Careering around Canberra Multi-Cache

Note the cache is not at the listed coordinates.

This multi cache celebrates a public servant’s passage through the ranks, from the glorious clerk class 1 (APS 1) through to the demigod-like Secretary.

Each level of our adventurer’s career is matched to a speed sign around Canberra. As you career around the streets looking for the clues, spare a thought for the many dedicated, hardworking, professional public servants that keep this town humming.

We have unashamedly borrowed ideas from mtbikeroz’s grand A-Z Canberra Tours (somewhat in homage). This multi is much more achievable, perhaps with around four hours driving (and a round trip of about 160km - apologies to the environmentally conscientious). Most of the information you need you can obtain by staying in your car. For some you will need to have a bit of a walk around, and for some you may need a spotter as you whiz by. You will generally NOT be able to use Street View or equivalent tools to gain this information. Note that the letter values below remain constant throughout.

To start off, you need to find the last four digits of the fax number of the Career Transition and Support Centre within the Australian Public Service Commission: 02 6202 XYYZ. (As a check, in case the fax number changes, the checksum for x + y + z = 11.)

To win your first position, at the APS 1 level, calculate:

S 35° (Y-2X)(Z).(X)(Y-2X)(Y-X)

E 149° (Z)(Y-Y+Y).(Y)(Z+Y)(2X)

At this speed you are able to launch your career at a nice gentle pace (even walking pace!). You may have sat the Australian Public Service entrance test or responded to an ad in the paper. But you quickly get restless and hanker for an APS2...

At or near this speed sign, find:
Height = A.B metres
Letters in first word = C.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (A)(2A+B).(2A+B)(A+B)(2A)

E 149° (A-2B)(2A+B).(2A)(C+A)(2B)

You have mastered photocopying and filing – both alphabetically and numerically – and it’s time to move on to preparing routine correspondence...

Near this speed sign, facing east, find two signs on a fence. From the one with the larger letters:
Number of letters in first word = D
Number of letters in second word = E.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (2B)(A-B).(D)(2A+B)(E+A)

E 149° (E-D-B)(D-A).(A+B)(E)(D+B)

You’re now operating in an APS3 position, with more responsible duties and broader reach. But it won’t be long until you are ready for something a little more challenging...

Near this speed sign there is a block of letterboxes:
Highest numbered letterbox minus lowest numbered letterbox = FG.

Calculate your way to an APS4 position as:

S 35° (F-2A)(D-A+2B).(2B)(F-D+A)(A)

E 149° (G-F-A-B)(A+B).(G)(A-2B)(D-B)

Your career is starting to consolidate and you have established all the basic skills of the modern public servant. You may now be specialising in finance, people things, policy, program management, or information. So time to move on again...

On the same pole as the speed sign:
Number of words on green sign = H
Total number of letters on green sign = I.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (E-D)(3H).(C-A+2B)(E-3B)(G-2H)

E 149° (E-F)(I+H-B).(2A)(D-B)(I-H)

You’ve now won yourself an APS5 position. If you’re serious about a policy future you may want to think about some time in a ‘central’ department about now, so look for your next position (this is not a hint!)...

Near this sign, on the ground:
Number of kilos = JK.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (H-B)(G).(J+K)(K+I-E)(H)

E 149° (K+K)(E-D).(B)(G-C)(C+K)

At the APS6 level you’re probably developing your people management and financial management skills, preparing to move up to the Executive Levels. So take a look in the front section of the job ads...

Near this sign:
On the caps of the three unpainted metal poles framing the pedestrian bypass of the large white gate, total instances of the numeral '0' = L
On the large white gate, number of complete squares in the grid, divided by 10 = M.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (M-H)(B-K).(M)(C+K)(H)

E 149° (K)(J-M).(L-K)(G-L-H-B)(H)

Now your career is really taking off – you’ve made it to the Executive Level and can be considered a senior project manager, program manager, policy analyst, etc. You will be drafting Ministerials, QTBs, CIBs, etc. After a while you’ll be looking to move on to Section Head...

At this sign:
Sum of six digits on pole = NP.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (N)(H-N+A).(P+K)(N+B)(L-D)

E 149° (K-K)(N+B).(M)(G+K)(H-B)

Now you’ve got a whole team to organise, to develop, to nurture, to finance, etc. You will be a rock for your SES superiors and be exposed to important things. Yet you now yearn for the Senior Executive Service, so off you go in search for your next position...

On the ground a few metres from sign:
First and third digit of number identifying bridge = QR

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (A+H-N)(K).(Q-M+2A)(C+P-R)(L+B)

E 149° (H-N+K)(2N-Q+M).(G-R+P)(D)(M+N-H)

You’ve now reached what is the pinnacle of a public service career for most people: the hallowed Senior Executive Service. You probably now get to park in the basement of the building in which you work, to which you drive in your fully maintained work-sponsored vehicle. You should expect regular contact with your portfolio minister, and you will spend your day signing things for passage up the line to the minister. You will be engaging with key stakeholders, and delivering results. Before long, your skills will be noticed and you will be marked out for moving on to the next level...

At or near this sign:
Which section = S.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (N+K)(S).(M+N-A)(L+B+P-R)(M+2N-Q)

E 149° (K)(R+N).(R-P+C)(I-J)(S-H-B)

You’ve got the nod and now occupy a SES Band 2 position. You are responsible for a Division (or similar) and are part of the organisation’s executive inner circle. You are a senior adviser to the minister, and you are a tower of strength for the hundreds of people you now command. Depending on your personal skills and attributes, the suite of agencies you have passed through, and your ability to deliver, you will soon be on the road to SES Band 3...

At or near this sign:
Sum of digits on blue sign = T.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (T-R-B)(P).(S+K)(T-G)(P-R)

E 149° (K)(Q-M+2A).(T-B)(K+K)(2N)

OK, so you have made it to SES Band 3 - typically a Deputy Secretary in a department - and you now spend most of your day communicating with the minister’s office, chairing inter-departmental committees, and providing wise counsel to the group of Division Heads that you are responsbile for. You have a pretty remuneration package, and possibly only a few more years, months, or weeks before you need to resign and defer your superannuation for 2 days until you turn 55. But the minister has bigger plans for you, and is recommending you for the absolute peak of a public service career...

Travelling west, and a few tens of metres beyond the speed sign:
Route number = U.

Calculate your next position:

S 35° (U-H+B)(T).(U+L)(B)(Q+S-U)

E 149° (K)(S+U-A).(P+R-C)(T-K)(S-H-B)

You have made it to the top. This level is so unique there is not even a position level to describe it. You are a CEO of an agency, a department permanent secretary. You regularly travel with the minister, chair international meetings, champion your agency at national and international forums, inspire your SES and other managers at team meetings, and generally implement government policy with an adroitness not found in mortals. In short, you are the very model of the modern Australian Public Servant. You are ready to claim your final reward (probably a Public Service Medal at some point), but in this case the coordinates to the cache container!

Travelling north, on this sign:
Number of instances of the letter ‘e’ = V
Number of letters in second word = W.

Calculate final destination:

S 35° (A-B)(2C-E).(D)(2F-M)(G-H)

E 149° (I-J)(P-3N).(K+Q+S)(R-2U)(Y-W)

In approaching the GZ, or in the throes of collecting the cache, note the sign near the road: you will read a sober reminder of the perils of accelerating through your career too quickly .

The container initially holds some of our finest, pre-loved speedy toy cars. Feel free to keep swaps in the themes of career or careering.

During your meteoric career advancement you have learnt many skills, delivered finely-tuned, evidence-based programs for the benefit of all Australians, and probably accumulated enough travel allowance to finance the public service commission of a small Pacific nation. At the very least, you will now be able to:
- Shape strategic thinking
- Achieve results
- Cultivate productive working relationships
- Exemplify personal drive and integrity
- Communicate with influence.

With these capabilities under your belt, you cannot help but be the consummate public servant. Congratulations!