Certificate IV in Government (PSP40122)

Nationally recognised APS training, contextualised to your agency.

McMillan Staff Development delivers the Certificate IV in Government (PSP40122) as a closed cohort for APS workgroups. Every program is built around the government context your team works in — APS Values and Code of Conduct, Commonwealth legislation, ministerial accountability, and agency-specific policies — so assessment evidence comes from real APS practice.

RTO 88187 · Current provider of the Australian Government Career Starter Program (AGCSP) for the Department of Finance · Delivering since 2009

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Why contextualised APS training works

When an APS team learns together — and the assessment evidence comes from the ministerial submissions they actually draft, the stakeholder relationships they actually manage, the risks they actually identify, and the government processes they actually navigate — the qualification becomes the by-product of doing better public sector work.

That’s the offer. Nationally recognised training, delivered to your APS workgroup, built around your agency’s actual work. Participants finish with a Certificate IV, and the workplace ends up with more capable early career APS staff, stronger understanding of government processes, and better-prepared public servants.

For managers stepping into leadership across your APS teams, we also deliver the Diploma of Government (PSP50122).

How we deliver it

Typical duration: 10–12 months. Timetables are set with the employer group before enrolment.

Closed-cohort delivery

Your team only, no mixed public groups

Contextualised content

Case studies, examples, and assessment tasks drawn from your workplace

Delivered by experienced trainers

Trainers and assessors with hands-on Commonwealth and public sector experience

Flexible format

Live online workshops via MS Teams, face-to-face in Canberra, or a blend

APS-contextualised practice

Participants apply learning to real APS work — values and ethics, legislation, stakeholder engagement, and workplace risk

Nationally recognised on completion

Issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework

Why McMillan

  • Registered since 2009 — 15+ years delivering nationally recognised qualifications
  • 5,000+ students trained — across public and private sector workplaces
  • Trusted by public and private sector employers — including Commonwealth agencies, ACT Government departments, and private sector organisations — see the range of organisations we’ve worked with
  • Every program contextualised — no off-the-shelf delivery
  • Owner-operator RTO — the person you talk to is accountable for delivery
  • Canberra-based with national reach — face-to-face in the ACT, live online anywhere

What your team will be able to do

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  • Uphold the APS Values and Code of Conduct and encourage compliance with public sector legislation
  • Apply government processes — including ministerial accountability, agency policy, and public sector decision-making
  • Work effectively with diversity and inclusion in the workplace
  • Organise workplace information and prepare high-level written communication — briefs, submissions, and reports
  • Use advanced workplace communication strategies for stakeholder engagement
  • Engage with stakeholders — internal, external, and cross-agency
  • Identify and treat workplace risks and contribute to workplace safety and environmentally sustainable work practices
  • Deal with conflict and lead effective workplace relationships
  • Develop and use emotional intelligence and undertake career planning

These outcomes are aligned with the 15 units of competency in PSP40122 (see the full list below).

Delivery and pricing

Workgroup delivery is offered on a fee-for-service basis and quoted per engagement. Pricing depends on group size, delivery mix (online, face-to-face, blended), depth of contextualisation, and any agency-specific requirements.

Quotes include:

    • All training, assessment, and coaching
    • Materials contextualised to your agency
    • RPL assessment for experienced participants where relevant
    • Certification on completion

Total fee, inclusions, refund terms, and payment schedule are provided in writing before commencement.

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How agencies engage us

APS agencies typically bring McMillan in through one of three arrangements:

Direct engagement

The agency contracts McMillan directly to deliver a closed-cohort program to their team. This is the most common arrangement and gives the agency full control over cohort size, timing, and contextualisation.

Through an established program

Some agencies engage us as part of a larger government training program. For example, McMillan currently delivers PSP40122 for the Department of Finance under the Australian Government Career Starter Program (AGCSP) — supporting APS employees from multiple agencies through a coordinated pathway.

Cross-agency cohorts

Where multiple agencies pool participants into a coordinated program, McMillan can structure delivery around a shared timetable while contextualising assessment tasks to each participant’s workplace.

Procurement

McMillan is set up to work through standard Commonwealth procurement arrangements — Commonwealth Contracting Suite (CCS) contracts, panel arrangements, or standard purchase orders for smaller engagements. 

Request a workgroup quote

Frequently asked questions

Workgroup delivery is quoted per engagement based on group size, delivery mix, contextualisation, and any agency-specific requirements. Quotes include all training, assessment, coaching, materials, and certification. Request a quote for a scoped price for your team.

Typical workgroup programs run over 9–12 months, with workshops scheduled at a cadence agreed with the agency. Duration can be adjusted based on the group’s pace and agency scheduling. RPL can shorten timeframes significantly for experienced APS staff.

As a guide, participants should allow around 7.5 hours per week over 12 months to progress steadily through the program. Actual workload varies depending on prior APS experience, current role, assessment evidence, and support needs.

Yes — this is how we deliver the qualification. Agency-funded workgroup delivery is quoted per engagement and invoiced to the agency. Payment is typically arranged through the agency’s standard procurement process.

PSP40122 is pitched at early career APS employees — including entry-level APS staff, graduates, and career-starter program participants who are developing foundational public service knowledge and practice. It also suits APS staff at any level who need formal recognition of their public sector capability.

Participants need to be employed in an APS or Commonwealth agency role that gives them access to real public sector work as the basis for their assessment evidence.

No prior formal qualifications are required. Participants should have workplace-appropriate reading, writing, and numeracy skills. LLN (language, literacy and numeracy) screening is completed at enrolment.

Participants must be employed in an APS or Commonwealth agency role and have access to APS work that can support assessment evidence generation.

Participants need:

  • A computer with reliable internet
  • A webcam and microphone for online workshops
  • Access to a workplace where they can apply learning and generate APS-specific assessment evidence

No other equipment, software, or materials are required at the participant’s cost.

Assessments emphasise practical application to real APS work. Methods include:

  • Workbooks and knowledge checks
  • Workplace projects — briefings, submissions, stakeholder maps, risk assessments
  • Case studies and presentations
  • Third-party reports verified by a workplace supervisor or contact

To successfully complete PSP40122, participants must demonstrate competence in all 15 units.

McMillan provides an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Participants can expect:

  • Trainer support within two business days via the LMS
  • Technical and study assistance
  • Reasonable adjustments for disability, health, or personal circumstances
  • Culturally safe learning and support for First Nations participants

Yes. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows existing APS experience and knowledge to be assessed against qualification requirements, reducing study load. This is particularly relevant for experienced public servants who have developed competencies covered in individual units through their work.

Credit Transfer applies equivalent units completed with another RTO toward this qualification. RPL potential is assessed as part of the initial quote.

Face-to-face workshops are delivered in Canberra. Live online workshops via MS Teams are available Australia-wide, which suits cross-agency cohorts and dispersed teams. Most programs use a blend.

Yes. PSP40122 Certificate IV in Government is a nationally recognised qualification issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework. McMillan is a registered training organisation (RTO 88187), listed on the National Register at training.gov.au.

Get course details, pricing, and eligibility

Tell us a bit about your team and we'll respond within one business day with course details, pricing, and funding eligibility where it applies. No obligation.

Units of competency

PSP40122 comprises 15 units of competency — 6 core and 9 electives — delivered across five progressive modules.

  • PSPETH006 Uphold values and ethos of public service (Core)
  • PSPLEG006 Encourage compliance with legislation in the public sector (Core)
  • PSPGEN114 Work effectively with diversity and inclusion (Core)
  • PSPGEN111 Apply government processes (Core)
  • PSPGEN138 Organise workplace information (Elective)
  • PSPGEN140 Use advanced workplace communication strategies (Elective)
  • PSPGEN143 Prepare high-level written communication (Elective)
  • BSBWHS311 Assist with maintaining workplace safety (Elective — imported from BSB)
  • PSPGEN133 Identify and treat risks (Elective)
  • BSBSUS411 Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices (Elective — imported from BSB)
  • BSBLDR413 Lead effective workplace relationships (Elective — imported from BSB)
  • PSPGEN090 Engage with stakeholders (Core)
  • PSPGEN098 Deal with conflict (Elective)
  • BSBPEF502 Develop and use emotional intelligence (Elective — imported from BSB)
  • PSPGEN086 Undertake career planning (Core)

Other qualifications we deliver

Not sure BSB50420 is the right fit? Here are three other nationally recognised programs we deliver to workgroups. If none of them fit, contact us — we’ll help you scope the right qualification for your team.

Certificate IV in Leadership and Management (BSB40520)

Emerging leaders and team leaders

View Course Details

Diploma of Leadership and Management (BSB50420)

Managers leading teams and operations

View Course Details

Diploma of Government (PSP50122)

APS4+ officers stepping into leadership

View Course Details

Student information

McMillan Staff Development is committed to a supportive, transparent learning experience. Every student receives clear information before enrolment about fees, delivery, assessment, support services, and their rights and responsibilities. Reasonable adjustments are made for disability, health, or personal circumstances, and culturally safe support is available for First Nations participants.

Full details on assessment methods, learner support, RPL and credit transfer, refunds and withdrawal, complaints and appeals, and privacy are set out in our current Participant Handbook.

Download the Participant Handbook
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