Online Applicant Information
Employment in the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is governed under the Public Service Act 1999 and our employees embrace the Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct.
The basis for selecting staff:
The selection of staff to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is based on the relative merit of the applicants in relation to the specified selection criteria.
Unless indicated otherwise it is essential that you specifically address each of the selection criteria for a position. The information you provide in your application must be clear and concise as it will be the basis for the selection of applicants.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts uses a streamlined recruitment process, using a very rigorous shortlisting process and offers selection panels a number of different assessment procedures. These may include contacting referees prior to assessment, making an assessment based on application and referee input alone, or conducting interviews, examining work samples and/or conducting performance tests (written or practical).
Eligibility to apply for a position
To be eligible to apply for vacancies within the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts you must be an Australian citizen. (Any queries relating to this requirement can be discussed with the recruitment manager on (02) 6274 1277).
Before you Apply
Before you apply, carefully read the job description/selection documentation. If you require further information about the position please speak to the nominated contact officer.
Preparing Your Application
DEWHA prefers online lodgement of applications. You can view and access our online system at the following web site: http://www.environment.gov.au/jobs/opportunities/index.html
As part of your online lodgement you will be required to complete an application form, submit responses to the selection criteria and upload your resume.
When responding to the selection criteria, you can cut and paste from Microsoft Word or type directly into field. Please note that some formatting will not translate into the online system so please review your responses before submitting. Please observe the word limit as indicated on the application form.
Submitting Your Application
Where electronic lodgement is not possible, please submit the following documents:
- your claims against the selection criteria;
- a short resume of your education and employment history; and the DEWHA Application Cover Sheet (available from the web site - http://www.environment.gov.au/jobs/opportunities/index.html
- by mail to (contact officer nominated on the vacancy), Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601
- Or via email to (contact officer email )
Applications must arrive before the closing date as selection panels are not obliged to accept late applications. Only online applications will receive a return confirmation.
Availability during selection process
The selection committee will make a number of attempts to contact applicants but where contact is not possible from the information provided no further consideration will be given to the application.
Remuneration policy
If you are the successful applicant you may like to note the Department’s policy on commencement salaries and annual pay progression and discuss your commencing salary with the delegate before your engagement/promotion takes effect.
Clause E15 of the Department’s Enterprise Agreement states: “Where an employee commences employment in DEWHA or is promoted within DEWHA, the employee’s salary will be determined by the point in the salary range applicable to the classification of the job, as determined by the Agency Head (delegate), having regard to the experience, qualifications and skills of the employee.”
Clause E16 – “At the discretion of the Agency Head (delegate) where:
- an ongoing employee who moves to DEWHA directly from another APS agency; and
- the employee’s salary in that agency for the same (or equivalent) APS Classification exceeds the highest pay point in this Agreement (the ‘previous salary’);
- the employee will have their salary determined by the highest pay point for that classification in the Agreement.
- The Agency Head (delegate) may also determine that the employee receive additional salary to maintain the employee’s previous salary, until such time as the employee’s salary is equal to, or greater than, that previous salary (e.g. because the employee is promoted or the relevant pay points for the classification increase due to pay increases).”
Clause E33 to E39 Annual Pay progression – it should be noted that progression through ongoing pay points is an annual event on 1 September each year for eligible employees.
Eligible ongoing employees must meet the required standard in the Department’s Performance and Development Scheme and will be advanced to the next pay point provided they have been on the current pay point for six months prior to 1 September.
Further information regarding employment conditions can be found in the Departments Enterprise Agreement.
Who to call if you have any questions?
General questions about your application and conditions of employment should be directed to the Recruitment Manager on (02) 6274 1277.
Questions about the duties and responsibilities of the position, and the selection process should be directed to the contact officer nominated on the advertisement.