APS Pitch CheckerWA government applications: addressing the work-related requirements in two pages
Short answer: Most WA government ads ask for a CV plus a written statement, often no more than two pages, showing how you meet the work-related requirements in the Job Description Form. Use each requirement you're asked to address as a heading, give one specific example in situation-action-outcome order using "I", and stay strictly within the page limit.
Western Australian government job ads often ask for a CV plus "a written application of no more than two pages" addressing the work-related requirements in the Job Description Form. This guide explains what those terms mean, how to fit several criteria into two pages, and what a strong response looks like, with a fictional example.
JDF, work-related requirements and selection criteria
Most WA public sector ads link to a Job Description Form (JDF). It describes the role's duties and lists the work-related requirements: the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications the panel will assess. Agencies use several names for the same thing, including work-related requirements, work-related capabilities and selection criteria. Some JDFs split them into essential and desirable.
The WA Government's guide to applying for a government job notes that requirements differ between agencies, so the ad and any application pack set the rules for word limits, fonts and deadlines. Read the "how to apply" section first and write down exactly what it asks for.
What WA ads usually ask for
From our reading of current ads on the WA Government Jobs board, the most common combinations are:
- A CV plus a statement of up to two pages addressing the work-related requirements (or a subset of them listed in the ad).
- A cover letter of up to one or two pages that addresses a few named criteria, with the rest assessed later.
- A CV, a short cover letter and a separate two-page statement.
- Online questions in the application form, sometimes with a word limit per answer.
If the ad lists only some of the criteria to address in writing, address those. The others may be assessed at interview or through referees. If the ad says "no more than two pages", treat it as a hard limit: the WA guidance stresses following length and format specifications, and some agency packs warn that this can affect shortlisting.
Fitting the criteria into two pages
Two pages in an 11 or 12-point font hold roughly 900 to 1,100 words, less if you use a heading for each criterion (which most agency guidance encourages). A simple plan:
| Criteria to address | Words per criterion (approx.) | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 280-330 | One full example each, with room for detail on actions |
| 4 | 210-250 | One focused example each |
| 5 | 170-200 | One short example each; one sentence of context at most |
| 6 or more | 130-160 | Short examples; consider one example covering two related criteria if the ad allows |
Skip a separate introduction or conclusion unless the ad asks for one; every line you save goes to evidence. Use the criterion wording as the heading so the panel can find each response, and keep the JDF's order.
Knowledge criteria ("sound knowledge of...") are often the hardest to fit. Show the knowledge in use: name the legislation, policy or system and describe a time you applied it, rather than listing what you've read.
SAO or STAR: structuring each response
WA agency guides often suggest SAO (situation, action, outcome), while many applicants know STAR (situation, task, action, result). They're the same idea: SAO folds the task into the situation, which suits tight two-page limits. For each criterion:
- Claim (one sentence): say directly that you have the skill and where you've used it.
- Situation (one or two sentences): the context and what needed to happen.
- Action (most of the words): what you did and why. The Jobs WA guidance specifically says to use "I" and avoid "team" or "we" for the actions.
- Outcome (one or two sentences): the result for the organisation, with a number or concrete change where you can. The guidance also suggests mentioning feedback you received.
Jobs WA also offers a free job application template (PDF), and Jobs and Skills WA has a short STAR model explainer.
A fictional example response
The person, agency and figures are invented. Use the shape, not the words.
Role: Project Officer, Level 4 (fictional). Criterion: Demonstrated experience in planning and coordinating projects to deliver outcomes within agreed timeframes.
Demonstrated experience in planning and coordinating projects to deliver outcomes within agreed timeframes
I have planned and coordinated four process-improvement projects in my current role as Senior Administration Officer at a regional health service. The largest was moving 14 paper-based referral forms to an online system before a fixed contract end date six months away.
I mapped each form with the clinical teams who used it, built a project plan with weekly milestones and agreed it with the Business Manager. I set up a fortnightly 20-minute check-in with the four team leaders, tracked progress in a shared register and flagged two risks early: a vendor delay and a gap in staff training. For the vendor delay, I re-sequenced the work so the eight simplest forms went live first. For training, I wrote a two-page quick guide and ran six short sessions across all shifts.
All 14 forms were live a week before the contract ended. Referral processing time fell from an average of three days to one, and the Business Manager asked me to use the same plan for our next system change.
This response is 183 words including the heading, which fits a four-criterion, two-page statement.
Why it works: the claim comes first; the situation takes two sentences; the actions show planning, coordination and risk management in the first person; and the outcome links back to "within agreed timeframes" with numbers someone could confirm.
The CV, cover letter and referees
- CV: list your work history from most recent, with duties and achievements for each role. If the ad doesn't ask for a separate statement, your CV has to carry the evidence for the requirements, so put your main achievements under each role.
- Cover letter: only if the ad asks for one, unless you have something specific to add. Keep it to the page limit given.
- Referees: most ads ask for two, ideally including a current or recent supervisor. Tell them about the role and send them the JDF.
- File format: follow the ad. Some agencies accept only Word or PDF and won't accept emailed applications.
Some WA ads mention a "pool" or "talent pool". That means suitable applicants may be offered this or similar roles over a set period, often six to 12 months, according to the WA Government guidance. Your application is assessed the same way.
Common mistakes
- Going over two pages by shrinking the font or margins. Panels notice, and some packs set the format.
- Addressing every requirement in the JDF when the ad asked for only some, and running out of space for the ones that count.
- Writing "see above" or relying on the CV for a criterion instead of giving it its own evidence.
- Listing duties ("responsible for...") without an outcome.
- Using "we" for the actions, so the panel can't tell what you did.
Need to check length? Paste each response into the free checker with a custom word limit to see the count, the STAR balance and any "we"-heavy sentences. Applying in other states too? See South Australian selection criteria, NSW targeted questions and the Queensland two-page statement.
FAQ
What are work-related requirements in WA government jobs?
They're the selection criteria in the Job Description Form: the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications needed for the role. Agencies also call them work-related capabilities or selection criteria.
How many words fit in a two-page WA statement?
Roughly 900 to 1,100 words in an 11 or 12-point font, less with headings. With four criteria that's about 210 to 250 words each.
Do I have to address every criterion in the JDF?
Address what the ad asks for. Some ads list only certain criteria to address in writing, with the rest assessed later.
What is SAO?
Situation, action, outcome: a way of structuring each example that WA agency guides often suggest. It's STAR with the task folded into the situation.
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.
Applying in more than one state?
Honest note: the kit covers NSW, Victoria and Queensland in depth. For this state it has shorter notes, so it's most useful if you're also applying in one of those three.
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 WhopAPS + 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 2026-10-21.