Introduction
The Communications Officer, Clerk Grade 1/2 – Multiple casual positions role at NSW SES supports the State Operations Centre in Wollongong. Communications Officers receive enquiries and requests for assistance, then log and update information using several systems in real time. The work sits within a 24-hour emergency-service operation and needs calm customer contact alongside accurate, timely records.
To understand how to apply for Communications Officer, Clerk Grade 1/2 – Multiple casual positions, separate the three written tasks at the start. You need a one-page cover letter, two targeted-question responses of no more than one page each and a resume of no more than four pages. The questions focus on a difficult customer issue under pressure and the simultaneous use of computer applications in a time-sensitive task.
Your examples should show how you kept thinking clearly, selected the important information and used procedures while the pace was demanding. Roster availability and the initial paid training are also practical conditions to check. The first training course starts on 30 November 2026, and shifts cover days, afternoons, nights, weekends and public holidays.
View the official job ad and keep its application instructions open while you plan.
Communications Officer, Clerk Grade 1/2 – Multiple casual positions role snapshot
| Role | Communications Officer, Clerk Grade 1/2 – Multiple casual positions |
| Organisation | NSW State Emergency Service |
| Location | Wollongong, State Operations Centre |
| Employment | Casual, multiple positions |
| Salary or remuneration | $42.71 per hour at Grade 1, Year 1, plus applicable casual loadings and shift penalties |
| Job ID | 602228 |
| Closing date | 11:55 pm, Sunday 11 October 2026 |
NSW Government application requirements
Give the hiring team the documents and written responses it requests, within the stated limits. Check the application form before drafting so the final submission follows the required format.
Application requirements for Communications Officer, Clerk Grade 1/2 – Multiple casual positions
- Cover letter, maximum one page, addressing essential requirements and interest in the role
- Separate responses to two targeted questions, maximum one page per answer
- Up-to-date resume, maximum four pages
Submit the cover letter, question responses and resume as separate attachments. Each question answer has a one-page maximum; this is a page limit rather than a word limit.
Role conditions and qualifications
- Availability for rotating day, afternoon and night shifts in a 24-hour, seven-day operation, including weekends and public holidays
- Shifts can be up to 12.5 hours long
- Availability for paid initial training: one Monday-to-Friday week followed by four six-hour shifts within the next two weeks, starting 30 November 2026 in Wollongong
- A journey to Wollongong of no more than 90 minutes from leaving home is preferred
Application question 1
Can you describe a time when you were under pressure to resolve a difficult customer issue? What challenges did you encounter and what strategies did you use to overcome them?
Response limit: Maximum one page
Choose one difficult interaction and explain the pressure, the customer’s issue and the obstacles. Describe how you clarified the need, prioritised your actions and kept the conversation useful. Finish with the resolution and what made your approach effective.
Application question 2
Provide an example of a time when you had to use multiple computer applications simultaneously in a time-sensitive situation. How did your use of these tools contribute to successfully completing the task?
Response limit: Maximum one page
Name the applications and explain what each was needed for during the same task. Show how you moved between them, checked information and avoided errors while time was limited. Connect that method with the completed task and its service outcome.
Candidate evidence for Communications Officer, Clerk Grade 1/2 – Multiple casual positions
Receive and manage requests for assistance in NSW SES’s State Operations Centre, using communication systems to maintain accurate information during time-critical operations. The evidence areas below help you choose examples for that work.
| Requirement or evidence area | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Computer navigation and accurate typing | Describe work across several applications, the information you needed to record and how you maintained typing accuracy while responding quickly. |
| Written and verbal communication | Show how you clarified an enquiry and passed on concise, usable information to a customer or colleague. |
| Independent and team work under time pressure | Explain your responsibilities during a busy or high-stress period and how you coordinated information with others. |
| Clear thinking and composure | Describe a difficult customer issue, the challenges you faced and the strategies that helped you reach a sound outcome. |
| Organisation within procedures | Show how you prioritised competing tasks and used a defined process to keep important work moving. |
Example application structure for Communications Officer, Clerk Grade 1/2 – Multiple casual positions
Prepare a cover letter, two separate targeted-question answers and a resume as separate attachments. The maximums are one page for the letter, one page for each answer and four pages for the resume. The outline below keeps the letter focused on your fit while the answers explain the two required examples.
| Application section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening | Explain your interest in the State Operations Centre and the service or operational experience you bring. |
| Communication and procedural work | Briefly connect your written communication, prioritisation and teamwork to a time-critical service setting. |
| Training and roster availability | Address availability for the initial training and the range of shifts required in the casual operation. |
| Closing | Keep the letter within one page and point to the separate examples and relevant employment history. |
Before you submit
Check each attachment independently against its page limit. The first question needs a customer-resolution example under pressure; the second needs real simultaneous use of multiple applications and an explanation of how the tools helped. Confirm your training and roster availability, and submit before 11:55 pm on 11 October.
Return to the official vacancy for the final document and deadline check.
Help with your Communications Officer, Clerk Grade 1/2 – Multiple casual positions application
If you want help organising your own evidence and preparing the written documents, request application support from Team 3Thirty. Bring the vacancy and your current CV so the application can address the work you have actually done.