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Guide · APS applications

Using AI on an APS application: what the APSC's 2026 principles actually say

Last checked against the source documents: 23 September 2026. Written by Criteriawise, an independent service. We are not affiliated with the APSC or any government agency, and this is not legal or official advice. Always follow the instructions in the job ad and candidate pack.

In April 2026 the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) published two documents on AI in recruitment:

  • Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment: what APS agencies expect from applicants.
  • Guide for managing candidate use of AI in recruitment: advice to agencies and selection panels.

If you're applying for an APS job, you'll probably see the first one. The Principles say: "Agencies must provide candidates with a link to this document, either in the candidate pack or in the agency recruitment system advertisement."

Here's what they say, quoted directly, and what that means for your pitch or selection criteria responses.

1You can use AI, unless the agency says otherwise

The Principles start from permission, not prohibition:

"you are able to use AI tools when participating in an APS recruitment process (except where an agency has specifically requested you don't use AI). For example, you may use AI tools to support your drafting of applications and resumes, and prepare for interviews."

What to do: check the job ad and candidate pack for any instruction about AI. If the agency asks you not to use it, don't.

2The claims have to be yours, and you have to be able to explain them

This is the core of the Principles:

"It is your responsibility to ensure that the details in your resume and written application are factually correct and a true representation of your own experiences, qualifications and capabilities."

"You should only use AI tools to enhance what you have already drafted, for example to seek feedback on the grammar, structure or formatting of your written applications or resume … However, you must be able to talk to and fully explain any claims that you make in relation to your experience, qualifications or capabilities."

The Principles list what they consider acceptable and unacceptable at the application stage:

Acceptable (APSC's words) Unacceptable (APSC's words)
"Refine the drafting of your written application, CV, or resume" "Inflate, fabricate or otherwise misrepresent your skills and experience"
"Refine and clarify ideas and thoughts" "Generate generic response and copy those into your application"
"Research public information about the agency you are applying for" "Input sensitive or confidential information about your current or former workplaces into AI"
"Check spelling, grammar and formatting of what you have written"

What to do: start from what you actually did. For each example in your application, check that you could answer "what exactly did you do, and what happened?" without looking at the page.

3Don't put confidential work information into an AI tool

This one is easy to miss, and it matters most for people who already work in government:

"When using AI tools, you need to be sure you do not input any classified or otherwise sensitive or confidential information."

The Principles also warn that doing so "may lead to formal sanctions for APS employees", and ask you to "read and understand the privacy policies and data use terms of any AI tools or technologies that you use".

What to do: describe your work at the level you'd use in a public document. Say what kind of work it was, what you did and what changed. Leave out classified material, names of clients or members of the public, and anything your agency hasn't made public. Before you paste anything into a tool, find out where your text goes.

4You may be asked whether you used AI, so answer truthfully

"Recruiting agencies may ask if you have used AI tools to assist you in applying for roles … If asked, it is expected that you will provide truthful information about how you have used AI tools. You should be prepared to fully explain the AI tools you have used, at what stages they have been used and how the AI tools were used. This could include being required to demonstrate what your contribution to the final product was."

The Guide gives agencies a sample question. It asks whether "any part of your application (including your CV, resume, or written response) has been prepared or assisted by the use of AI tools", and, if yes, asks you to "specify which parts of your application were assisted by AI."

The Guide also tells panels how to treat your answer:

"If a candidate chooses to and discloses that they have used AI to assist in preparing for a recruitment process, this shouldn't be viewed as a negative."

What to do: keep a record of how you used AI: which tool, for which part, and what you gave it. Keep your own notes or first draft too. They show your contribution if you're asked.

5What panels are told to look for

The Guide asks panels to look past presentation:

"A candidate's ability to demonstrate their relevant work-related qualities is ultimately more important than how polished their resume looks or how well their written application reads."

"it's important that you look past the polish and assess whether the candidate has adequately demonstrated their work-related qualities through detailed examples of their experience and the results they have achieved."

It suggests agencies may move away from long pitches:

"Agencies may wish to consider whether asking for a 500-700 words pitch is the most effective method … As an alternative, agencies could consider asking candidates to respond to two or three targeted questions that are directly aligned with the key requirements of the role"

It also tells panels to check claims through "targeted questioning, reference checks, and practical assessments". Its sample interview question: "What was your individual contribution to the project you mentioned, and how did it impact the team's overall success?"

What this means for you: a smooth, polished paragraph doesn't earn marks on its own. What counts is a specific example of what you did and what resulted, and one you can expand on at interview and a referee can confirm.

A short checklist before you submit

  1. Did I check the ad and candidate pack for any AI instructions?
  2. Is every example something I did, described accurately, with my own part clear?
  3. Could I explain each example in more detail at interview?
  4. Would my referee recognise each example?
  5. Did I keep classified, sensitive or confidential information out of any AI tool?
  6. If I'm asked whether I used AI, can I say exactly how, and show my own contribution?

A note on state and territory jobs

These documents are written for APS (federal) recruitment. State and territory public sectors have their own rules and may not use these principles. We haven't found an equivalent candidate-facing document for the Victorian or NSW public sectors, but that doesn't mean there isn't one. For state roles, follow the job ad and candidate pack, and the same basics apply: true claims, your own examples, and no confidential information.

Sources