Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment

Special measures in recruitment

A special measure is a program, plan or arrangement designed to promote equality of opportunity.

To understand and implement Special Measure Recruitment Plans read Employment Instruction number 15 PDF (88.3 KB) and Special Measures Commissioner Guideline PDF (1008.9 KB).

Types of recruitment plans

There are 2 types of special measures recruitment plans in the Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS).

Designated positions

A designated position, also known as an ‘identified’ position, refers to a position that can only be filled by an eligible EEO applicant.

No other applicants are considered.

All applicants selected for a vacancy must:

  • meet all essential selection criteria
  • be suitable at the level of the position.

Find out more about designated position by reading the Designated Positions Guideline PDF (320.4 KB).

Priority consideration

These vacancies are open to everyone.

However, applicants from a nominated EEO group will be assessed before all applicants outside of this EEO group.

They are offered the vacancy if they:

  • meet all the essential criteria
  • are suitable at the level of the position.

How applicants are assessed

Applicants selected under a special measures recruitment plan must provide proof of eligibility. The evidentiary requirements for the EEO group shall be defined in the agency’s special measures plan and be made clear in the advertising documentation for the role.

For example, Aboriginal applicants who wish to be given priority consideration under the agencies Special Measures Recruitment Plan for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples (Aboriginal), must when submitting their application:

  • indicate in the online recruitment system that they are Aboriginal
  • attach a copy of the required statutory declaration.

Documents needed

If selected, Aboriginal applicants must provide confirmation of Aboriginality before starting.

Applicants must also use the NTPS statutory declaration DOCX (108.2 KB).

  1. I am Aboriginal; and
  2. I am accepted as Aboriginal by the community in which I live or formerly lived.

  3. I am from a non-NT remote community and have Confirmation of Aboriginality (CoA) or have applied or am in the process of applying for a CoA from a recognised Aboriginal authority.

    Successful applicants will need to submit a CoA or evidence of applying for a CoA or other satisfactory proof of eligibility from a recognised Aboriginal authority before an offer of employment can be made. An offer of employment made to an applicant who has applied for CoA is subject to the CoA being provided.

    OR

    I am from a NT remote community being ________________________ (name the community) and I am applying for a public sector vacancy in a remote locality which is an area outside of Darwin and surrounds, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

    Remote NT Aboriginal applicants applying for vacancies in remote localities are not required to provide a CoA but this signed statutory declaration.

If an Aboriginal applicant is unable to get a Confirmation of Aboriginality, OCPE may accept other documentation.

For more information, email specialmeasures@nt.gov.au.

Advertising vacancies

To fill a vacancy under a special measures recruitment plan it must clearly state this in the:

  • job description
  • advertising.

Read Determination 8 of 2018 job descriptions PDF (189.5 KB).

Contact

Contact Public Sector Appeals and Grievance Review unit on 08 8999 4129 or email psagr@nt.gov.au.

Special measures in recruitment