Application process

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It's easy to register and create your account. Once you’ve done so, you’ll be able to receive job alerts and apply for positions.

There are two eligible qualification pathways open to you.

Please ensure you understand which pathway fits your situation and /or whether your qualifications are suitable, before submitting your application.

Note: You may wish to create an eQuals account to enable you to easily verify your qualification details.

• An eQual link with pin can be used instead of a certified Bachelor certificate or Official Transcript.  In fact, providing an eQual link is a fast way to include your documents for inclusion on your application.
• My eQuals is a secure and easy way for us to receive and instantly verify official tertiary credentials online.
• My eQuals is governed and operated by participating Australian and New Zealand Education Providers

You’ll need to supply the following documentation to complete your application:

• Certified evidence of your qualification/s.
• Your resume.
• A minimum of 2 referees. We ask that you supply referee email addresses and that at least one of your referees is your current supervisor or immediate past supervisor.
• Your driver’s licence.
• Your Blue Card. If you don’t currently have one, don’t worry! You don’t need a Blue Card to submit your application. We do recommend applying for one as soon as possible, as you will not be able to commence a position with us until you have your Blue Card.
• Your passport or birth certificate (to confirm your right to work in Australia).

Once you've uploaded the required documents, you're ready to submit your application!

• If your degree or degrees were obtained outside Australia, you’ll need to supply a certified* overseas qualification assessment.
• If the name on your qualification is different to that on the ID you provide, you’ll need to supply a certified* proof of name change.

*A certified document is a copy of the original document that a Justice of the Peace, Commission of Declarations, Police Sergeant or Solicitor has stamped and signed after viewing the original.

Our Child Safety Service Centres are located across Queensland in metropolitan, regional and remote locations. When you apply for a Child Safety Officer position, we'll ask you to select the locations you're most interested in. View a list of our locations

If you're seeking new adventures and a change of lifestyle, working in a rural or remote community could be just the opportunity you’re looking for.

Are you prepared to move for a position? We offer a range of additional financial incentives and benefits if you accept a position in an in-demand location. This includes extra leave allowances and payments. Explore our in-demand locations. Applications received for these locations are highly regarded.

Once we’ve received your job application, we'll assess your suitability for the role based on our eligibility requirements. If you meet the eligibility requirements, and if we need any clarification or additional documentation from you, you may be contacted via email. You will then be shortlisted and progress to the next stage of the selection process.

The next step of the application process is a telephone consult with a member of our recruitment team. This is where we’ll explain the role in more detail. Some of the things we'll cover include your understanding of the statutory obligations of the role and of the Child Protection Act. We’ll also talk to you about training opportunities and what self-care practices work for you.

This is your first opportunity to demonstrate why you want to be a Child Safety Officer and to ask any burning questions you have!

If you indicated on your application an interest in working in regional or remote Queensland locations, you'll be asked to attend an interview once your application has been screened to meet the mandatory requirements of the role.

If your application is for a position in a more popular location in Brisbane and south-east Queensland, your application may be placed in a qualifying pool for up to 12 months.  We'll contact you for an interview as soon as a position becomes available.

At the end of your phone consultation, we will let you know if you’ve proceeded to the interview stage. If you have, we’ll let you know the service centre your details will be sent to, and they’ll be in touch to schedule an application. We'll also confirm your referees and seek your consent to contact your nominated referees. We will not contact your referees without your consent.

We’ll contact your referees, after your interview (if you have been deemed successful). However, we’d like you to know that your referee reports will only be read after your panel interview. The goal of contacting your referees is to learn more about you and verify your work history, skills and capabilities. If any of your referees make any adverse comments, after your panel interview, we'll give you the opportunity to respond.

We recommend you discuss your application with your referees so they have a clear understanding of the role you're applying for and can provide an informed response.

If you are not selected for a CSO role, the interview panel will provide feedback on your interview and offer tips on how to gain further experience. Once the Central Recruitment team is notified of this outcome, your application will be removed from the pool. You may reapply once you have gained additional experience.

Your interview is your opportunity to get to know us better and determine if you’ll be a good fit. It’s also a chance for you to demonstrate your strengths, attributes and motivations for applying to work in child protection.

Your interview will run for 30 to 45 minutes and will be led by a panel of at least two people from the Child Safety Service Centre in the location you selected on your application.  You will be invited to attend either a face-to-face interview, or invited to interview in a rural and remote area which may be conducted online. You'll be asked to answer a series of structured and scenario questions.

Before your interview, we encourage you to revisit our department website for information about working in child protection and prepare your responses before your interview.

We will ask you about the Child Protection Act, statutory responsibilities and the child protection frameworks of practice. Don’t worry, you won't be expected to know our internal policies or procedures. We'll ask you to demonstrate your thought processes and rationale for making decisions and your understanding of the role of a Child Safety Officer.

If your interview is successful, we'll contact you by phone and via email to welcome you to the team and let you know about the next steps.

This is an exciting time in your child protection career, but we appreciate it may also seem a little daunting at first. Please know you'll be working with a team of people who’ll lift you up and keep you strong. You’ll also have access to a range of training programs to help prepare you for your role.

If you're unsuccessful, you will receive an email to advise you of this. Your interview panel may recommend that you be considered for future vacancies, in which case you’ll be advised that your application will be placed in our qualifying pool.

You are welcome to ask us for feedback at any stage of the application process.

If we assess your application as not successful during the screening process, our Recruitment team will be more than happy to provide you with feedback - simply ask!  They can also offer advice on how to improve your application so you can reapply.

If you don’t progress to the next stage after your interview, your Child Safety Service Centre panel will also provide you with feedback.