Our Recruitment Process

For permanent roles, you must be an Australian Citizen or be a Permanent Resident. Occasionally, some temporary or casual roles may allow for certain visas to be accommodated. 

You must be medically fit to undertake the inherent requirements of the position and successfully complete a six-month probationary period.

Wingecarribee Shire Council often receives applications from candidates outside Australia. In accordance with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection requirements, it is illegal for Wingecarribee Shire Council to employ anyone without a valid visa that offers the right to work in Australia. 

Further details can be obtained from the Department of Immigration & Border Protection website at www.border.gov.au.

The onus is on you to demonstrate proof of the right to work in Australia. 

At the interview stage Council will ask to sight one of the following: 

• Australian Birth Certificate 

• Australian Citizenship Certificate 

• Australian Passport 

• Valid Visa with permission to work in Australia 

Wingecarribee Shire Council is not opposed to sponsoring suitable candidates for positions that have a skills shortage. In all other cases if you cannot demonstrate proof of the right to work in Australia, you will not be offered employment. 

Wingecarribee Shire Council has previously sponsored employees under the Temporary Business Visa and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

All positions are advertised on Council‘s website and other forms of advertising may be used depending upon on the position - e.g Seek. 

Initial inquiries should be directed to the Contact Officer whose details are shown in the advertisement. All inquiries will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence. 

To apply for a position online you will need to have a ‘unique’ email address (not a shared email address). 

Submission of all applications is done by using Council’s on-line recruitment system, not via post or email. (If you can’t apply online, contact the relevant Contact Officer to discuss options).

Using Council’s on-line recruitment system you can upload up to three (3) documents. 

You will need to provide: 

Cover Letter

A cover letter should be a short introduction of yourself, why you applied for the position and any additional information you believe is relevant or important. You should highlight your qualifications, skills and experience relevant to the position you are applying for.

Resume/ Curriculum Vitae

A resume should include the following: 

• Your full name, address, email and daytime telephone contact details. 

• A summary of your employment history starting with your current employment. In reverse order, it should detail the positions you have held including dates of employment and a brief outline of the main duties. 

• Your relevant educational qualifications and professional affiliations. Copies of your documents should be attached. 

• Details of relevant training courses attended 

• The names, position titles, name of employer and contact details of two recent work- related referees, preferably your current or most recent manager/supervisor. (You should ask the referees whether they are willing to act as referees prior to supplying their details). 

Ideally your resume should be no more than 3-4 pages long, so it should be clear and concise.

Points to Remember 

• Update your resume

• Use spell-check

• Be positive in the language you use

• Include examples of achievements and level of responsibility

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are the most essential aspect of your application - this is your chance to shine. 

Please provide a written response that demonstrates how your skills and experience are relevant to each selection criteria. It is important to be clear and concise.

A good way to address the selection criteria is to provide a specific example of where you have performed a particular task which is relevant. For example, if the selection criteria states ‘excellent communication skills’, you need to provide an example of a time you have used your communication skills to complete a task. You should set the scene, list the actions you took in performing the task and summarise the result. You could use the STAR method which is set out below;

Situation

Describe the back ground of the position

Task

What was your role in the situation?

What were your responsibilities?

Action

What did you do?

How did you overcome the challenges along the way?

Result

What did you achieve?

How long did it take?

By outlining a specific example from start through to the end result, you are providing evidence of how you meet a particular selection criterion. This is important as it means the selection panel can see how your skills relate and could be applied to the position.

It is important to remember that you are competing with other applicants for the position. If you do not provide details on how you meet both the Essential and Desirable Criteria in your application you limit your potential to be considered for an interview.

For Outdoor Operational Roles 

For most outdoor or operational positions, you do not need to provide a written response to the selection criteria. Make sure your resume has listed all your skills and competencies. 

Instead, you may be required to complete a practical test to demonstrate that you can operate the machinery, vehicle etc that are used to perform the tasks of the position you are applying for.

• Submit your application using the on-line system prior to the closing date. 

• Click on the position you are applying for and then click on the “Apply now” button. 

• Complete the questions and follow the prompts on screen. 

• You should review your application and ensure that you save a copy before submitting. If you do not follow the complete process and see a confirmation screen, your application will be listed as incomplete and will not be considered. 

• Once you have successfully submitted your application, you should receive a confirmation email.

All applications will then be reviewed by the Selection Panel and a shortlist made of applicants. It is anticipated that this process will not take longer than two (2) weeks after the closing date, however, due to unforeseen circumstances the process may be longer.

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview. 

If you are selected for an interview you will usually be notified with at least three (3) business days’ notice. Council will contact you initially by telephone regarding an interview and then confirm the arrangements by email. 

Council may choose to conduct a telephone interview as part of the recruitment process.

The Selection Panel usually consists of three (3) people, two (2) related to the position and one (1) independent, usually an Organisational Development staff member. 

You may be required to complete a practical skills and/or knowledge-based exercise – eg driving test. You will be advised of any such requirement prior to the interview.

If you are selected for an interview you should bring a portfolio that includes the originals of:

Evidence of your ‘right to work in Australia’ - one of: 

• Australian Birth Certificate 

• Australian Citizenship Certificate 

• Australian Passport 

• Valid Visa with permission to work in Australia 

• Your qualifications. You should provide the Selection Panel with a photocopy of all your original qualifications. This includes a photocopy of the front and back of your driver’s licence. 

The interview will follow a structured process and the Selection Panel will ask the same questions of all interviewees which are related to the selection criteria based on the Position Description. 

The questions asked will be based on the criteria of the position as well as your skills and experience. You will also have an opportunity to ask any questions. 

During the interview you may be asked for two (2) work related referees. You may also be asked to provide Child Protection Legislation documentation if the position has been identified as working with children related. Reference checks are done using the Xref online system.

Some positions require a criminal history check and if so, this will be detailed in the advertisement. 

For some positions, short-listed applicants will be required to participate in psychometric testing. This is done through an online assessment and will take approximately one (1) hour to complete. You will be advised if you will be required to undertake this test. 

Referee checks may be conducted for short- listed applicants prior to the interview, so it is preferable that you nominate two (2) work related referees and provide their current contact phone numbers on your application. Nominated referees should have sufficient knowledge of your demonstrated experience and be able to offer informed comments.

Council has a number of Pre-Employment checks relevant to:

• Validating an applicant’s eligibility to work in Australia, and 

• Establishing their claims to meet the Selection Criteria. 

These checks may cover:

• Referee checks (for all positions) 

• Pre-employment medical assessments which include a hearing and a Drug and Alcohol (for all positions) 

• Working with Children Check (only for some positions)
• Criminal History Check (only for some positions) 

Please note: Your participation in any of the above pre-employment checks does not indicate that you will be offered a position, only that these are steps in the selection process.

Once the required referee, qualification, pre-employment medical, working with children and criminal history checks have been completed successfully, the preferred applicant will be contacted and given a verbal offer of employment. This will be followed by a formal Letter of Offer setting out the terms and conditions of employment with Council (as per Council/Local Government (State) Award policies and entitlements).

When the successful applicant has accepted the position in writing, all applicants who were selected for an interview will be advised by telephone and email that their application was unsuccessful. All applicants who were not selected for an interview will be notified by email that their application was unsuccessful. This will usually be within twenty-one (21) days after the closing date of the advertised position.