Federal , State & Local Government

A Federal Government Branch Head engaged On Q after struggling for 6 months to secure suitable candidates through other agencies. 

With key project deadlines approaching, they needed a specialist recruitment partner to deliver highly skilled professionals. 

The department required EL1 and APS6 candidates with expertise in 2 key areas: qualitative systematic reviews with the ability to assess large volumes of scientific studies, and quantitative and qualitative data analytics using tools such as Python, SAS, and R.

We worked closely with the hiring managers to conduct detailed job briefings and executed a targeted database and Boolean search to attract and source the right candidates. 

This approach successfully led to the placement of two EL1 candidates on 12+12-month contracts and one APS6 candidate on a 12+12-month contract. All contractors remain successfully employed in their roles, contributing to the department’s critical research and evaluation projects.

Since 2018, On Q has been a trusted recruitment partner for a Federal Government Department, consistently delivering high-quality candidates for highly specialised roles. 

The department struggled to fill key positions, leading to an increasing reliance on On Q through internal referrals from EL1s, EL2s, and SES staff. 

On Q’s ability to source highly skilled professionals from outside the APS talent pool and effectively promote the benefits of public sector careers and relocation to Canberra has been instrumental in the department’s hiring success.

Through this partnership, On Q has successfully sourced and placed up to 10 roles per week, with 65% of new APS Labour Hire vacancies coming from referrals. 

Over the past 3 years, On Q has placed 292 labour hire contractors, including 30 at EL1 level, 2 at MO4 level, 22 at MO3 level, 3 at MO2 level, 171 at APS6 level, 44 at APS5 level, and 20 at APS2 to APS4 levels. 85% of these placements were for 6 to 12-month contracts, with 95% of candidates holding degrees - of which 85% were in BSc, B.Pharm, MBBS, or B.Eng. 

While the majority (81%) of labour hire employees were based in Canberra, the remaining 19% were placed in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, or Perth. Between 2019 and 2022, 86% of successful placements had no prior APS experience, and 59% relocated from interstate to Canberra. 

86% of On Q’s labour hire employees were either made ongoing in their roles or had their contracts extended.

A Federal Government agency required 12 additional APS6 assessors for technical evaluations but struggled to source candidates with the necessary niche expertise. 

The department needed candidates with scientific degrees (preferably PhDs) and industry experience in pathology laboratories, biomedical science, or the in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) sector. 

In particular, they sought professionals with expertise in infectious diseases, point-of-care serology, and ISO 13485-certified quality management systems.

We conducted a targeted database search and Boolean search to proactively approach passive candidates and promote the opportunity to highly qualified professionals. 

This approach successfully led to the placement of 8 APS6 staff. 

Of these, 6 have since been offered ongoing roles, while the remaining 2 had their contracts extended, ensuring the department met its operational objectives.

A Federal Government agency faced challenges in hiring pharmacists with a highly specialised skill set in remote areas across Australia. 

Traditional recruitment efforts were not yielding suitable candidates, and the agency required a strategic recruitment partner to manage the process.

On Q provided a comprehensive solution, offering full recruitment and consulting services, including onboarding, training, and bespoke contracts to facilitate the successful deployment of contractors to rural and remote communities. 

This resulted in the successful placement of 10 highly skilled contractors, all of whom met project deadlines and remain on assignment following contract extensions.

A Federal Government regulatory agency faced an APS headcount freeze but urgently needed to hire more than 20 degree-qualified contractors with regulatory experience for short-term contracts ranging from 3 - 6 months. 

The department required a fast, targeted recruitment solution to meet immediate workforce demands while ensuring compliance with APS hiring regulations.

The On Q team worked collaboratively with the department to conduct a nationwide recruitment campaign, successfully identifying and attracting high-quality candidates willing to relocate. 

The team provided relocation assistance and streamlined onboarding processes to ensure a smooth transition. 

As a result, On Q successfully placed 18 of the 20 required contractors within the department’s timeframe. 

Following the initial 6-month contract period, most contractors received extensions or transitioned into direct non-ongoing employment. 

The success of this project solidified On Q as a specialist provider for this government agency, reinforcing our reputation for delivering high-calibre professionals under tight deadlines.