What we offer

At AQSA we strive to provide our staff with the support and the opportunities to help them reach their full potential and to thrive in their career. We are a united and connected workforce that promotes a healthy work environment and supports a positive work–life balance. ASQA has collaborative offices located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

ASQA offers clear salary progression, generous employment conditions (including leave and flexible work arrangements) and an inclusive and supportive culture.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) Enterprise Agreement 2024 – 2027 outlines ASQA’s employment conditions.

Why people enjoy working with us?

Remuneration

• Competitive salary (with clear and transparent salary progression, and scheduled salary increases in line with our Enterprise Agreement)
• Superannuation contributions of 15.4%
• Salary packaging options
• Salary matching (for ongoing APS employees joining from APS agencies)

Leave

ASQA offers generous leave provisions to employees, such as:

• 20 days annual leave (including ability to take leave at half pay)
• 18 days personal and carer’s leave
• 3 months long service leave after 10 years of continuous service in the APS
• Purchased leave options
• Parental, adoption, and long-term foster care leave (including ability to take leave at half pay)
• Cultural, ceremonial and NAIDOC leave for First Nations employees
• Bereavement and compassionate leave
• Family and domestic violence leave
• Community service and volunteer leave
• Defence service sick leave and defence reservist leave
• Emergency response and disaster support leave

ASQA employees are also provided with additional paid time off for the working days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (the Christmas closedown period). There are no deductions from annual or personal leave credits during this period.

Allowances

At AQSA we recognise our employees that undertake additional responsibilities by providing:

• Higher Duties Allowances 
• Workplace Responsibility Allowance for appointed corporate roles

In addition, ASQA offers an annual Healthy Lifestyle Allowance for all employees.

Flexible Work

We offer a range of flexible working conditions and provide generous benefits so that our employees can achieve their personal and professional goals. Some of the flexible working options available to ASQA employees include:

• Working from home and hybrid working arrangements
• Flexible working hours between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday
• Part time work, compressed working hours and job sharing arrangements
• Flex time / flex leave (available for APS1-6 employees) 
• Time off in lieu (TOIL) (available for EL1-2 employees)
• Ability to substitute Public Holidays
• Paid time off for blood, plasma or platelet donation

Flexibility applies to every role at ASQA and all employees can request flexible work arrangements. Everyone’s circumstances are different, and we work with employees to find arrangements that best fit both the individual and the agency.

Professional Development

• Study assistance (including paid and unpaid leave, and financial assistance) for approved courses of study
• Professional development opportunities
• Leadership and career progression opportunities
• Higher duties opportunities within ASQA
• Secondment, transfer and mobility opportunities within ASQA and across APS agencies and departments

Health, Safety and Wellbeing

ASQA prioritises the health, safety and wellbeing of our people. ASQA’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-25 guides ASQA’s approach to psychosocial and physical health and wellbeing initiatives.

We offer a range of health and wellbeing programs and initiatives to help support our people throughout their employee lifecycle including: 

• $300 annual Healthy Lifestyle Allowance 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), including free and confidential 24/7 counselling available for all staff and their family members
• Regular health and wellbeing events held throughout the year
• Access to free health and safety e-learning modules
• Free annual influenza (flu) vaccinations
• Dedicated Mental Health First Aid Officers
• Lactation and breastfeeding support
• Family and domestic violence support
• Drug and alcohol support
• Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Reconciliation Action Plan
• Diversity Working Group