How to Write a Government Resume in Australia: Complete 2025 Guide
Applying for a South Australian Government role means tailoring your resume to reflect public sector values, concise formatting, and the requirements outlined in the SA Public Sector Capability Framework.
This guide answers the most common questions I’m asked about SA Government resumes — so you can avoid guesswork and increase your chances of shortlisting.
Do I Have to Use an SA Government Resume Template?
No — there’s no single mandated template, but many departments expect:
- A clear, chronological structure (most recent role first)
- A professional summary that matches the position description
- Bullet-pointed achievements for each role
- No photos, decorative graphics, or heavy formatting that might confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
How Long Should an SA Government Resume Be?
The SA Public Sector generally values concise resumes:
- Most roles: 2–3 pages
- Senior/executive roles: up to 4 pages if needed
If the job ad says “concise”, it means only include what’s directly relevant to the role — remove unrelated roles or compress them into a short “Earlier Career” section.
Do I Need to Address the SA Public Sector Values?
Yes — especially for education, healthcare, and community-focused roles.
The values are:
- Service
- Professionalism
- Trust
- Respect
- Collaboration
- Engagement
- Honesty
Weave them into your achievement statements rather than listing them in isolation.
Example:
“Collaborated with cross-department teams (Collaboration) to deliver a service improvement project on time and within budget (Service & Professionalism).”
Should I Use STAR Format in My Resume?
Yes — but keep it brief.
The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is excellent for selection criteria, but in the resume use “mini-STAR” bullets:
- Situation/Task: 1 sentence
- Action: 1 sentence
- Result: 1 sentence
Do I Include Full STAR Examples in the Resume or Save Them for the Capability Statement?
Save detailed STAR examples for your capability statement or selection criteria document.
The resume should give the panel enough information to see relevance, but not overwhelm them with multi-paragraph responses.
Should My Resume Address the SA Public Sector Capability Framework?
Yes.
The framework outlines core capabilities under categories like Personal Attributes, Relationships, Results, and Business Enablers.
Mirror these in your resume achievements so they’re visible during screening.
Example:
“Provided clear written and verbal advice (Communicates Effectively) to stakeholders, enabling evidence-based decision-making (Results Orientation).”
Do SA Recruiters Use ATS?
Yes — particularly for large department roles.
To get through ATS screening:
- Use keywords from the PD and capability framework
- Spell out acronyms before abbreviating
- Avoid graphics, tables, or multi-column layouts
Should I Include Referees?
Check the job ad — some SA departments request referee details upfront.
If not, “Referees available on request” is fine.
How Do I Show Acting or Higher Duties Roles?
List them under your main role entry so it’s clear they were temporary promotions:
Administrative Officer (Acting Senior Administrative Officer) — Mar 2024 to Jun 2024
Led a process improvement initiative, reducing customer wait times by 20%.
Do I Need to Explain Career Gaps?
If the gap is significant (3+ months), include a short explanation, such as:
- Parental leave
- Study or training
- Contract completion
Where Do Mandatory Qualifications and Clearances Go?
Include them in a Licences & Certifications section, either near the top or bottom of your resume:
- Working with Children Check – Current
- National Police Clearance – Cleared (2025)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring the SA Public Sector Values
- Overloading the resume with irrelevant history
- Using generic, non-measurable achievements
- Repeating selection criteria content in full
- Not following “concise” instructions in the ad
Final Word
A strong South Australia Government resume will:
- Integrate SA Public Sector Values into achievement statements
- Be concise, relevant, and easy to scan
- Use mini-STAR format to show measurable results
- Reflect the Capability Framework where relevant
- Be ATS-friendly and tailored to the PD
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