Organisation: Department of Corrective Services
Job Title: Community Work Officer
Location: Various
Holding and maintaining a current “C Class”, Western Australian Driver’s Licence. Current holder
of or ability to obtain a Working with Children Check.
I currently hold a C Class Northern Territory Driver’s Licence which can be transferred to Western
Australia.
In addition, I am eligible to successfully obtain a Working with Children Check.
Demonstrated experience in manual trades, light industry and / or arts and crafts. The ability to
manage people, equipment and facilities to achieve the best results.
Familiar with light industry production, in my position as a Machine Operator for First Data
Corporation I operated the credit and debit card production machine to create cards on behalf of
financial institutions. My primary responsibility was to load the machine hopper and monitor the
performance and condition of production machinery. In my later capacity as a team leader for the
same organisation, I oversaw a team of Machine Operators performing the same tasks. In these
positions I was frequently called upon to conduct maintenance on the production machines and
diagnose and repair problems with their function. I am comfortable working with technical and
mechanical items and displayed a natural ability for servicing the production machines. It was
through my skill at maintaining and repairing these machines that I was initially identified as a
candidate for promotion to a Team Leader role.
In my position as a Computer Operator in a higher education setting, I operated academic and
administrative computer systems for users. Additionally, I responded to and resolved computer
and data communications problems. In this role I was required to set-up and operate computer
equipment, printers, offline devices and related peripheral support equipment. My work included
the installation of new equipment or of workstations for new users, the set-up of internet
connection and connection to the University network. Where users encountered problems with
equipment, I would determine the problem and manage the equipment to find a resolution.
I am experienced in managing staff to allocate tasks for best outcomes. As a Team Leader at First
Data Corporation I was responsible for a team of eight staff. Prior to a shift I would plan the
required volume of card production to meet client needs. I would then assign duties to these staff
according to the priorities of the shift and the relative strengths and capabilities of individual team
members, and monitor output throughout the shift. In this way, I was able to ensure that
production targets were achieved. I am also adept at the planning of staff utilisation through
appropriate rostering; in my position as Assistant Manager of the Kwik Shop retail outlet, I aided
the Store Manager in rostering of sales staff.
Knowledge of Occupational, Health and Safety standards and legislation relevant to the
workplace.
I conduct all of my work duties in accordance with organisational requirements and policies and
have the ability to acquire and apply knowledge of occupational health and safety standards and
legislation.
Ability to organise, plan and prioritise work to meet targets and time frames in a changing
environment. Developing practical solutions to problems, especially when supervising
individuals presenting difficult behaviours.
Comfortable in a changing environment, I am adept at managing competing priorities and
responding to emerging issues. In my current position as Night Auditor at an Aurora hotel, I have
seen three transitions of the hotel’s operating system during my tenure. Each of these transitions
has required an extensive operation to transfer all data from the old system to the new and
checking for and resolving any discrepancies throughout the process. Undertaking a system
change such as this, requires the ability to plan and execute a workload according to tight time
frames, something which I have managed to do successfully three times in recent years.
Some of my roles over the course of my career have required me to exercise a large degree of
independent judgement and autonomy over my own priorities and workload in order to deliver
successful outcomes. My position as Night Auditor sees me being solely responsible for the
operations of the hotel during my shifts. On these shifts I am required to independently set and
determine my own priorities in order to complete all allocated tasks and this enables me to
respond to issues that materialise in a timely manner.
I work to a deadline which requires that all discrepancies to be resolved by the conclusion of the
night shift, and I must manage my work around arising issues requiring my attention. On any given
shift, I may be attending to late check-ins or early check-outs, resolving any hotel disturbances or
complaints, and attending to any queries or requests. My auditing functions must be completed
alongside these varying and often unpredictable competing demands.
In supervising others, I take a positive and proactive approach to resolving any issues. Always alert
for the positive qualities and attributes of others, I am able to identify things that those under my
supervision are able to do well, and provide positive reinforcement of this. When problems
transpire, I am then able to build on this positive relationship to provide guidance towards the
desired performance. By providing suggested alternative methods or behaviours and working with
others to develop solutions to problems, I create ownership of the solution which leads to greater
success in its implementation.
Effective oral communication and interpersonal skills in a range of settings and groups of
people. The ability to adjust methods and styles of communication to suit the cultural needs of
clients. Ability to motivate and encourage difficult customers to achieve positive results. The
ability to participate in, lead and facilitate work groups to achieve positive outcomes.
As a confident and experienced communicator, I present messages in a clear and concise manner.
Strong communication skills have been essential to successful performance in many of my
previous roles. My current position in the accommodation industry at Aurora Alice Springs
requires me to exercise clear verbal communication to assist guests at the hotel front desk with all
queries and requests for information, as well as checking them in and providing an orientation to
the hotel. Additionally, I am required to resolve complaints and intervene to prevent disturbances
caused by guests; these delicate situations require that I communicate with professionalism and
empathy.
One of my strengths lies in my ability to interact well with people from all walks of life, and I take
pride in my capacity to work effectively with people from a diverse range of backgrounds. I have
experience in communicating with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,
and am able to do so effectively and appropriately. I have worked successfully in three different
countries and have found that styles of interaction and professional communication can vary
widely depending on the work location, environment and context. Having worked in environments
requiring interaction with people from so many different backgrounds and cultures, I am able to
adapt my working and communication style to best suit the surroundings in which I work.
My position as a Study Abroad Counsellor required me to communicate with staff in university
environments around the world, and to assist students in the preparation of visa documentation
for entry into various countries. In my current positon within the Tourism Industry, I am
interacting on a daily basis with international visitors from all around the world; I do so effectively
and with sensitivity towards cultural differences in communication style and protocols. Likewise
during my tenure as a call centre consultant for the Greyhound Lines bus company, I fielded calls
from many American and other international travellers and was able to do so in a professional and
helpful manner.
As a leader, I perform my role in a direct and transparent style and am able to facilitate the
achievement of set outcomes by teams. As the Team Leader of a group of eight at First Data
Corporation, I set and monitored production targets for the shift and proactively addressed any
issues which emerged with efficiency and superior ability. I lead by example and display an
encouraging attitude and constructive approach to resolution of problems, which elicits a positive
response from those I oversee or work with.
Demonstrated ability to use appropriate conduct in a range of situations. Ability to determine
how to respond in situations which involve confidential and sensitive information.
As Night Auditor in a hotel, I am frequently called upon to resolve complaints and intervene to
prevent disturbances caused by guests. These delicate situations require that I communicate with
professionalism and empathy and, as the only hotel staff member present on the night shift, I am
required to use my judgement to determine the best method of managing each situation. In
sometimes volatile circumstances with intoxicated or aggravated guests, I need to evaluate the
situation and decide my course of action. This may include requesting security or police presence,
or managing the situation myself by communicating with the parties and attempting to diffuse the
problem. These challenging situations are particularly sensitive as I am often trying to balance the
competing needs of the guest who is the cause of the disturbance, other guests who are at risk of
being disturbed and my employer’s organisation, which naturally does not want for any
reputational damage as a result of guest behaviour.
In all of my professional dealings I communicate in a manner which is culturally sensitive and
appropriate to my audience, in order to engage with them and enable them to fully understand
and take on board my messages. I always remain calm and objective when dealing with workplace
situations, which ensures that my good judgement remains unclouded. By remaining aware of the
situation unfolding around me and the environmental and social context, I am able to work
sensitively and appropriately with participants to find a resolution.
Several of my positions over the course of my career have required me to exercise a high degree
of confidentiality and discretion. During my employment within First Data Corporation, I facilitated
the processing of credit and debit cards for large financial institutions. This meant that I had access
to high volumes of extremely confidential data, including personal details and bank card details of
thousands of individuals. My performance in this employment was such that during my tenure I
was promoted from Machine Operator to Team Leader. Another role requiring me to maintain a
high degree of confidentiality was my position of Computer Operator at the University of
Nebraska. In this position I was required to operate computerised test grading software and had
access to students’ grades and personal information, all of which I was required to treat with the
highest degree of confidentiality.
