Non-Ongoing Employment 
Advertising, assessment and maximum engagement periods for temporary 
employment 
Maximum period if advertised 
Maximum period if not advertised 
Initial Vacancy  Type of Vacancy 
Advertising 
Assessment 
in the Gazette and there is a 
in the Gazette and there is no 
competitive selection process* 
competitive selection process* 
Public Service 
Competitive 
Specified term 
Up to a total maximum period 
Gazette 
selection 
N/A 
–non SES 
of three years 
(APSJobs) 
process* 
 
Public Service 
Competitive 
 
Specified task-
To enable the completion of 
Gazette 
selection 
N/A 
More than 18 
non SES 
the task 
(APSJobs) 
process* 
months 
Public Service 
Competitive 
Specified term 
Up to a total maximum period 
Gazette 
selection 
N/A 
–SES 
of five years 
(APSJobs) 
process* 

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Non-Ongoing Employment 
 
Maximum period if advertised 
Maximum period if not advertised 
Initial Vacancy  Type of Vacancy 
Advertising 
Assessment 
in the Gazette and there is a 
in the Gazette and there is no 
competitive selection process* 
competitive selection process* 
Satisfied that 
Bring vacancy to 
Specified term –
person meets 
Up to a total maximum period 
Up to a total maximum period of 
the attention of 
non SES 
the job 
of three years    
three years 
the community 
requirements 
Satisfied that 
Bring vacancy to 
18 months or 
Specified task 
person meets 
To enable completion of the 
Up to a total maximum period of 
the attention of 
less** 
non-SES 
the job 
task 
three years 
the community 
requirements 
Satisfied that 
Bring vacancy to 
Specified term- 
person meets 
Up to a total maximum period 
Up to a total maximum period of 
the attention of 
SES 
the job 
of five years    
three years 
the community 
requirements 
Satisfied that 
Bring vacancy to 
Irregular or 
person meets 
Casual 
the attention of 
N/A 
N/A 
intermittent 
the job 
the community 
requirements 
* A competitive selection process must meet the requirements of merit 
**Where there is a possibility that an engagement may be extended beyond 18 months, it should be advertised in the Gazette and follow a competitive 
selection process 
 
 
Australian Public Service Commission 
2 
 

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