The Rank to Grade Guide for Councils
With more than 500 local governments across Australia, councils are well-positioned to provide meaningful career opportunities to former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Veterans bring a wealth of leadership, technical, and operational expertise – qualities that align strongly with the broad scope of work councils deliver across infrastructure, environment, health, planning, and community services.
Just like the ADF, local government is grounded in service. Councils exist to support their communities, and for many veterans this shared purpose makes local government a natural next step.
What is the Local Government Rank to Grade Guide?
The Local Government Rank to Grade Guide (LGR2G) is a practical resource developed in New South Wales to help ADF veterans transition into civilian employment within local government. Created through a collaboration between the NSW Veterans Employment Program, the Office of Local Government, Local Government NSW (LGNSW), and the United Services Union, the guide is designed to support both veterans and councils.
How it supports councils:
- Skill translation
The guide maps ADF ranks and roles to equivalent local government positions, helping councils understand how military experience aligns with roles in the sector. - Recruitment support
It assists hiring managers and HR teams to assess applications from veterans using the Local Government Capability Framework, encouraging consistent, merit-based hiring. - Career pathways
It highlights how the leadership, discipline, and problem-solving capabilities developed in the military meet the requirements of a wide range of council roles – from entry-level to senior leadership. - Attracting talent
By using the guide, councils can broaden their talent pipeline and actively promote local government as a veteran-friendly employer.
Access the Guide
The Local Government Rank to Grade Guide is available through the NSW Office of Local Government or the Veterans Employment Program website. Councils across Australia are encouraged to explore and adopt this tool as part of their recruitment practices.
Veterans bring proven skills, strong values, and a commitment to service. By recognising and actively translating their experience, councils can tap into a motivated workforce with the leadership, teamwork, and discipline to make a real difference in our local communities.
