Purpose of the Expression of Interest
Cowater International Inc. runs this Expression of Interest to identify suitably qualified people for long-term, locally engaged roles with the Shared Services Platform supporting the Timor-Leste Australia Partnerships for Health, Education and Disability Rights. It covers Officer, Senior Officer and Specialist roles based in Timor-Leste. Candidates compete once, through an open Expression of Interest and a full assessment, and the Shared Services Platform then appoints from successful applicants as approved roles arise, without re-advertising. Being found suitable does not constitute an offer of engagement.
Merit-Based Assessment
Applications are assessed on merit against six published selection criteria: professional experience; technical expertise; local knowledge and context; stakeholder engagement and communication; delivery and results; and safeguarding, GEDSI and ethical conduct. Each application is assessed once, against each role family and level the applicant selects. Assessments are fair, transparent and consistent with good public sector recruitment practice, and no applicant is favoured or disadvantaged on grounds such as nationality, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability or age.
To be found suitable for a role family and level, applicants need an overall score of at least 70%, and at least 50% on each selection criterion. An applicant may meet the entry standard for some role families and not others, and at a different level in each. Successful applicants are not ranked: each has met the entry standard and is equally eligible for appointment to roles in the role families and levels for which they were found suitable.
When a role arises, successful applicants for that role family and level are shortlisted against the requirements of that role and invited to a structured interview. Cowater will contact referees and undertake probity checks before any offer is confirmed. This may include contacting individuals not nominated as referees where appropriate for due diligence purposes.
All applicants are told the outcome of their application for each role family they selected, in writing, and may ask for feedback. Existing staff apply on the same terms as external applicants.
Safeguarding and Probity Declarations
By submitting an application:
- check_circle You declare that you have not committed, nor been charged with, child exploitation or related offences.
- check_circle Any offer is conditional on two satisfactory referee checks; safeguarding screening in line with DFAT’s Child Protection Policy and PSEAH Policy, including a police check where required; verification of essential qualifications; a conflict of interest declaration; and standard Cowater and DFAT screening measures.
- check_circle Compliance with applicable health, safety and travel requirements, including those of host countries and partner institutions, may be required for certain roles.
Use of AI in Initial Assessment
Cowater uses AI-assisted tools to support the initial screening of Expression of Interest applications against the essential competency criteria in the six selection criteria and your CV. Applications submitted on paper or by email are entered into the portal by HR and screened in the same way.
AI scores are advisory only. Cowater’s HR team reviews every application the AI tool passes, every borderline application, and a random sample of applications the tool does not pass, and HR decides who is found suitable. The AI tool is checked against HR scoring before first use and every six months, to confirm it is consistent and to identify and correct any bias, for example against applicants writing in a second language or with non-standard CVs.
Information about gender, Timorese status, disability, lived experience and adjustment needs is not visible to the AI tool.
Sensitive Information and Inclusion Data
Information on gender, Timorese status, disability, lived experience and adjustment needs is optional and collected separately, with your consent. It is not visible to the AI screening or to assessors and does not affect your score. It is used only to provide reasonable adjustments and to monitor inclusion. Inclusion data is reported to DFAT in aggregate form only.
Collection and Use of Personal Information
Personal information submitted through the Expression of Interest is used for recruitment purposes only. It may be used to:
- assess your suitability under this Expression of Interest and for roles that arise while the round is open
- contact you about roles, interviews and pre-offer checks
- prepare a contract if you are offered a role
- meet legal, donor, audit and contractual compliance requirements, including safeguarding and probity obligations
Information may be accessed by authorised Cowater personnel and/or The Asia Foundation or other contracted service providers supporting system hosting or recruitment administration. These providers are required to maintain confidentiality and data security. Cowater’s compliance team may review recruitment records as part of its annual audit of assessment decisions and appointments. Personal information is handled in line with the privacy obligations in Cowater’s contract with DFAT.
Information Held
Information may include contact details, identity documentation, qualifications, employment history, remuneration information (where relevant to engagement), and information required to meet compliance or safeguarding obligations.
Data Security
Technical Safeguards
Cowater applies appropriate administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorised access, loss or misuse.
Access Control
Access is limited to individuals with a legitimate role-related requirement.
Validity and Retention of Information
This Expression of Interest round is open for 18 months from the advertised date. Your information is held, with your consent, for the life of the round. When the round closes, all results from that round lapse, and successful applicants who have not been placed may reapply in the next round. Recruitment records are kept securely for the period required under Cowater’s contract with DFAT, and may be de-identified for statistical or reporting purposes.
Access and Correction
Subject to applicable law, individuals may request access to or correction of their personal information. Individuals are responsible for ensuring information provided remains accurate and current.
Complaints
Complaints about the recruitment process go to Cowater’s regional or head-office HR team, independent of Shared Services Platform operations, at [Cowater HR complaints email]. Complaints are acknowledged within 5 working days, with an outcome within 30 days. You can also raise concerns confidentially through Cowater’s whistleblower channel [link].
Declaration
By submitting your Expression of Interest application, you acknowledge that:
- task_alt being found suitable does not guarantee engagement;
- task_alt information provided is true and correct;
- task_alt false or misleading information may result in removal from consideration;
- task_alt you consent to the collection and use of your information for the purposes outlined above;
- task_alt your EOI result lapses when this round closes, 18 months from the advertised date, and you will need to reapply in the next round.