Queensland Police Service

Application Guide (non- police vacancies)

The selection and appointment procedures of the Queensland Police Service (QPS) are guided by legislation and
standards common to all government departments.
Merit is the sole basis for selection and is gauged by how well you satisfy the capabilities outlined in the Are you the
right person for the job area in the Position Description. Merit is described as the relationship between the qualities
required to do the job and the qualities applicants bring to the job.
The aim of this Application Guide is to assist you in understanding the requirements of the position and in realistically
assessing your suitability prior to making application for the position.
Position Description
A position description is a document which describes the work to be performed (Key Accountabilities) and the minimum
requirements needed to perform the work (Are you the right person for the Job?) of individual positions. The position
description should be read carefully as it describes the nature of the position and the qualifications, skills and
knowledge required to do the job.
Position descriptions for vacant positions are available on the internet at www.smartjobs.qld.gov.au.

Are you the right person for the job?

The Queensland Police Service has adopted the Queensland Public Service Capability and Leadership Framework
(CLF). In addition, for IT related positions the QPS has adopted the Skills For the Information Age (SFIA) framework.
All public service position descriptions require applicants to address the relevant capabilities outlined in accordance
with the framework/s.
Information on CLF and SFIA can be obtained from www.psc.qld.gov.au and www.qgcio.qld.gov.au respectively.
The position description will list the capabilities and most relevant components for the position under the heading Are
you the right person for the job?. The duties specific to the role will be listed (Key Accountabilities) and the position
description will also outline any mandatory or desirable skills or qualifications.
You are required to submit a statement (2 pages maximum or as otherwise specified on the position description) to
outline your suitability for the role by addressing the capabilities with reference to the key accountabilities. This
statement should include examples of previous performance and the outcomes achieved to support your claims.
Short listing for interview will be determined on how well you address the capabilities and requirements outlined and
both your written statement and your resume or CV will be used to assess this.
Failure to comply with the specified page limitation or to follow the directions outlined on the position description may
result in the application not being considered further. This may include the absence of a skill or qualification listed as
mandatory or failure to address the capabilities listed under Are you the right person for the job.

References
When making an application for a position, two referees are to be provided. For those applicants currently in the workforce one of
the referees should be a present or past supervisor. Current QPS employees should refer to the Services Merit Based Selection
policy on the Human Resources Division intranet site.
Permission will be sought from shortlisted applicants to contact their referees so that current employment is not jeopardised.

Completion of Applications
Applications are complete when they include the form titled Advertised Position Application, a two (2) A4 page (or page limit as
specified in the position description) statement outlining your suitability for the position by addressing the capabilities listed under
Are you the Right Person for the Job with reference to the Key Accountabilities listed in the Position Description.
Separate applications must be submitted for positions with different job ad /vacancy reference numbers (eg. QLD12345/13).

Lodgement of Applications
Applications are to be submitted online
www.smartjobs.qld.gov.au.

via

the Queensland

Government Smart Jobs

and

Careers website at

You need to create a My SmartJob account before submitting your online application. Details are available through the
Queensland Government Smart Jobs and Careers website at www.smartjobs.qld.gov.au.
You can save and submit later, allowing you to organise your attachments for submission at a later time, but by the
closing date.
Do NOT attach photographs or other large graphics to your application.
If you are unable to apply online please contact the Applications Processing Team at Queensland Shared Services on 07) 3247
3437 or (07) 3033 0925, between 9.00am to 5pm Monday to Friday, to enquire about alternative arrangements.
Before lodging your application you should use the following checklist:
Have you observed any specified page limit?
Does your application include your name and page numbering on the header/footer of each page?

Receipt of Applications
Complete applications must be received no later than 5.00pm on the specified vacancy closing date.

Late Applications
Selection panel convenors have the discretion to consider late applications received within 7 days of the vacancy closing date but
prior to the commencement of the short listing process, provided they are satisfied exceptional circumstances exist which prevented
the applicant from submitting a completed application by the closing date. Applicants should be aware that short listing can occur at
any stage from the time applications close and failure to supply full details in time may result in the application being unsuccessful.

Late applications cannot be submitted via the Smart Jobs and Careers web site. If it is necessary to submit a late
application please contact the Queensland Shared Services Applications Processing Team on (07) 3247 3437 or (07)
3033 0925.

Changing your Details

If your personal details change after you have submitted your application, you need to advise Queensland Shared Services. Please
ensure that the job ad/ vacancy reference number (on the front of the position description) appears in the email subject line, or
appears on the outside of the envelope, and send your correspondence to the Queensland Shared Services office or email address
which appears at the end of the relevant position description.

Withdrawing an Application
Applicants have the option to withdraw their online application from the My Applications page of My SmartJob prior to the closing
date. Queensland Shared Services will confirm in writing that the application has been withdrawn. Applicants who withdraw an
application online before the closing date will not be able to resubmit an application for the same vacancy online. Applicants wishing
to reapply will need to contact the Applications Processing Team on (07) 3247 3437 or (07) 3033 0925, between 9.00am to 5pm,
Monday to Friday, to enquire about alternative arrangements.
There are two steps involved in withdrawing your online application after the closing date:
Step 1: Access your application from the My Applications page of My SmartJob and change the status to withdrawn; AND
Step 2: Advise Queensland Shared Services of your withdrawal by emailing P1QPSWithdrawals@ssa.qld.gov.au or fax to
07 3109 9255.
Queensland Shared Services will advise the selection panel of any applications withdrawn after the vacancy has closed.

Additional Information
You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to be permanently appointed to the Queensland Public Service.
Applicants are advised that the QPS may initiate a criminal history and/or integrity check on the preferred applicant, if not
already a member of the Service.
In accordance with the Services EEO Management Plan, applications are encouraged from:

People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds

Women
People with disabilities
People from non-English speaking backgrounds

A non-smoking policy is effective in Queensland Government buildings, offices and motor vehicles.

Should you require any further information please contact the officer whose name appears against Further Enquiries on the
Position Description.

Queensland Police Service Vision Statement

Members of the community work with Queensland Police to stop crime and make
Queensland safer.

Police Security Checking Guidelines

Overview
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is committed to being an employer of choice through the selection of people who display the
attributes of integrity, fairness, equity, professionalism and accountability.
In selecting people to join the QPS, applicants will undergo a rigorous selection process that includes self-disclosure of relevant
information. The types of checks to be undertaken are detailed in the following documents.
The QPS will undertake integrity checking of all applicants. The QPS requires that persons applying to be appointed as a non-police
member or police recruit/police officer meet very high standards with regard to their past behaviour and conduct. Police Officers are
granted powers that exceed those afforded to other citizens, exercise broad discretions, often unsupervised, and are exposed, on

occasion, to substantial opportunities to engage in corrupt or improper activities.

information of a sensitive nature.

Non-police members may have access to

The Service must have the confidence of the wider community to properly pursue its statutory functions, and systematic integrity
screening of police recruit and non-police member applicants, is an important mechanism for the maintenance and advancement of
the organisational integrity of the QPS.
The Police Service Administration Act 1990 (the Act) provides that the Commissioner
(a) may gather all the relevant information the Commissioner needs about a person engaged or seeking to be
engaged by the service;
and
(b) may use the information to assess the persons suitability to be, or continue to be, engaged by the service.

The information obtained through the checking process will only be used for assessing the suitability of applicants for employment
within the Queensland Police Service in accordance with section 5AA.2 (1) of the Police Service Administration Act 1990.
However, in accordance with section 5AA.2 (2) of the Police Service Administration Act 1990, it is not Parliaments intention to
prevent the Commissioner using information obtained under this part that discloses the commission of an offence, or is, or leads to,
the discovery of evidence of the commission of an offence, for an investigation into the offence or any proceeding started or
facilitated because of the investigation.
These processes are in place to ensure the maintenance of the highest possible levels of integrity within the Queensland Police
Service.

Duty to Disclose
If you wish to be engaged or are seeking to be engaged by the QPS you must disclose relevant information in the approved form to
the Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service when requested. This requirement is outlined in sections 5AA.5 and 5AA.8 of
the Police Service Administration Act 1990.

Relevant Information
The identification of relevant information as per section 1.4 of the Police Service Administration Act 1990 forms part of the
assessment of suitability for appointment of a person as a staff member and underpins the notion of integrity.
The QPS applies the following general assessment principals when assessing the relevance of information supplied by an applicant
who wishes to be, or to continue to be, engaged by the Service.

General Assessment Principles

recency of offence/s or conduct

applicant's age at the time of the offence/s or conduct
gravity of offence/s or conduct
multiplicity of offence/s or conduct
pattern of offences or conduct, which indicates behavioural problems
specific problems involving alcohol, drugs or aggression, which indicate legally or socially unacceptable behaviour
applicant's lifestyle, currently and since time of offence/s or conduct
relevance of identified issues to the duties to be performed

Natural Justice
In the interests of natural justice, should information become available through security checks that may preclude an application
from progressing further, the person will provided with written advice detailing the substance of the concerns and be afforded the
opportunity to respond to the information within 14 days of receipt of the initial written advice from the QPS.

However, there are circumstances where an opportunity to respond will not be afforded and these circumstances are detailed in
section 5AA.12 (2) of the Police Service Administration Act 1990.
Where a written submission for review is received, consideration is given to the applicants submissions and the applicant is
provided with written advice of the outcome.