Applying for positions within TAFE SA
TAFE SA Regional welcomes your interest in this position. Your application is often your first point of contact with
the selection panel and your first opportunity to convince panel members that you warrant further consideration.
To assist you in maximising your chances of success, it is suggested that you carefully read the following
guidelines.
1.
Before you start your Application
We recommend that you read the Job and Person Specification also located on the Notice of Vacancies website,
before you forward your application. You may also wish to speak with the Enquiries Person (stated in the
advertisement) about the position.
2.
Job Application
Your job application should consist of three essential components. These are:
(a)
(b)
Covering letter (see Point 3 below for assistance).
Selection Criteria application (see Point 4 below for assistance), should address the essential minimum
requirements from the Person Specification.
The covering letter and the application should be in Arial – 11 point font.
(c)
Resume, including a minimum of two referees
3.
Covering Letter
The covering letter is very important, as it may be the first document read by the selection panel. As such you
should ensure that the covering letter clearly and concisely summarises your claim for being the right person for
the position. The letter should also include the following:


Position title and location of the position you are applying for, and
Short summary of your skills, abilities, knowledge and experience in response to the selection criteria
outlined in advertisement.
4.
Responding to the Selection Criteria
It is the responsibility of the selection panel to recommend the applicant who best meets the requirements of the
Person Specification in terms of the definition of merit found in the Public Sector Management Act – namely “the
extent to which each of the applicants has abilities, aptitude, skills, qualifications, knowledge, experience (including
community services) and personal qualities relevant to the carrying out of the duties in question”.
From written applications, and in particular from the response to the selection criteria, the selection panel makes
an initial assessment of applicants’ merit in relation to the essential requirements of the position, as specified in the
Person Specification. Applications that do not provide sufficient information to address each of the
essential selection criteria outlined in the advertisement are unlikely to be considered further in the
selection process.
Therefore, in your application, you must be able to demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements of the
position. Please provide specific examples outlining your skills, experience and knowledge for each ‘essential’
criteria, and how you put them into practice. To simply state that you have this ability, skill or experience is not
enough!
You should also include in your application your potential for development, your understanding of issues relating to
the position as well as the relevance and transferability of your skills, knowledge, experience and abilities acquired
from community service organisations, social and recreational clubs (ie fund raising for voluntary agencies may
have contributed to your development of improved negotiation skills).
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Your application MUST address the following criteria from the Person Specification (Essential
Minimum Requirements) in relation to the job description by demonstrating that you meet all the
essential minimum requirements:
 Ability to use initiative and work in a self directed manner.
 Ability to organise information, equipment and learning materials to meet the demands of
clients and colleagues.
 Ability to establish sound workplace practice and contribute effectively as a member of a work
team.
5.

Demonstrated ability to contribute to the maintenance of a harmonious, safe and healthy
workplace, free of harassment, unlawful discrimination, bullying and where diversity is
valued.

Proven ability to maintain animal facilities and apply large and small animal husbandry
practice to a variety of animal species.

Demonstrated technical skills related to any area of the animal industries.

Applying workplace health and safety and workers compensation legislative requirements in
business activities for which the position is responsible, whilst ensuring compliance to
Agency workplace health and safety policies, procedures and processes including the
identification, assessment and control of risks and evaluation of mitigation strategies to
minimise the likelihood of injury and/or disease incorporating the agencies risk management
framework.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
As a part of your application, please provide a Resume or Curriculum Vitae that outlines your:





Name, address and contact telephone numbers, including an email address where applicable
Current position title (and classification level if currently a SA Public Sector employee)
Employment History (most recent first, and from at least the past 10 years) and other relevant
experience/history. (Please state whether your employment was full or part time, including the months of
employment, as this will assist in determination of an appropriate salary level, should you be the successful
applicant)
Education details (including copies of any relevant academic qualifications, typing speed statements etc
required for the position)
Three current referees’ details, including names, position titles, addresses, telephone numbers and email
addresses.
6.
Employment Declaration

If you are not currently working in the Department (DFEEST) you will be required to complete an
Employment Declaration form, also available from the NOV website. Please download, complete and forward
with your application.
7.
Your Responsibility
Once you have completed your application, it will be YOUR responsibility to ensure that:


the essential criteria in the advertisement has been adequately addressed, with specific examples provided
to back up claims;
you have demonstrated, with examples, that you can perform all the duties of the position;
you have proof-read your application and checked for any grammar and spelling errors;
email your cover letter, application, resume and employment declaration form, in the format requested, to
the officer designated in the advertisement for the vacancy. Your application must reach the designated
officer by 5.00 pm on the closing date. Note: Selection panels are not responsible to follow-up or further
consider incomplete, inadequate and/or late applications.
you have included the names, position titles, telephone number and email addresses of referees.
8.
Criminal History Checks and Mandatory Notification Training

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All job applicants external to TAFE SA who are applying for any positions will, prior to finalisation of an offer of
employment, be subject to a satisfactory criminal history check. Please contact the Human Resources Consultant
on telephone 8648 8716 for further information about this process.
In addition to this, all TAFE SA employees who fit into the following categories are Mandated Notifiers for the
purposes of the Children's Protection Act, 1993, Section 11:


A teacher in any educational institution (including a kindergarten) (This also includes TAFE SA)
Any other person who is an employee of, or volunteer in, a Government department, agency or
instrumentality, or a local government or non-government agency, that provides health, welfare, education,
child care or residential services wholly or partly for children, being a person who is engaged in the actual
delivery of those services to children OR holds a management position in the relevant organisation the duties
of which include direct responsibility for, or direct supervision of, the provision of those services to children.
The DFEEST Child Protection Policy promulgated in May 2005 (revised November 2005) outlines the need for the
abovementioned staff to undergo Mandatory Notification Training. Therefore, if you are offered a position within
TAFE SA that fits into the above categories, you will be required to participate in a DFEEST Mandated Notification
Training Program. If however, you have already undergone Mandated Notification Training in the past and can
provide written evidence of this, you will not be required to attend further training.
9.
VISA Information
All overseas applicants must have an appropriate visa before they can be offered employment with this
Department. Please provide details of your current residency or visa status in your application.
10. Equal Employment Opportunities
The Government of South Australia is an equal opportunity employer, and all selection decisions and appointments
are free from discrimination or nepotism. They are based on an assessment of the merit of the applicants’ abilities,
aptitudes, skills, qualifications, knowledge, experience (including community experience) and personal qualities.
Potential for development may also be considered. The grounds for unlawful discrimination are defined in the
Equal Opportunity Act 1984.
11. Further Information
Please feel welcome to contact the Human Resources Unit, TAFE SA Whyalla Campus, on 8648 8709, 8648 8725 or
8648 8716 for further information.
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