In most government interviews, bringing brief notes is usually fine.
But there is a difference between using notes well and reading a script.
Panels want to hear your actual answer. They want examples, judgement and reflection. If you read long paragraphs, the answer can sound stiff and disconnected.
When notes help
Notes can help you:
- remember key examples
- keep STAR structure
- avoid forgetting the question
- track multi-part questions
- manage ADHD or anxiety-related blanking
- communicate clearly if you process under pressure.
What notes should look like
Use prompts, not scripts.
For example:
- complaint handling – Service NSW – angry customer – de-escalated – documented – outcome
- competing priorities – payroll deadline – manager escalation – triage – result
- stakeholder issue – unclear brief – clarified expectations – delivered.
That is enough to jog your memory without trapping you in a script.
When to ask as an adjustment
If using notes is connected to a disability-related barrier, you can name it as part of your adjustment request.
> I would like to refer to brief notes during the interview to support memory and organisation of examples.
Simple.
Useful next steps
If this topic is relevant to your application, these related Team 3Thirty guides are the best places to go next:
Useful resources
These official resources are worth checking if you need the source guidance behind the adjustment examples: