Organisation: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Job Title: Supervisor Counter Terrorism Unit Officer
Word Limit: 250 words per criterion
Location: Various
In 250 words or less, tell us why have you chosen to apply for a role at Australian Customs and
Border Protection Service?
While employed as a Field Intelligence and Surveillance Branch Officer with NSW Police I was
interested in the work undertaken by officers within the Counter Terrorism Command and knew
that this work would offer a unique and challenging career opportunity. I have extensive skills in,
and a natural aptitude for field investigation and surveillance work which would be an asset in this
role and have also consistently demonstrated the ability to work independently, and act decisively
as required.
I have a strong ethical commitment to service and would find a career dedicated to protecting and
securing our borders aligned to my personal ethos of meaningful community contribution. This
was an important factor for me while I was employed in law enforcement. I also regularly
volunteer my time to charity and always participate in the annual Red Shield Appeal.
I truly enjoy working in fast-paced, challenging environments, in particular ones that allow me to
utilise my breadth of skills, think on my feet, and provide me with opportunities to grow and
develop. I also look forward to being an integral part of a multidisciplinary specialist team and
working collaboratively alongside a range of other law enforcement agencies and officers. I enjoy
the exposure to the diverse skills, knowledge and expertise that comes with working with, and as
part of, professional teams. It is an opportunity to learn from others, see things from diverse views
and perspectives and contribute your expertise to enhance the skill mix and achieve excellent
outcomes.
In 250 words or less, tell us about the qualities and attributes you have that would make you
successful at Australian Customs and Border Protection Service?
I have the highest level of discretion and integrity, with a strong commitment to ensuring the
confidentiality of the information I am responsible for. As a Police Officer I had access to a range of
extremely sensitive data and always demonstrated the highest level of integrity with regard to the
security of this information. I also participated on many highly covert operations where the safety
of other officers could depend on the security of data. In particular, there was potential for the
tasks I undertook to be related to matters of internal investigation within the Force.
I also have demonstrated skills in remaining situationally aware in a variety of environments and
being able to effectively assess perceived risks and threats. I worked for NSW Police from 2001 to
2008, a time when Australia was on high alert to terrorist threats. I gained experience working
alongside other agencies in response to anthrax and bomb hoaxes and participated in mass
evacuations of railway stations in response to these threats. I had to follow complex commands in
hectic environments while remaining focused on ensuring the safety of those around me and
minimising risks in ambiguous situations.
During my career I have demonstrated that I am a self-motivated and focused worker who can
maintain concentration and attention even during long, solitary surveillance shifts. I also have
exceptional organisational skills. As an operational Police Officer I could be called to around 10
cases per day as well as managing 25-30 ongoing cases.
In 250 words or less, give an example of when you used your negotiation or communication
skills to positively influence others.
Working in law enforcement I demonstrated exceptional communication skills, including the
ability to interact effectively with people from all cultural and social backgrounds, often in
stressful, confusing circumstances. I was required to mediate and negotiate with individuals and
groups to resolve issues, and sometimes to de-escalate dangerous situations. I also participated in
community liaison events that focused on supporting and providing information to women in
relation to crime, personal safety, rights and responsibilities, domestic violence and child
protection. The purpose of these talks was not only to provide information, but to develop
community relationships, and to engender trust and a collaborative approach to community
policing. This depended on my colleagues and I having the necessary communication skills to
facilitate this outcome. It is also relevant that in all my roles in law enforcement I was required to
give evidence in court and be cross examined by Defence Lawyers. This required a calm,
professional approach, as well as confidence, clarity and strong presentation skills.
Another relevant example was when I accompanied the Police Youth Liaison Officer to sessions at
local schools and youth "hang outs". During these sessions I used my strong interpersonal skills to
promote the message that the department had a range of specialty Liaison Officers who were
there to help these young people. Their role was to provide them with information, resources and
guidance, rather than to act as Enforcement Officers. Once again, it was about developing trust
and a consultative approach to community policing.
In 250 words or less, show how you have used relevant technical knowledge including
legislation, policy and corporate knowledge to make an important decision.
As a Police Officer, I often dealt with complex matters as part of the investigative process. Not only
was I often dealing with distressed and emotional people, it was sometimes difficult to ascertain
the exact issue and how to resolve it. I often needed to determine if it was a criminal matter that
fell under Police jurisdiction. Sometimes it was a civil matter and the Police were not the
appropriate service to deal with the issue. To decide on the correct course of action, I needed to
be familiar with a number of acts, regulations, determinations, policies and guidelines. It was my
role to understand this information and apply it to a diverse range of circumstances. I developed
excellent interpretation, analysis and decision-making skills in this area.
I also needed to have knowledge of the interaction of government, community, welfare and other
services that impacted on, or were the correct referral point for, a number of matters. For
example, during some investigations I was required to liaise with other services, such as
emergency accommodation through the Department of Housing, or Case Workers and Social
Workers from the Department of Communities. I also liaised with mental health professionals, a
range of hospital and health workers, staff from the Departments of Immigration and Education
respectively, and a number of Community Welfare Workers. I needed to understand all this
information and the interaction of services to make decisions that would have a significant impact
on the lives of the community members I served.
In 250 words or less, give an example of a situation where you managed, influenced, or
contributed to a team to achieve a particular work goal. What techniques did you use?
Working for the NSW Police could involve being first on the scene at chaotic and stressful
incidents. On one occasion my partner and I were first to arrive at the site of a traffic accident
where the vehicle had crashed into a shop front along a busy road. Until the Inspector arrived I
coordinated the activities of civilians, my colleagues and other emergency services personnel as
they arrived on the scene.
Initially I had gained access to the driver who was still inside the crashed car and commenced CPR.
At the same time I engaged my partner and other officers to direct bystanders, ensure the scene
was safe, check for witnesses, minimise hazards, direct traffic, brief and direct arriving personnel
and call for further assistance. My goal was to ensure the safety of those present, minimise risks,
and secure the scene for later investigation. To achieve this I had to communicate clearly and
confidently with other team members, providing them with the information they needed to
undertake their roles effectively. I also had to remain calm and help my colleagues to appear this
way as well, ensuring that we kept control of the scene and helped reassure the bystanders
involved.
This example demonstrates my ability to contribute effectively to teams, including strong skills in
fostering cooperative relationships with my colleagues. Strong teamwork is about knowing each
other’s skills and experience and being able to leverage those capabilities to provide an integrated,
cohesive service to clients.
