Dear Applicant
PSL5 Hansard Editorial Support officer
Thank you for your interest in the position of Hansard Editorial Support officer. The attached
information package may help you in preparing your application.
The information package includes:
(a)
information about the department;
(b)
a copy of the position’s duty statement and selection criteria; and
(c)
an application cover sheet, which must be completed and attached to your
application.
Details of how to apply for this position are outlined within this information pack. Please note
that applications must be submitted by midnight Sunday, 10 August 2014.
For further information about this position, please contact:
Christine White on (02) 6277 2858 – Christine.White@aph.gov.au
Kind Regards
Recruitment Team
Department of Parliamentary Services
T: 02 6277 5200
W: DPS Employment page
Parliament House ● PO Box 6000 ACT 2600 Australia ● T: +61 2 6277 7111 ● ABN: 52 997 141 147
Information pack— Hansard Editorial Support officer
Who are we looking for?
The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) is recruiting an Editorial Support officer in
Hansard, a section of the Content Management Branch.
Hansard is responsible for the production of all chamber and parliamentary committee
transcripts and to be successful in the Editorial Support officer role, you will be a team player
who thrives in a fast-paced environment characterised by tight deadlines that can change at
short notice. You will have a strong customer focus and feel comfortable operating in an
electronic publishing environment.
About the job
Hansard employs Editorial Support officers to provide publishing and administrative support
services. As an Editorial Support officer, you will be monitoring parliamentary proceedings
and during sitting periods you will be preparing the transcripts and publishing them on the
internet. You will also be facilitating resolution of any production issues in relation to the
Hansard Production System.
Parliamentary Sitting Weeks
Parliament sits for 18-20 weeks per year, during which Editorial Support officers work long
and irregular hours, including evenings. Sitting weeks are characterised by changes to hours
at short notice, additional sittings, late nights and requests for urgent committee transcripts.
Work in parliamentary sitting weeks involves the preparation of proof Hansards for the
Senate and House of Representatives (HoR) (including the Federation Chambers, which is
the HoR second chamber).
Non-Sitting Weeks
Editorial Support officers generally work a standard day of 7.5 hours during non-sitting weeks
and work includes the production of committee transcripts. Parliamentary committees sit at
Parliament House and all over Australia and Hansard is responsible for the production of all
the transcripts. More than 60 per cent of Hansard's work is the production of committee
transcripts. As well, Editorial Support officers are expected to undertake project work to
progress organisational capability.
Currently, the salary range for this position is $73,126 to $78,452.
How to apply
Applications, quoting the relevant reference number, should be sent:
(a)
by email to dps.recruitment@aph.gov.au quoting “JO708” in the subject line.
Your application must:
(a)
include a completed DPS job application cover sheet;
(b)
your current resume (must include 2 current referees one being current
manager);
(d)
claims against each selection criterion within 500 words per criterion; and
(e)
be submitted by the closing date.
Information pack –Editorial Support Officer (PSL5), Hansard Section – JO708
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Our selection process
(a)
All ongoing DPS jobs are filled on merit. This means we assess the suitability of
applicants to undertake the duties of the job using a competitive selection
process.
(b)
If you are selected for interview, you will be asked to elaborate at interview
about how your experience and skills qualify you for the position.
(c)
Referees reports will be sought to further assess suitability of interviewed
candidates.
General advice for developing your application
If you are unfamiliar with addressing selection criteria, the Australian Public Service
Commission’s fact sheet on applying for jobs will be useful:
Cracking the code fact sheet 5
Some of DPS’s selection criteria are generic and are based on the Australian Public Service
Commission’s Integrated Leadership System (ILS). Applicants will be expected to
demonstrate how they would apply these skills to the requirements of the job as described.
The Australian Public Service Commission’s ILS Leadership Pathway identifies and
describes leadership capabilities at all classification levels
(http://www.apsc.gov.au/learn/integrated-leadership-system).
Some background to the department
DPS is one of four departments based in Parliament House to support the work of the
Federal Parliament.
DPS is the principal support agency for the operations of Parliament House—a building
where more than 3,500 people work on sitting days and which nearly one million people visit
each year.
To fulfil the DPS mission of “serving the Australian people by supporting the Parliament and
caring for Parliament House”, DPS has approximately 800 staff with a huge diversity of skills.
DPS deliver a wide variety of services, including building maintenance, security, ICT,
Hansard, broadcasting, and library and research services to the Parliament, parliamentary
committees, Members and Senators and their staff and other building occupants.
The Presiding Officers (the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives) are jointly responsible for the department. The Secretary of DPS is
responsible to the Presiding Officers for the department’s efficient operation.
Information about DPS such as its annual report and strategic plan can be found on http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Department_of_Parlia
mentary_Services/Publications.
The website also includes a brochure about DPS and our staff—
http://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/dps/wearedps-brochure.pdf.
General advice to applicants
Employment opportunities in the Parliamentary Service are open to all Australian citizens
and may be subject to a range of conditions including:
(a)
a requirement for a probationary period;
Information pack –Editorial Support Officer (PSL5), Hansard Section – JO708
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(b)
security and character clearances;
(c)
working with children check; and
(d)
a health clearance.
If you are not an Australian citizen, and have already applied for citizenship you may still be
considered for engagement on the condition that you are able to gain Australian Citizenship
within a specified time. Failure to obtain citizenship within the timeframe could lead to
termination of engagement.
If you have accepted a redundancy benefit from a Commonwealth employer (including the
Parliamentary Service and the Australian Public Service), you cannot be employed by DPS
until your exclusion period (the number of weeks for which you received a redundancy
benefit) has expired. If you would like to discuss your eligibility, please contact Recruitment
on telephone (02) 6277 5200.
The Parliamentary Service Act 1999 provides for mobility between the Australian Public
Service and the Parliamentary Service.
Conditions of employment and salary
Conditions of employment and rates of pay for non-SES DPS staff are specified in:
(a)
the Department of Parliamentary Services Enterprise Agreement 2011;
(b)
the Parliamentary Service Act 1999;
(c)
Parliamentary Service Determinations; and
Note: Persons commencing with DPS will generally be paid at the bottom of the salary range
for the relevant classification.1
Superannuation
Employees may be required to make superannuation contributions under the
Superannuation Act 1976, the Superannuation Act 1990, or the Superannuation Act 2005,
whichever is applicable. In addition DPS will pay an employer contribution rate as
determined by the relevant fund.
1
Clause 224 DPS Enterprise Agreement 2011
Information pack –Editorial Support Officer (PSL5), Hansard Section – JO708
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Duty Statement
Classification:
Parliamentary Service Level 5
Position No.:
Various
Local Title:
Editorial Support officer
Branch:
Content Management Branch
Section:
Hansard Section
Immediate supervisor:
PEL1 Assistant Director
Security assessment:
Not Assessed
Undertake duties in accordance with the agreed standards for Parliamentary Service Level 5.
The duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Collate and publish Hansard transcripts.

Process transcript corrections.

Create pro forma (procedural material and metadata).

Format questions on notice and questions in writing.

Create and maintain Hansard templates.
2. Provide advice on and assist in the preparation of procedural and other material for
incorporation in the Hansard report.
3. Prepare and/or format material including: petitions, amendments, notices of motion, text
of formal motions, postponements, incorporations, speeches, papers, matters of public
importance, ministerial statements, government responses to committee reports, second
reading speeches and divisions.
4. Ongoing management of aspects of the Hansard Production System, including:

Maintaining templates/styles.

Preparing cover pages/prefatory material.

Preparing chamber incorporations.

Maintaining logical components and proforma.

Maintaining chamber job components.

Modifying system parameters, as directed.

Collecting systems errors and preparing reports, as required.

Updating system help text.
Information pack –Editorial Support Officer (PSL5), Hansard Section – JO708
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
Assisting with Hansard user problems.

Emailing notifications to staff.

Preparing system alerts.
5. Provide first line systems support to Hansard staff.

Determine whether solutions to systems issues can be found locally or whether they
need to be progressed to 2nd and 3rd line support.
6. Provide operational and administrative support to Hansard.
7. Liaise with senators and members and their staff, officers of parliamentary and executive
departments, and other Hansard users.
8. Build and sustain positive relationships with team members, stakeholders and clients.
9. Attend and contributes to meetings as required and work collaboratively as an effective
team member.
10. Other duties as required.
Duties representing highest function:
Technical Functions/Service
Delivery
Reviewed and approved by Assistant Secretary:
Karen Greening
Date:
13 June, 2014
Information pack –Editorial Support Officer (PSL5), Hansard Section – JO708
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Selection Criteria
Classification:
Parliamentary Service Level 5
Position No.:
Various
Local Title:
Editorial Support officer
1. Experience using the Microsoft Office suite of applications, preferably with a focus on an
electronic publishing environment.
2. Demonstrated experience of working in a team environment and contributing to the
overall objective of the business unit.
3. A demonstrated strong client focus and commitment to providing services to clients and
other staff members.
4. A demonstrated continuous improvement focus.
5. Excellent time management practices, including establishing priorities, managing
workloads and meeting deadlines.
6. Demonstrated problem resolution experience, including appropriate escalation
processes.
7. Eligibility and/or job specific requirements: Staff must be willing to work irregular
and/or extended hours when the chambers are sitting and during estimates committee
weeks.
Employees of DPS are required to be able, and to be seen to be able, to provide
professional advice and services to all senators and members without favour or
prejudice.
Reviewed and approved by Assistant Secretary:
Karen Greening
Date:
13 June, 2014
Information pack –Editorial Support Officer (PSL5), Hansard Section – JO708
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This cover sheet must be included with your application
Job application cover sheet – Job Reference: JO708
Personal Details:
Male
Female
Surname:
Given names:
Business hours contact number:
After hours contact number:
Email:
Address:
Postcode:
Are you an Australian citizen?
If No, have you applied for Australian Citizenship?
Date of application:
Yes
No
Yes
No
Have you accepted a Voluntary Redundancy from a Commonwealth funded agency within the last 36 weeks?
Yes
No
If “Yes”, what date did your exclusion period end:
Date of voluntary redundancy:
Name of agency:
Employment Details: Current employer:
If APS are you:
Ongoing
Non-ongoing
If APS employed as (level):
AGS Number:
Do you hold a security clearance?
Yes
No
If yes, which level do you hold?
Baseline (Protected/Restricted)
Negative Vetting (Secret/Highly Protected/Confidential)
Negative Vetting 2 (Top Secret)
Positive Vetting
Referees: Please provide contact details of two referees to support your claims for this position.
Note: Your nominated referees should be a current and/or recent supervisor/manager.
1.
2.
Relationship:
Relationship:
Ph:
Ph:
Do you wish to identify as:
an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
a person from a different ethnic or racial background
a person with a disability
If selected for interview, will you require any special requirements/arrangements to be made?
If yes please advise:
Do you have any relatives or friends currently working in DPS?
If yes provide details:
Yes
Yes
No
No
(for the purpose of this question a friend is defined as someone with whom you socialise with outside of work 6 or more times a year)
Have you ever been found to have breached the APS code of conduct or similar terminated from employment
for misconduct?
Yes
No
If Yes, Recruitment will contact you to discuss.
I confirm that the information I have provided above and the details in my attached application are, to the best of my
knowledge, true and correct. I acknowledge that it may be an offence to knowingly provide false information.
Name:
Date
Information pack –Editorial Support Officer (PSL5), Hansard Section – JO708
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