First Assistant Secretary Salary Guide
Official pay bands, total packages, and leadership frameworks for First Assistant Secretaries (SES Band 2 Division Heads) in the Commonwealth public service.
Salary Snapshot
In the Australian Public Service (APS), a First Assistant Secretary (FAS) is a senior executive leadership role classified under Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 2. They lead entire divisions within federal departments and serve as the key interface between the Department Executive (Secretary/Deputy Secretaries) and operational branches.
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SES Band 2 Governance & Allowances
FAS / SES Band 2 positions are subject to Individual Determinations signed under Section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999. In addition to base salaries, they typically receive:
- Motor Vehicle Allowances: Executive vehicle options or equivalent cash allowance (typically $20,000–$25,000).
- Technology & Office: Mobile devices, home office packaging, and high-level communications support.
- Executive Health Checks: Annual funded health assessments and professional corporate support benefits.
Division Head Role & Delegations
As a Division Head, a First Assistant Secretary holds significant administrative, policy, and financial delegations. They manage substantial annual budgets (ranging from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars) and lead divisions comprised of several branches and hundreds of staff.
The FAS is responsible for directing major national programs, providing strategic briefs to portfolio Ministers, and presenting evidence at parliamentary inquiries, including Senate Estimates. They work closely with the Deputy Secretary (SES Band 3) and Department Secretary to align divisional priorities with the government’s broader legislative agenda.
APSC SES Capability Framework
Recruitment and performance management of First Assistant Secretaries are governed by the APSC’s SES Capability Framework. Candidates must demonstrate high-level executive capabilities across five core pillars:
- Shapes Strategic Thinking: Inspires a sense of purpose and direction, focusing on long-term policy development and broader environmental contexts.
- Achieves Results: Marshals divisional expertise to deliver national programs, managing risk and organizational change effectively.
- Cultivates Productive Working Relationships: Facilitates cooperation across agencies, manages stakeholder networks, and guides divisional staff development.
- Exemplifies Personal Drive and Integrity: Demonstrates public sector values, professionalism, and high-level ethical decision-making.
- Communicates with Influence: Negotiates persuasively, represents the department in public forums, and briefs ministers with clarity and authority.
Section 24(1) Individual Determinations
Unlike lower classifications (APS 1 to EL 2) whose salaries are set by collective enterprise agreements, SES Band 2 remuneration is negotiated via Individual Determinations signed under Section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999.
These determinations allow Department Secretaries to tailor remuneration packages to attract specialized talent. Remuneration is reported by the APSC as a Total Remuneration Package (TRP), which integrates the base salary, employer superannuation (standard 15.4%), and executive benefits (such as vehicle allowances).
Executive Benefits & Allowances
SES Band 2 officers receive executive provisions negotiated under their individual determinations:
Entitled to an executive fleet vehicle for private use (with running costs) or an equivalent annual cash allowance.
Entitled to business-class travel for all domestic and international journeys on official business, plus executive travel allowances.
Includes funding for professional memberships (e.g., IPAA), annual executive health assessments, and corporate training benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Division Head and a Branch Manager?
A Division Head (First Assistant Secretary, SES Band 2) oversees an entire division composed of multiple branches. A Branch Manager (Assistant Secretary, SES Band 1) reports to the Division Head and manages a single specific branch within that division.
Are performance bonuses paid at the FAS level?
Under federal public service guidelines, performance bonuses have been largely phased out for SES cohorts. Remuneration increases are integrated directly into annual adjustments to base packages.
Who determines the remuneration of an SES Band 2 officer?
Remuneration is determined by the Department Secretary under Section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999, taking into account APSC remuneration reports and the complexity of the division led.
What level of security clearance is required?
Given their access to Cabinet submissions and classified briefs, First Assistant Secretaries require a minimum of a Baseline security clearance, with Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1) or NV2 commonly required depending on the department (e.g. Defence, PM&C, or Home Affairs).
Are SES Band 2 executives subject to rotation or mobility?
Yes. The APSC actively encourages executive mobility. First Assistant Secretaries are frequently rotated between divisions or other federal departments to broaden leadership experience and support cross-agency coordination.