talentinternational.com
Whole-of-government cloud computing policy now in effect, Digital Transformation Agency, 1 July 2026. dta.gov.au
DTA signs new 5-year agreement with Microsoft, Digital Transformation Agency, 26 February 2026. dta.gov.au
The APS Digital Workforce Gap: 8,000 Roles, 5 Years, and a Canberra Problem, AwardedTenders, 16 April 2026. awardedtenders.au
The APS Digital Roles That Never Leave the Gazette, AwardedTenders, 5 May 2026. awardedtenders.au
Defence Digital Group: Inside the $2.5B Insourcing Shift, AwardedTenders, 25 March 2026. awardedtenders.au
Strengthening APS digital capability: insights on building a workforce for the future, Digital Transformation Agency, 13 November 2025. dta.gov.au
Establishing Chief AI Officers for the APS, Department of Finance. finance.gov.au
AIDE and GovAI: moving from experimentation to impact across the APS, GovAI. govai.gov.au
Consultation on evolution of Essential Eight, Australian Signals Directorate, 15 June 2026. cyber.gov.au
ASD to retire Essential Eight within two years, Australian Cyber Security Magazine, 24 June 2026. australiancybersecuritymagazine.com.au
How the ASD June 2026 ISM uplifts CTI programs, Cosive, 9 July 2026. cosive.com
PSPF Release 2026: what has changed, Agilient, 2 July 2026. agilient.com.au
How to become an IRAP Assessor, Australian Signals Directorate. cyber.gov.au
Top IT Certifications Australia, Emanate Technology, 27 February 2026. emanatetechnology.com.au
Rebuilding Defence capability to keep Australians safe, Defence Ministers, 2 July 2026. minister.defence.gov.au
Conroy provides update on new Defence Delivery Agency, Australian Defence Magazine, 26 June 2026. australiandefence.com.au
Timeframes, Australian Government Security Vetting Agency. agsva.gov.au
Security Clearance Applicant Guide Book, Australian Government Security Vetting Agency. agsva.gov.au
Expiring Contracts 2026-27: $122B Pipeline, AwardedTenders, 21 September 2026. awardedtenders.au
Guidelines on the caretaker conventions, Victorian Government, 2026. vic.gov.au
Delivering a stronger digital future for Queenslanders, Queensland Government, 7 July 2026. statements.qld.gov.au
State Budget 2026-27, Business NSW, 23 June 2026. businessnsw.com
Victorian government to cut 1,000 public sector jobs following Silver cost-cutting report, ABC News, 4 December 2025. abc.net.au
Victorian IT projects blow out by $1.25bn over a decade, government data shows, ABC News, 23 February 2026. abc.net.au
Budget Speech, ACT Budget 2026-27, ACT Treasury, June 2026. treasury.act.gov.au
ACT budget papers reveal rising rates and a delayed surplus, as health levy scrapped, ABC News, 10 June 2026. abc.net.au
Australia lays keel for first Hunter Class frigate at Osborne, Defence Connect, August 2026. defenceconnect.com.au
Australia commits $4.6 billion to Osborne AUKUS submarine yard for nuclear-powered fleet construction, Defence Industry Europe, 24 July 2026. defence-industry.eu
2027 NSW State election: Bulletin No. 1, NSW Electoral Commission. elections.nsw.gov.au
South Australia fact sheet, Australian Submarine Agency. asa.gov.au
Fees, Australian Government Security Vetting Agency. agsva.gov.au
Labour Force, Australia, September 2026, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 15 October 2026. abs.gov.au
Statement on Monetary Policy: Outlook, Reserve Bank of Australia, November 2026. rba.gov.au
APS Hiring FY26: Vacancy Notices Down 35%, AwardedTenders, 4 October 2026. awardedtenders.au
Australian DOD confirms 12-month contractor crackdown, Defence Connect, August 2023. defenceconnect.com.au