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Queensland government applications: the resume plus a short statement (up to 2 pages)

Short answer: Many Queensland Government ads ask for a resume plus a short statement, often a maximum of two pages, showing how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities fit the role. Use the capabilities under 'How you will be assessed' as headings, give one specific example for each, and keep your resume a clear, consistent record that backs those examples up.

Queensland Government ads often skip the long list of separately answered criteria. Instead, many ask for two documents: your resume and a short written statement, commonly capped at two pages. It looks simpler than a full criteria response, but the panel is still scoring you against a list. Here's how to write both so they can find what they're looking for.

What Queensland ads usually ask for

Queensland Government jobs are advertised on Smart Jobs and Careers, and each ad links to a role description. A common instruction is to send a resume plus a short statement, often a maximum of two pages, explaining how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities fit the role. The instruction isn't identical everywhere, so read your ad closely. A few official examples of the variation:

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions' how to apply page asks for a resume of no more than four pages and a cover letter of up to two pages, in Word or PDF.
Queensland Corrective Services' applicant tip sheet for community corrections roles asks for a cover letter of no more than two pages that links your experience to the role description and the Leadership competencies for Queensland.
Some ads add targeted questions or screening questions in the online form, each with its own limit.

Whether it's called a statement, a cover letter or "how you meet the requirements", when the ad gives a two-page limit and points to the role description, treat it as your criteria response.

Start with "How you will be assessed"

Many Queensland role descriptions have a section, often headed "How you will be assessed", listing the capabilities the panel will look for, often four to six. They may be written for the role, or drawn from the Leadership competencies for Queensland: 11 competencies grouped under Vision, Results and Accountability.

Before you write anything:

Copy the list into a planning document, one capability per line.
Underline the key words in each (for example "governance", "stakeholders", "data", "priorities").
Match one example to each, using a different situation for each where you can.
Check the essentials in the ad, such as a licence or qualification, and make sure your resume shows them clearly.

Planning two pages

Two pages in a standard 11 or 12-point font with normal margins usually holds about 800-1,000 words, less if you use headings and spacing (which you should). With five capabilities to cover, that's tight. A plan keeps it under control:

Section	What goes here	Approx. words
Opening	The role and job reference, who you are professionally and what your examples will show	60-80
One section per capability (4-6)	A short heading using the capability's wording, a one-sentence claim, then one STAR example	130-170 each
Close	One or two sentences linking your evidence to this role	30-50

Use the capability names as headings, in the order the role description lists them. A panel member reading dozens of statements can then find your evidence for each item in seconds. Inside each section, keep the situation to a sentence or two and spend most of the words on what you did.

A fictional example: two sections

Here are two sections from a fictional statement for an Administration Officer, AO3 role, assessed against five capabilities. The person, council and figures are invented. Use them to see the shape, not as text to reuse.

Demonstrates sound governance

In my role as an administration officer in a regional council's licensing team, I process about 300 permit renewals a year, many of which involve fees and personal information. When our team moved from paper files to a shared drive in 2025, I noticed that access to scanned applications wasn't restricted and that two versions of the fee schedule were in use. I raised both issues with my team leader the same day. With her agreement, I set up folder permissions so only licensing staff could open applications, archived the outdated fee schedule and added a version date to the current one. I also wrote a one-page checklist for handling personal information, which the team now uses during induction. In the next internal audit, the licensing team had no findings on records or fees.

Pursues continuous growth

I look for ways to build my skills and use feedback to improve. After my first performance review, I asked for more experience with data, so I completed a free online spreadsheet course and offered to take over the team's monthly permit report. My first two reports had formatting errors that my manager pointed out, so I built a template with automatic totals and asked a colleague to check the next one before it went out. The last six reports have been accepted without changes, and I now show new staff how to update the template.

These sections: 134 and 96 words. Five sections of this size plus an opening and close fit comfortably in two pages.

Why they work: each heading matches the role description, so nothing is hidden; each section is one specific situation, not a career summary; the actions are clearly the applicant's own; and each result is something a referee could confirm. The second section is shorter because the capability is narrower. You don't have to give every section the same length.

The resume

The resume backs up your statement. The Queensland Government's resume and cover letter guidance suggests a neat, simple layout of about one to three pages depending on how long you've been working, with headings and dot points, covering your contact details, career strengths, employment history, education and training, and referees. Some agencies allow more (ODPP, for example, says no more than four pages), so check the ad.

Lead each job with achievements, not a copy of your duty statement. Two or three dot points with numbers beat ten responsibilities.
Keep it consistent with your statement. Job titles, dates and figures should match exactly.
Show the essentials plainly. If the role needs a licence, registration or qualification, put it where it can't be missed.
Save as Word or PDF unless the ad says otherwise, with a clear file name such as "Surname-Resume-JobRef".

Values and leadership streams

Many role descriptions mention the Queensland public service values: customers first, ideas into action, unleash potential, be courageous and empower people. You don't need a section for each. Showing one or two through your examples is enough unless the ad asks for more. Some agencies also have their own values and list them in the role description.

The leadership competencies apply across five streams: individual contributor, team leader, program leader, executive and chief executive. The stream reflects the role's leadership responsibilities. If your role description names one, read that stream's behaviours in the official guide and pitch your examples to match.

Common mistakes

Writing two pages of career story with no headings, so the panel has to hunt for evidence.
Skipping one of the capabilities in "How you will be assessed".
Going over two pages by shrinking the font or margins. Cut words instead.
Repeating your resume in sentence form.
Using the same project for every capability.

Applying in other states too? See how to answer NSW targeted questions and how to write Victorian key selection criteria responses.

Check each section before you assemble

Paste one section at a time into the free checker with a custom limit (say 150 words). It counts words and characters, estimates STAR balance and flags "we"-heavy writing and overused phrases. Your text stays in your browser.

Open the checker

FAQ

How long is a Queensland Government short statement?

Many ads set a maximum of two pages, but the limit and the name (statement, cover letter or response) vary, so follow your ad. Two pages usually holds about 800-1,000 words with headings.

Do I address each capability separately?

There's no single rule, but using the capabilities in 'How you will be assessed' as short headings makes it easy for the panel to find evidence for each one, and helps you check you haven't missed any.

How long should my resume be for a Queensland Government job?

Queensland Government guidance suggests about one to three pages depending on your experience. Some agencies allow more, so check the ad.

Do I need to mention the Queensland public service values?

Only if the ad asks. Otherwise, showing one or two values through your examples is usually enough.

Free download: state-by-state map and a worked NSW targeted question (PDF)

A 2-page sample from the State Government Application Kit: what each state and territory usually asks applicants to submit, a five-step method for NSW targeted questions, and a fictional worked answer with notes on why it works. No email needed.

Download the free PDF (66 KB)

Applying to NSW, Victoria or Queensland?

The State Government Application Kit (A$17, made by us) has a 15-page guide covering NSW, Victoria and Queensland in depth plus short notes for SA, WA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT. It includes fictional worked examples, templates for NSW targeted questions, Victorian KSC documents and Queensland short statements, and a spreadsheet workbook with an evidence bank, a question planner with live word and character counts, and a pre-submission check sheet. One-off price, instant download, 14-day refund with no questions asked.

See the State Government Application Kit on Whop APS + State bundle (A$34)

Also applying for Commonwealth (APS) jobs? The bundle includes both kits for A$34 (A$41 bought separately). It's a writing aid. It can't guarantee an interview or a job, and you don't need it to use the free checker or these guides.

Disclosure: this guide is made by Mint, and we sell the State Government Application Kit and the APS + State bundle mentioned above. It's independent general information, not affiliated with or endorsed by any Australian, state or territory government. It isn't legal, employment or immigration advice; check eligibility and instructions in the job ad. Examples are fictional. Last updated 2026-10-20.