Introduction
The Administrative Officer Level 4 – Research – Strategy Risk Planning and Performance at Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District supports the Research Office in Warrawong. This permanent full-time role helps the Research Ethics and Governance and Research Project teams keep their administration organised. The work includes invoicing, grant-funded support-hour tracking, records, committee support and correspondence.
Understanding how to apply for this Research Administrative Officer role starts with two requirements: a resume and responses to the selection criteria in the online application. The position description lists seven criteria. Your responses need to explain how you have handled the practical work behind them, including accurate invoicing, competing priorities and sensitive information.
Research administration suits someone who enjoys careful systems work and responsive support for a small team. You do not need to turn each answer into a general statement about being organised. Choose situations where your actions helped people track work, meet a deadline, maintain dependable records or resolve a matter with discretion.
Contents
- Role snapshot
- Application requirements
- Candidate evidence
- Example application structure
- Before you submit
- Role enquiries
Administrative Officer Level 4 – Research – Strategy Risk Planning and Performance role snapshot
| Role | Administrative Officer Level 4 – Research – Strategy Risk Planning and Performance |
| Organisation | Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District |
| Location | Warrawong |
| Employment | Permanent full time |
| Classification | Administrative Officer Level 4 |
| Salary | $78,183.85 to $79,973.57 per annum, plus 12% superannuation and salary packaging |
| Closing date | Sunday 20 September 2026 |
| Reference | REQ686647 |
Application requirements for Administrative Officer Level 4 – Research – Strategy Risk Planning and Performance
- Resume.
- Written responses to the seven selection criteria in the online application.
Read the position description before preparing your responses and answer each criterion individually. ISLHD’s linked application guidance recommends keeping each answer to roughly three-quarters of a page unless another instruction applies; this is general guidance, not a role-specific maximum. Follow any word or character limit displayed in the application form. A cover letter is not listed as a required document for this vacancy, so keep the main evidence in your resume and selection-criteria answers.
Use the ISLHD application guidance to prepare your selection-criteria responses and referee details.
Essential role requirements and conditions
The role has Category B vaccination requirements. The position description also explains that respirator training and fit testing can apply where respirator use is required. These are employment conditions, separate from the resume and written responses you submit.
Candidate evidence for Administrative Officer Level 4 – Research – Strategy Risk Planning and Performance
The following seven selection criteria come from the position description. Their practical emphasis is on reliable administration for research teams, including financial processes, information management and careful communication.
| Selection criterion | Evidence to prepare |
|---|---|
| Demonstrated experience managing invoicing processes and tracking progress against work plans. | Describe an invoicing process you managed, how you checked the amounts and supporting records, and how you monitored outstanding work. Relevant examples can include billing support hours, raising requisitions or working with finance to resolve an issue. |
| Demonstrated capacity to work with initiative to organise a high-level workload with competing priorities to ensure critical deadlines are met. | Explain how you assessed urgency across several tasks, planned the sequence and kept the team informed. Show when you acted independently and when you escalated a risk to a deadline. |
| Experience in servicing committees including preparation of agendas, business papers, and recordings of proceedings. | Use an example covering meeting preparation, accurate capture of proceedings and follow-up. Explain how you kept papers organised and decisions or actions easy to locate. |
| Advanced computing skills, particularly with the use of Microsoft office software packages. | Name the applications and functions you used for actual work. Explain how your spreadsheet, document or other computing skills improved accuracy or made information easier for colleagues to use. |
| Experience in the management of several data bases and related records to facilitate regulatory compliance and effective management of team activities. | Describe how you kept related records consistent, controlled versions or access and checked data quality. Explain the compliance or reporting need and what your work enabled the team to do. |
| Ability to work effectively within a small, collaborative team. | Show how you coordinated responsibilities, shared information and supported a colleague or shared deadline. Make your own contribution clear while explaining the team outcome. |
| Ability to confidentially and sensitively handle controversial or contentious issues. | Choose a suitable example without disclosing confidential details. Explain how you listened, protected information, used judgement and involved the appropriate person when necessary. |
Example application structure for Administrative Officer Level 4 – Research – Strategy Risk Planning and Performance
Prepare a separate response to each of the seven selection criteria. The role does not state a hard page or word limit, and the application form’s instructions take priority over general length guidance. The outline below helps you plan a specific example for every response.
| Selection-criterion response | What to include |
|---|---|
| 1. Invoicing and work plans | Identify the process and your responsibility, then explain your checking, tracking and follow-up. Finish with the financial or work-plan result. |
| 2. Initiative and competing priorities | Set out the competing tasks and deadline risk. Explain your decisions, communication and actions, followed by what was completed. |
| 3. Committee servicing | Describe the committee or meeting, the material you prepared and how you recorded proceedings. Include your handling of actions or records afterwards. |
| 4. Advanced computing | Choose a task that required more than routine use of a program. Explain the relevant functions and the practical value of the finished work. |
| 5. Databases and compliance | Explain the records and the compliance or coordination need. Show your controls, checking and the effect on reliable reporting or team activity. |
| 6. Small-team collaboration | Describe the shared task, how responsibilities were coordinated and what you contributed to the result. |
| 7. Sensitive or contentious issues | Give enough context to explain the challenge while protecting identities. Focus on discretion, judgement, communication and appropriate escalation. |
What the panel will want to see in your examples
- Clear responsibility for invoicing, records or work tracking.
- Checks that protect the accuracy of financial and research information.
- Committee support that produces useful records and follow-up.
- Independent decisions that stay within appropriate procedures.
- Respectful teamwork and careful handling of sensitive matters.
Before you submit
- Include your resume and a response to every selection criterion.
- Check any word or character limits in the online form.
- Prepare details for two recent referees, including a current supervisor, as described in ISLHD’s application guidance.
- Remove confidential names or identifying research details from your examples.
- Review the Category B vaccination conditions.
- Submit by Sunday 20 September 2026.
Role enquiries
Leah McManus, Leah.McManus@health.nsw.gov.au.
Help with your Administrative Officer Level 4 – Research – Strategy Risk Planning and Performance application
Our NSW Government application examples can help you see how to explain a situation, your actions and the outcome clearly. Team 3Thirty can also help you select relevant evidence and organise your application around the seven criteria. Keep the financial, records and research-support details of your own experience at the centre of each response.
Visit Team 3Thirty application support for help preparing your written application.
Check the current vacancy instructions before submitting.