Commonly Asked Questions

Q. What qualifications do I need?
A. You must have the mandatory qualifications outlined in the Position Description to be considered for the vacancy.

Q. What is this difference between mandatory and desirable qualifications?
A. You must have the mandatory qualifications outlined in the Position Description to be considered for the vacancy. You will be considered for the vacancy if you don’t have the desirable qualifications, but preference will be given to applicants that have both the mandatory and desirable qualifications, and meet all the other criteria for the position.

Q. What if I have other qualifications that I think are relevant but they are not listed in the Position Description?
A. You should check with the People and Development Team at apply@ames.net.au or on +61 3 9938 4794, before submitting your application.

Q. What experience do I need?
A. You must have the mandatory experience outlined in the Position Description to be considered for the vacancy.

Q. What is this difference between mandatory and desirable experience?
A. You must have the mandatory experience outlined in the Position Description to be considered for the vacancy. You will be considered for the vacancy if you don’t have the desirable experience, but preference will be given to applicants that have both the mandatory and desirable experience, and meet all the other criteria for the position.

Q. What if I have other experience that I think is relevant but it is not listed in the Position Description?
A. You should check with the People and Development Team at apply@ames.net.au or on +61 3 9938 4794, before submitting your application.

Q. Do I need to have a current police check?
A. Yes, all new employees and volunteers at AMES Australia require a current police check before joining us.

Q. I have a police check already, so can I provide this instead of completing a new one?
A. No, unless your current police check was issued within the last 7 days you will need to complete a new one with us.

Q. Do I have to pay for the police check?
A. No, this is paid for by AMES Australia. We will email you instructions to complete it.

Q. I have a current Working with Children Check or Teacher Registration, so I don’t need a new police check. Is that correct?
A. No, all new employees and volunteers at AMES Australia require a current police check before joining us.

Q. I am a current AMES Australia volunteer, so I don’t need a new police check. Is that correct?
A. No, police checks issued for volunteering purposes cannot be used for employment purposes. You will need to complete a current police check before joining as an employee.

Q. I have current valid Victorian Institute of Teacher Registration (VIT), so I don’t need a separate WWCC. Is that correct?
A. Yes, that is correct. Current VIT Registration includes a valid WWCC.

Q. I have a current WWCC issued in another State. Can I use this if the vacancy I applied for is in a different State?
A. No, although this varies from State to State, generally you can only use your current WWCC for 30 days after moving to the new State.

Q. I have a current Working with Children Check for volunteering purposes. Can I use this as an employee?
A. No, a WWCC issued for volunteering purposes cannot be used for employment purposes. You will need to obtain a WWCC (Employee) before joining as an employee.

Q. The Position Description states that a Community Language is required. What does this mean?
A. Some positions require a community language to support the current client group. If so, this will be displayed in the job advertisement and which language or languages required will be stated. For example, it may be a requirement to speak Arabic, Vietnamese or Chinese to support a current client group. The community language required can change from one vacancy to another, depending on the languages spoken by our current client group(s).

Q. I don’t have the Community Language that is required for the vacancy. Can I still apply?
A. Yes, but preference will be given to applicants who have the language required, as this is important to support a current client group.

All jobs advertised and posted on the AMES Australia website on the “Current Vacancies” page, and external job boards such as SEEK, LinkedIn, Ethical Jobs, Pro Bono or Indigenous Employment Australia, will have application instructions and in most cases a closing date for applications. You will need to have a current resume and in most cases a cover letter that includes your response to the Key Selection Criteria for the position advertised.

When AMES Australia advertises roles externally, all vacancies are posted on our website under 'Current Vacancies'. AMES Australia uses different ways of advertising depending on the position but commonly used media includes Seek, LinkedIn, Ethical Jobs, Pro Bono, Indigenous Employment Australia and regional newspapers. On occasion we may also engage a recruitment or executive search firm to operate on our behalf, which is usually when we are recruiting for an executive, senior or specialist position. The advertising by the recruitment / executive search firm may not explicitly identify the position is for AMES Australia.

Q. Do I need to be an Australian citizen to work at AMES Australia?
A. No, but you must have the right to work in Australia. For permanent / ongoing positions you need to provide evidence of Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency. For casual or short-term contracts, other Visa statuses may be valid.

Q. What do I need to provide for proof of working entitlement in Australia?
A. No, but you must have the right to work in Australia. For permanent / ongoing positions you need to provide evidence of Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency. For casual or short-term contracts, other Visa statuses may be valid.

Q. Can I speak to someone if I have a query about a vacancy or career opportunities at AMES Australia?
A. Yes, please contact our People and Development team at apply@ames.net.au or on +61 3 9938 4794.