Introduction
The Whistleblower Support Specialist, Clerk Grade 7/8 role at NSW Ombudsman helps public officials who have made or are considering a public interest disclosure. The work involves explaining complex information, understanding sensitive concerns and helping people navigate their next steps under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022. It needs an empathetic communicator who can give clear, appropriate support while managing expectations.
When deciding how to apply for Whistleblower Support Specialist, Clerk Grade 7/8, prepare the three written components as one combined document. Include a covering letter of no more than two pages, a relevant CV and a targeted-question answer of no more than 500 words. The question asks how you helped a client understand detailed or complex information and the next steps by phone or email.
The role sits in the Public Interest Disclosures Unit in Sydney CBD, with hybrid and flexible working options. Choose examples that show careful analysis of a sensitive matter, audience-appropriate advice and sound follow-up. Your application should also explain your understanding of the Ombudsman’s work and how your qualification or equivalent experience supports this specialist function.
View the official job ad and keep its application instructions open while you plan.
Whistleblower Support Specialist, Clerk Grade 7/8 role snapshot
| Role | Whistleblower Support Specialist, Clerk Grade 7/8 |
| Organisation | NSW Ombudsman |
| Location | Sydney CBD, with hybrid and flexible working options |
| Employment | Ongoing |
| Salary or remuneration | $116,981 to $129,492 base salary; package up to $146,977 including superannuation and annual leave loading |
| Job ID | 602227 |
| Closing date | 10 am, Monday 12 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 Whistleblower Support Specialist, Clerk Grade 7/8
- Covering letter, maximum two pages, highlighting your claims and the role you are applying for
- CV outlining relevant skills, knowledge and experience
- Response to one targeted question, maximum 500 words
- Single combined document containing the covering letter, CV and targeted-question response
The two-page maximum applies to the covering letter and the 500-word maximum to the question response. No CV page limit is stated. Combine all three parts into one document before uploading.
Role conditions and qualifications
- Relevant tertiary qualification, such as law or social work, or equivalent working experience, such as complaint management
- Satisfactory security and related vetting, including a criminal records check, policy acceptance, statutory declarations and a health declaration
Application question 1
The role of the Whistleblower Support Specialist will require you to provide detailed/complex information to a client over the phone or via email. Provide an example where you have undertaken a similar challenge. What strategies did you use to ensure that the client understood the information you provided and the next steps?
Response limit: Maximum 500 words
Choose one real client communication and briefly explain why the information was difficult to understand. Describe how you assessed the client’s needs, organised the explanation and adapted the language or format. Include how you checked understanding, clarified the next steps and confirmed the result.
Candidate evidence for Whistleblower Support Specialist, Clerk Grade 7/8
Provide information and tailored support to public officials making or considering public interest disclosures, helping them understand the process and available pathways. The evidence areas below help you choose examples for that work.
| Requirement or evidence area | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Empathetic communication and tailored support | Show how you assessed a client’s needs, managed expectations and adapted a conversation, correspondence or report to the audience. |
| Analysis of sensitive matters | Explain the information you considered, the judgement you applied and why the advice was appropriate to the client’s circumstances. |
| Explaining legislation and processes | Use a complex process or legislative issue to show how you made the information understandable and checked the client’s next steps. |
| Independent and team work | Describe how you progressed a matter yourself while seeking or sharing specialist input at the right point. |
| Understanding the NSW Ombudsman’s function | Connect your experience to fair public administration and the support needs of people raising concerns about serious wrongdoing. |
Example application structure for Whistleblower Support Specialist, Clerk Grade 7/8
The application requires a covering letter, a CV and one targeted-question response combined in a single document. Keep the letter within two pages and the question answer within 500 words; no CV limit is stated. The outline below separates the letter’s broader claims from the detailed client-communication example.
| Application section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening | Name the role and introduce the experience that prepares you to support public interest disclosures. |
| Sensitive analysis and advice | Explain a matter that required careful assessment, appropriate advice and professional management of expectations. |
| Ombudsman context and working style | Connect your understanding of the statutory function with your independent work and collaboration. |
| Qualification or equivalent experience | State the qualification or relevant equivalent experience that meets the requirement. |
| Closing | Summarise your fit, then place the CV and clearly labelled targeted response in the same document. |
Before you submit
Check the combined document contains the covering letter, CV and complete targeted response. Count the response words and confirm the letter is no more than two pages. Keep client details appropriately anonymised in examples and submit before the 10 am deadline on 12 October.
Return to the official vacancy for the final document and deadline check.
Help with your Whistleblower Support Specialist, Clerk Grade 7/8 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.