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Advice to Applicants
Advice to prospective applicants
Thank you for the interest you have shown in IP Australia as a potential employer. We have compiled
the following overview of information to assist you with the application process. Applicants are asked
to read all information carefully and preview the online application form before commencing your application
as the requirements may vary.
Enquiries about any of IP Australia’s job opportunities should be directed to the contact officer
shown in the advertisement.
Preparing your job application
Initial Preparation
It is important for all prospective applicants to read the Job Documentation carefully and preview the
Application Form to confirm the requirements for submitting an application, before starting to prepare
your application. Also talk with the contact officer, ask questions about the job and what other sources
of information are available, eg. annual reports, policy statements, procedures, etc. before you proceed.
For more information about IP Australia you are invited to read over this
website.
Having done this, read the selection criteria/ Key Skills/Capabilities again and ask yourself, ‘Can
I satisfy the skills required at that level?’ If the answer is yes, you should start your application
through the online recruitment system.
Preparing your application
To enable the Selection Advisory Committee to have sufficient information to assess your claims, you may be
asked to include the following information:
- Statement addressing the Selection
Criteria/ Key Skills/ Capabilities
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing personal details and work history
- Referees’ contact details
In most instances you will be required to submit a statement addressing the selection criteria/key
skills/capabilities. When this is a requirement it will be the most important part of
your application, as the information provided will be used to shortlist applicants for interview/further
assessment. The following points will assist you with this statement.
- Use the selection criterion/key skills/capabilities as your headings.
- Provide an outline of your experience/abilities/skills in respect of each.
- It is not sufficient to make ‘claims’ - you need to demonstrate clearly that you satisfy
the skills/capabilities to the level required. Use examples of achievements which can be verified
by a referee.
- Only include relevant information, outlining your achievements against that particular criterion.
- Be concise.
Please note, IP Australia adapt the selection process to suit the role being recruited to. On
some occasions you will not be required to submit a statement addressing the selection criteria/key
skills/capabilities. It is therefore important for you to preview the application form to ensure
you are aware of what the requirements are for the role you are applying for. This may also change
from one selection process to another.
For further information on applying for jobs within the Australian Public Service (APS), please refer
to the Australian Public Service Commission publication - Cracking
the Code.
Your Curriculum Vitae should comprise a resumé of personal particulars and an outline of your
work history. The following is a suggested format.
- Full name and address
- Telephone Number - contact number during business
hours
- Educational Qualifications - majors, date and institution where obtained
or expected date of completion
- Employment History - Include dates, names of employers, positions occupied, work area (Section/Branch/Division)
and a brief outline of the duties undertaken. The details should be in reverse chronological order,
starting with your present position and working backwards. Be concise and only give relevant information
about major responsibilities. It is not necessary to mention in detail jobs which were held for short
periods unless the experience is relevant to the advertised position. However, please don’t
leave any unexplained gaps in your work history
Referee Reports
Unless specifically requested to do so, supplying written referee
reports with your application is not necessary. However, it is
vital that two referees be detailed (with appropriate contact numbers) with your application.
Ideally one of the referees should be your immediate supervisor. Referees must comment on your claim/s
against each selection criterion/key skill/capability and may also make general comments about your
suitability for the advertised vacancy. Referees must discuss the content of any report with you. Both
you and your referee are required to either sign the report or confirm agreement via email.
The Selection Advisory Committee is aware that it is not always possible for applicants employed in
the private sector or outside this organisation to submit a referee’s report from their current
supervisor.. However, any documentation supporting the applicant’s claims which may assist
in the short listing process should be submitted. Please note that nominated referees will be contacted
before an offer can be made.
The Selection Process
Employment decisions are based on merit. Initially a selection panel will assess the claims
of each applicant against the selection criteria/key skills/capabilities to determine who is suitable
to be invited for interview. Applicants short listed for interview will be notified within a
reasonable period after applications close. Applicants not short listed will be notified via
email.
Submitting your application
IP Australia prefers to receive all applications via its online recruitment system. It is your responsibility
to ensure that your application is completed by the closing date and time specified in the advertisement.
It is the responsibility of the contact officer to decide whether they will accept a late application
and any enquiries in this regard should be directed to that person.
Any queries relating to each vacancy should be referred to the relevant contact officer.
Advice to applicants
Employment conditions are in accordance with IP Australia's Enterprise Agreement 2010 - 2011..
To be eligible for ongoing employment, applicants must be Australian citizens. However,
in exceptional circumstances, applicants who have permanent residency status may be offered ongoing
employment pending the granting of citizenship. If this condition is not met your employment may be
terminated
Code of Conduct - successful applicants are required to familiarise themselves with and abide by the APS Code of Conduct and Values.
Applicants should note that the selection exercise for any vacancies may be based solely on application
and referee reports. Interviews may not be conducted.
Salary on commencement will be at the minimum pay rate unless a higher rate of payment is negotiated
prior to the acceptance of an offer of employment.
Who We Are
IP Australia incorporates the Patents, Designs, Trade Marks and Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR)
Offices. Our main office is in Canberra. We also have lodgement services available in each state through
our IP Lodgement Point service.
IP Australia is a prescribed agency within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
IP Australia has an average staffing level of around 1000, with the majority of staff located in Canberra.
IP Australia recognises the importance of employees balancing their work and personal lives by offering
staff access to an ongoing series of health and wellbeing programs, flexible work-life policies and
a range of professional development programs. IP Australia has received accreditation by the National
Breastfeeding Association as a breastfeeding friendly workplace.
The IP Australia offices in Canberra provide top quality accommodation and facilities. These
include: an on-site café, conference, meeting and training rooms; on-site parking for cars and
motor cycles available on a rotational basis; the provision of undercover bicycle racks; excellent
shower/change facilities for staff choosing to walk or ride to work; and the advantage of all staff
being co-located in the one building.
IP Australia is committed to minimising its impact on the environment and conducting its operations
in an environmentally responsible manner. IP Australia has implemented an Environmental Management
System (EMS) and has achieved ISO 14001 certification for this system. ISO 14001 is an international
best practice standard for managing an organisation's impact on the environment and ensures a commitment
to continuous improvement.
IP Australia has a No Smoking Policy. The Policy requires that no employee will be permitted to smoke
within (15) metres of any part of IP Australia premises at any time, including official meal breaks,
while representing IP Australia and travelling on official duty.
What We Do
Our primary function is to administer the Patents, Trade Marks, Designs and PBR legislation. We grant
intellectual property rights — patents, registered trade marks, designs and PBR — to individuals
and businesses, both here and overseas. This involves receiving and processing applications, as well
as conducting hearings and issuing decisions on disputed matters relating to the granting or denial
of Australian intellectual property rights.
We maintain the Registers of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
Australia is a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This allows our clients to make a patent
application designating the member countries of the Treaty within which they intend to seek patents.
We can receive PCT applications and carry out international searches and international preliminary
examinations for clients using the PCT to seek patents.
The Madrid Protocol relates to international registration of Trade Marks. This means IP Australia's
Trade Mark Office will be the Office of Origin for Australians seeking trade mark protection overseas
via the Protocol. We also accept applications from overseas.
We maintain libraries of intellectual property documents, provide public facilities for searching
information on existing intellectual property rights and sell copies of patent documents and other
material.
We also have an active communication program to give information to individuals and business wishing
to take advantage of their intellectual property and to explain the ways in which these rights can
help firms to innovate and develop a distinctive identity.
As well as providing direct services to users of the intellectual property system, we also provide
government with policy advice on the Australian intellectual property system. We work with intellectual
property offices in other countries, as well as with international and regional organisations, to enhance
Australia’s role in developing intellectual property systems and processes around the world.
IP Lodgement Point
IP Lodgement Point offers customers a secure way to lodge their IP documents through selected Australia Post outlets in the capital city of each state and territory.
Customers can securely lodge their IP documents and make payments through the IP relating to Trade
Marks, Designs or Patents will be accepted on behalf of IP Australia.
Documents lodged at IP Lodgement Points will be delivered to IP Australia’s head office in Canberra
by 9.00 am the next business day. This service is fully compliant and accredited for Secret, Highly
Protected and Confidential documents.
This document is designed to give you an overview of the organisation.
For more information, you can contact
IP Australia.
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