HOW TO APPLY GUIDE
Application overview:
Thank you for interest for applying for a position at NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors.
STARTTS uses merit selection to impartially choose the best person for the job, resulting in a quality workforce.
Merit selection is the comparative assessment of candidates applying for advertised roles against the knowledge, skills and abilities that are considered essential requirements to perform the job well.
Only candidates that meet the essential requirements and show evidence that their skills and knowledge are competitive with other candidates will be considered by the selection panel for progression in the merit selection process (see below for more information).
The applicant considered to be the most capable of doing the job is selected. This is determined based on applicants' qualifications, experience, skills, standard of work, and personal qualities relevant to the advertised position.
Each position description has essential requirements and desirable requirements.
- Essential requirements: these are skills/experience that must be met if you are to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you do not show how you meet these requirements, your application is unlikely to be considered any further.
- Desirable requirements: these are skills/experience that will assist you in the job, but you may still be eligible to be selected for an interview if you do not meet these criteria. Even still, it is recommended that you demonstrate your abilities or experience in some of these desirable areas as your chances of gaining are improved.
To submit an application for a STARTTS position, you are required to provide a statement against the selection criteria.
Writing your statement against the selection requirements:
The statement against the selection requirements is a mandatory part of the application process.
In addition to your resume/CV (required) and cover letter (optional), you must provide written answers to the requirements of the position you are interested in to ensure you are considered for the next stage of the recruitment process.
If you do not clearly state how you meet these requirements, your application is unlikely to be considered any further.
Suggested format:
Explain in either dot points or a short paragraph how you meet the requirements, ensuring to include any relevant formal qualifications and experience. Provide clear examples in each section/paragraph to demonstrate your experience.
We suggest using the 'STAR' method to structure your response:
- Situation - Set the scene and background to the problem or issue. What was your role and goal/objective in this situation?
- Task - What is the specific task you had to complete?
- Action - What action did you take?
- Result - What was the end result?
Examples:
Essential Requirement: "Excellent written and oral communication skills"
Subpar example:
"In my position as a youth worker at STARTTS, I have demonstrated good written and oral skills. This is demonstrated in my day-to-day duties."
Avoid being too vague in your response to the essential requirement. In the example above, it is unclear what specific tasks require excellent written and oral communication and how this applies to the role of a youth worker.
To improve this response, use the 'STAR' method to showcase a specific example of a time you demonstrated competency in an essential requirement skill and the outcome of your actions.
STAR method example:
"In my position as a youth worker at STARTTS, I have demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills.
Having held this position for two years, I have organised five camps alongside two other colleagues in addition to running ongoing sporting activities for youth.
To ensure a smooth planning process, I initiated regular meetings with my team members and maintained regular email correspondence with the camp site and relevant vendors. I also sent regular reminders to camp attendees ahead of the scheduled camp date.
Understanding that our clients are from diverse background, I tailored written emails to attendees to be simple to understand and called each of them to ensure that they received email correspondence and were aware of any changes to the activities.
By doing so, I was able to successfully run camps with over 30 children and received positive feedback from attendees and their parents through an attendee satisfaction survey."
What do I need to submit in my application?
All applicants should ensure that they have attached the required documents to their application prior to submission.
Resume or curriculum vitae (CV):
Your resume or CV should summarise the details of your education and employment history. STARTTS is interested in your educational qualifications and what you have studied, as well as the type of work you have done in the past.
What to include:
It is strongly recommended that you outline your previous positions held, both in Australia and/or overseas by including, but not limited to:
- the name of the position, organisation and how long you worked there; and
- the type of work you did and your main accomplishments and achievements
If you have gained skills, knowledge and/or experience which are relevant to the job but which were gained through voluntary or unpaid work, include them in your application. You should also provide evidence of any ongoing professional development.
Qualifications:
You should include any qualifications or certificates that are relevant to the position you are applying for in your resume/CV.
If your qualifications are from overseas, you should include copies of:
- all relevant qualifications, with English translations;
- a statement of Australian equivalence for your qualification, or letter of recognition or result of testing from a recognised assessing, registering and/or licensing body. Click here for further information.; and
- academic transcripts.
If you do not have translations or statements of equivalence, you may provide a copy of your original qualifications. If you don't have copies of your qualifications, you may provide a statutory declaration explaining the qualifications you have.
Referees:
Your resume/CV you should include the names, emails and phone numbers of at least two referees. At least ONE of these people should be a current or a recent work supervisor, if possible.
It is expected that the candidate notifies the referee regarding their job application and provides them a copy of the job description and selection criteria so that they are prepared to answer questions when contacted by the selection panel.
Workplace Adjustments:
STARTTS has a diverse and inclusive workforce and will endeavour to accommodate any requests for a workplace adjust to ensure all candidates are assessed fairly and equally throughout recruitment process.
If you require an adjustment to participate in the process, please indicate this in your application or by emailing the contact person.
Please note that any personal information that you provide about your disability or support needs will only be used to provide a workplace adjustment, so that you are able to perform at your best.
The interview process:
If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted about when and where the interview will be. Generally, this will be at least three working days before the interview.
Interviews are typically conducted either face-to-face or online. If you cannot physically attend your interview, please notify the contact person or HR as soon as possible to discuss alternate arrangements.
During the interview, the selection panel will ask you questions based on the essential requirements of the position. They will ask each candidate the same questions.
We suggest you read through the essential requirements and think of likely questions, then prepare your answers and rehearse as much as you can. When preparing your answers, it would be useful to look at the STAR method of structuring your response.
At the end of the interview, you will have the opportunity to ask the selection panel questions. You can also use this time to recap your strengths and add any additional information you previously left out.
Post Interview:
If you are the successful candidate, well done! You have gone through a competitive process and you are the best person for the position. You will be contacted by phone or email.
This offer will be subject to a satisfactory NSW Criminal Record Check.
If the position includes working with children, you will need to obtain an Employee Working With Children Check. Volunteer Working With Children Checks will not be accepted.
You may also need to provide a Statement of Service or equivalent so you can be placed on the correct level of the relevant award.
Once clearance of your relevant checks has been received and your start date is negotiated, you will receive a written letter of appointment.
If you are placed on a talent pool, congratulations! This means you have met the job requirements and may be considered for similar jobs for a period of up to 18 months.
If your application is unsuccessful, we will contact you to advise of that outcome. If you would like some feedback, you can make a request to the contact person listed on the job advertisement. Any feedback they provide will be designed to assist you with future applications by providing constructive comments about your application and your interview.
Pre Application Checklist:
Before applying, have you:
- visited the STARTTS website for more information about the organisation and the work that we do?
- if you have queries, emailed the contact person for information about the job?
- have you noted the closing date and where to submit your application?
- have you created an online account via the STARTTS careers portal?
Included in your application:
- your resume/CV (required)
- answers to essential criteria questions (required)
- a cover letter (optional)
- your current personal details, including your preferred contact number, email address and postal address (required)
- if required, the details of your visa type, expiry date, and working hours restrictions if any (optional)
- the names, phone numbers and emails of three referees, preferably including your current supervisor (required)