The practical answer
Respond to each criterion separately. Explain the situation, your own action, what happened and what you learned. Follow the employer’s format and clearly label supervised placement experience.
What are selection criteria?
Selection criteria describe capabilities or requirements the employer wants an applicant to address. Some roles ask for a separate written response; others ask applicants to cover key points in a letter or online form. Follow the advertisement rather than assuming that every early childhood employer uses the same process.
Before writing, copy each criterion into a working document, note the required length and identify what evidence would answer it. A qualification criterion may need a factual statement. A practice criterion usually needs an example, not simply “I meet this requirement”.
Use an evidence structure you can explain
- Context: What was happening?
- Your role: What responsibility did you actually have?
- Action: What did you do, and why?
- Observation or result: What changed or what did you notice?
- Reflection: What did you learn or adapt?
Not every example has a numerical outcome. A careful observation, a revised plan or a clearer team process can be useful evidence. Do not invent percentages or claim the whole team’s work as your own.
Example 1: planning and reflection
Illustrative response
During placement, I noticed children using blocks to create paths between different play areas. With my supervising teacher’s guidance, I planned an experience with maps, loose parts and photographs of familiar places. I asked children to explain their routes and recorded the questions that emerged. Their interest shifted towards how different people travelled, so I adapted the next experience to include those ideas. This helped me connect observation with planning and use reflection to change the program rather than only describe what happened.
Why it fits: The response shows a planning sequence and the applicant’s contribution. A qualified teacher with different responsibilities should use an example appropriate to their actual role. Refer to the approved learning frameworks where relevant, but explain the practice instead of adding framework names as decoration.
Example 2: relationships with families
Illustrative response
A family shared that their child was finding the morning transition difficult. I listened to what they had noticed and discussed the information with the room team through our agreed process. We developed a consistent arrival routine and invited the family to share what seemed helpful. I provided brief, factual updates and adjusted my approach with colleagues as we observed the child’s response. I learned the value of checking assumptions and keeping communication respectful and practical.
Why it fits: It describes listening, collaboration and ongoing communication. It avoids diagnosing the child or including information that could identify the family.
Example 3: teamwork
Illustrative response
Our room team was finding that preparation tasks were being missed during a busy part of the day. I raised the pattern at a suitable time, asked colleagues what was difficult and helped document an agreed sequence of responsibilities. We reviewed the approach after trying it and changed the parts that did not fit the routine. My contribution was to make the issue specific and support a shared solution, rather than assume that a colleague was not trying.
Why it fits: The applicant explains their action and judgement. A claim such as “excellent team player” would give the employer much less to assess.
Example 4: inclusive participation
Illustrative response
I observed that a group experience offered limited ways for children to participate. After discussing this with my supervising teacher, I prepared alternatives using visual prompts, familiar materials and smaller-group participation. I watched which choices children used and recorded what still needed adjustment. This reminded me to plan for different ways of participating from the beginning, and to seek guidance when a child needed support beyond my role.
Why it fits: The example shows an action and reflection without claiming specialist expertise or a guaranteed outcome. Choose language that accurately represents your responsibilities.
Can you use placement evidence?
Yes, when it is relevant and labelled honestly. Name the context, acknowledge supervision and be clear about your contribution. A paid role is not the only possible source of evidence, but placement is not the same as independently holding an ECT position. Our first-job guide explains how to organise that evidence.
Check the response before submitting
- Does each paragraph answer the criterion named above it?
- Can you explain every claim in an interview?
- Have you followed the word limit and format?
- Are the dates and responsibilities consistent with your resume?
- Have you removed identifying child and family details?
- Does reflection add something meaningful rather than a generic final sentence?
Download the editable evidence planner. Use the same evidence bank for interview preparation, while adapting your answer to the question.
A strategy call can help you identify useful examples. Separate selection-criteria writing is not automatically included in the $25 resume and cover-letter package.
For criteria about your approach to learning, the teaching-philosophy guide shows how to connect an idea with an action and reflection.
Apply this to your next step
Job-search strategy, $50
Use one 30-minute strategy call to choose practical next steps for your applications, centre outreach and follow-up. Selection-criteria writing is not included in the standard document package.
Parth runs AUS ECT Funlion, providing educator career support and centre marketing services. Examples in this guide are illustrative unless otherwise stated.