Career Guide
The APS Integrated Leadership System explained
Understand the five ILS capability clusters, how profiles change by level and how to use the framework without turning your application into a keyword list.
The quick answer
The Integrated Leadership System describes leadership capabilities and behaviours across APS levels. Its five broad clusters cover strategic direction, results, working relationships, personal drive and integrity, and communication with influence. Use the profile for the advertised level to understand expected behaviour, then demonstrate it through relevant evidence rather than repeating framework language.
Use the ILS as a diagnostic lens
The framework helps you test whether your examples show the right behaviour and level. It should sharpen your evidence, not replace the vacancy's actual duties, Work Level Standards or agency-specific requirements.
What the ILS is
The ILS provides a common language for leadership development and capability across the APS. Profiles are available for different APS and SES levels, allowing behaviours to be considered along a leadership pathway.
The five capability clusters
The ILS groups behaviour under five broad areas:
- supports or shapes strategic direction;
- achieves results;
- supports or cultivates productive working relationships;
- displays or exemplifies personal drive and integrity; and
- communicates with influence.
The exact descriptors change by level. Higher-level profiles place greater emphasis on strategic shaping, organisational capability, ambiguity, influence and leadership through others.
How profiles change by level
At earlier APS levels, behaviours often concern understanding direction, completing work reliably, contributing to teams and communicating clearly. At APS 5–6, judgement, complex delivery, stakeholder engagement and initiative become more prominent. EL and SES profiles increasingly emphasise strategic leadership, stewardship, influence, organisational outcomes and accountability.
Using the ILS in an application
Read the relevant profile beside the job duties. Translate each important descriptor into an evidence question: “When have I done this, at this level, in a comparable context?” Choose examples that cover several behaviours naturally.
At interview, use the profile to anticipate the behavioural depth behind likely questions and to prepare different examples rather than memorised definitions.
Common misuse
Avoid copying ILS phrases into an opening paragraph, assigning one example mechanically to every heading or treating the profile as a substitute for the job pack. A response can contain every keyword and still provide little assessable evidence.
Official guidance used for this page
Guidance last reviewed: July 2026
This Professional Resumes Australia guide interprets public recruitment guidance for applicants. Always follow the instructions in the specific job advertisement and candidate information pack.
Questions about the ILS
Is the ILS the same as the Work Level Standards?
No. They are related but serve different purposes. Work Level Standards describe work value and classification; ILS profiles describe leadership capabilities and behaviours.
Should I quote ILS headings in my application?
Only where it genuinely helps navigation. Panels need evidence of behaviour, not copied capability labels.
Need help translating leadership experience into APS evidence?
Professional Resumes Australia can help you connect genuine leadership examples to the role, the relevant ILS profile and the level of impact a panel needs to assess.