Graduate Program (Feb 2026)

With our breadth of work across health, aged care, and sport, we offer career opportunities that are varied, multi-faceted, and let you explore different contexts and work areas.

We recognise that great ideas and innovation happen when people from different backgrounds, areas of expertise and different life experiences come together. This is why our Graduate Program welcomes university graduates from all disciplines.

Whatever your degree there are opportunities to apply your interests at Health. We will invest in your development and help you to use your degree to build a career that allows you to grow, change and challenge yourself.

As part of our Graduate Program, you are empowered to achieve your full potential in the workplace through our ten (10) month Graduate Program including:

• a comprehensive induction to the department and to the Graduate Program
• 2 placements across different work areas where you are exposed to the variety of work and responsibility of our work
• on-the-job work experience and structured learning and development activities that challenge and develop your capability and professional expertise
• managers, mentors, and buddies (from previous years graduates) who will lead you through the experience of working for the public interest as an APS employee
• networking and mentoring opportunities, including opportunities to be involved in the department’s social and professional networks
• an inclusive, flexible, and healthy

Position duties

As a Graduate you will be part of dedicated teams where you will get experience and exposure to activities that will develop skills in policy, program, project management, contract management and stakeholder engagement.

You will have the opportunity to establish strong working relationships across the department and external agencies.

Duties may include but not limited to:

• communicates in a manner appropriate for a range of audiences (this may be further evidenced through drafting documents including briefings, minutes, correspondence, and reports in varying complexity)
• project management activities including preparation of project documentation and stakeholder engagement activities
• analyse, interpret and evaluate information/data from a broad range of sources to inform future policy/program direction
• ensure competing priorities and tasks are managed efficiently and effectively, with a quality product being provided
• develop and maintain effective relationships with key contacts and relevant internal and external stakeholders.

The Department of Health and Aged Care also facilitate the following internal streams:

• Generalist program
• Legal Stream
• Communications Steam
• Science Stream