The two Senior Policy Officer positions at the NSW Ministry of Health work on medicines, poisons and regulatory policy. This is detailed work where evidence, legislation, ethics and public safety all matter, so the panel will be looking for careful judgement rather than broad policy claims. View the official job ad.
When planning how to apply for Senior Policy Officer, treat the cover letter and targeted-question response as separate jobs. Use the letter to establish your overall fit for regulatory policy, then answer the two questions with focused examples that show exactly how you analysed information and navigated an ethical dilemma.
The targeted responses have their own one-to-two-page limit. Answer each question directly, identify your personal role and explain the reasoning behind your decision, not only the final outcome.
This full-time role is based in Sydney – North/North West, with advertised salary of $129,464 to $142,665 per year. Applications close Wednesday 26 August 2026 at 11:59pm.
In This Guide
- Role snapshot
- Application requirements
- Candidate requirements
- Example application structure
- Application help
Senior Policy Officer x 2 Role Snapshot
| Role title | Senior Policy Officer x 2 |
|---|---|
| Organisation | NSW Ministry of Health |
| Job location | Sydney – North/North West |
| Job reference number | REQ669103 |
| Work type | Full-Time |
| Salary | $129,464 to $142,665 per year |
| Closing date | Wednesday 26 August 2026 at 11:59pm |
| Official job ad | View the official job ad |
NSW Government Application Requirements
Document limits and targeted-question instructions are part of the screening process. Follow each limit, answer every question directly and keep the resume focused on evidence relevant to this role.
Application Requirements For Senior Policy Officer x 2
- Up-to-date resume, maximum 5 pages.
- Cover letter, 1 to 2 pages.
- Separate response of 1 to 2 pages addressing both targeted questions.
Essential Role Requirements
- You must have the right to work in Australia.
NSW Government Candidate Requirements
The panel needs a senior policy practitioner who can be precise with technical and regulatory material while keeping health, safety and fairness in view.
Candidate Requirements For Senior Policy Officer x 2 At NSW Ministry of Health
| Requirement or capability from role | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Complex regulatory analysis | Show how you interpreted evidence, policy and legal or technical requirements to frame a clear problem and options. |
| Ethical judgement | Use an example with genuinely competing considerations and explain the principles that guided your decision. |
| Clear policy and guideline writing | Describe how you made detailed requirements understandable and usable for the people who had to implement them. |
| Consultation and implementation | Explain how you tested the work with experts and stakeholders and addressed risks before or during delivery. |
Example Application Structure For Senior Policy Officer x 2
The application asks for up-to-date resume, maximum 5 pages; cover letter, 1 to 2 pages; separate response of 1 to 2 pages addressing both targeted questions. Use the first part of the application to establish your fit, then develop your strongest evidence in the required document or question responses. The table below shows a clear way to organise the main written component.
| Cover letter section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening paragraph | Your interest in the role and the two or three strengths that make you a credible Senior Policy Officer x 2. |
| Complex regulatory analysis | Show how you interpreted evidence, policy and legal or technical requirements to frame a clear problem and options. |
| Ethical judgement | Use an example with genuinely competing considerations and explain the principles that guided your decision. |
| Clear policy and guideline writing | Describe how you made detailed requirements understandable and usable for the people who had to implement them. |
| Consultation and implementation | Explain how you tested the work with experts and stakeholders and addressed risks before or during delivery. |
| Closing paragraph | A concise summary of your fit, motivation and readiness to contribute. |
Responses To Targeted Questions
| Exact question | How to approach it |
|---|---|
| Describe a time when you had to analyse complex data or information to inform policy or a guideline recommendation. What approach did you take and what was the outcome. | Use a substantial example, explain how you assessed the quality and relevance of the information, and show how the analysis changed or strengthened the recommendation. |
| Healthcare policy and guideline development often involve ethical considerations. Share an example where you had to navigate an ethical dilemma and what guided your decision | Set out the competing duties or impacts, the principles and advice you relied on, how you involved others and why the final course was appropriate. |
What The Panel Will Want To See In Your Examples
- Rigorous analysis of complex information.
- Sound ethical and regulatory judgement.
- Precise written recommendations.
- Credible consultation with technical stakeholders.
- Direct, complete answers to both targeted questions.
Help With Your Senior Policy Officer x 2 Application
Give the targeted questions enough space to show your reasoning, then use the cover letter to connect those strengths to the broader role. Use the free NSW cover letter template. For tailored help, request professional application support. Check the official advertisement.