When applying for Victorian Public Sector (VPS) roles, you may be asked to respond to selection criteria and to demonstrate alignment with the VPS Values. We outline how to use the SAO (Situation, Action, Outcome) method to structure your VPS values selection criteria response effectively, and provide a Victorian public sector values key selection criteria example.
What Are the VPS Values?
The Victorian Public Sector Values guide public sector behaviour:
- Responsiveness – Delivering timely and high-quality services.
- Integrity – Acting ethically and transparently.
- Impartiality – Making decisions based on merit, free from bias.
- Accountability – Owning your decisions and actions.
- Respect – Treating others with dignity and courtesy.
- Leadership – Inspiring others and fostering positive outcomes.
- Human Rights – Ensuring the rights of individuals are upheld.
Using SAO to Address the Criterion
The SAO method is a way to structure your criterion response, helping to ensure your response is focused and impactful. It goes like this:
- Situation: Describe the context or challenge you faced.
- Action: Explain the steps you took to address the situation.
- Outcome: Highlight the result of your actions, ideally with measurable impact.
How Long Should The Response Be?
It’s important to adhere to specific application guidelines when preparing your response. Usually, the VPS values criterion will be one of several criteria you need to respond to. If a page or word limit is supplied, you should make sure you have enough space to address each criterion. If no guide is given, we recommend 60-120 words per criterion.
How Many Values Should be Addressed?
It is recommended to address at least 2-4 values in your answer, depending on the word limit provided.
- Choose values most relevant to the situation you’re describing. For example: If the example involves resolving a stakeholder issue, focus on responsiveness, respect, and human rights. If it involves decision-making, highlight impartiality, integrity, and accountability.
- Prioritise values emphasised in the job description or key responsibilities of the role.
Victorian Public Sector Values Key Selection Criteria Example
Criterion: Demonstrates the Victorian Public Sector Values of Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership, and Human Rights.
As a program coordinator for a community engagement initiative, I was responsible for developing and delivering a program to support vulnerable groups. The challenge was to design and implement a program that aligned with public sector values, particularly ensuring responsiveness, integrity, and respect for human rights. I facilitated consultations with diverse stakeholders, including marginalised community members, to ensure the program addressed their needs (responsiveness). I maintained transparency and upheld ethical standards throughout the process (integrity). I led a team to develop resources that treated all groups impartially and promoted equity (impartiality and respect). The program was successfully implemented, receiving positive feedback for its inclusivity and effectiveness. It improved access to services for 500+ individuals while meeting government accountability and leadership standards.
Examples for Specific VPS Values
VPS Values Leadership
SAO Example:
“During a departmental restructure (Situation), I proactively organised weekly team briefings to provide updates and address concerns (Action). This demonstrated strong Leadership and fostered trust among team members, resulting in a smoother transition and improved morale (Outcome).”
VPS Values Respect
SAO Example:
“While leading a multicultural team (Situation), I introduced inclusive practices, such as acknowledging cultural holidays and encouraging open dialogue (Action). This demonstrated Respect and improved team collaboration and satisfaction (Outcome).”
VPS Values Integrity and Accountability
SAO Example:
“When a reporting error was identified in my department’s annual financial report (Situation), I immediately informed my manager, investigated the issue, and rectified the figures (Action). This demonstrated Integrity and Accountability, ensuring transparency and maintaining stakeholder trust (Outcome).”
VPS Values Responsiveness
SAO Example:
“During a natural disaster response (Situation), I coordinated with multiple agencies to deliver real-time updates to affected communities (Action). This demonstrated Responsiveness by ensuring accurate information reached the public, minimising confusion and enhancing trust (Outcome).”
We hope these Victorian public sector values key selection criteria examples have been helpful. As always, we are on hand to help with your application. We can help you understand what values to focus on in your response, as well as to help you identify suitable examples to use, and to ensure the response is written in the correct format.
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