About the program

If you’re a university graduate, you can gain valuable experience, develop your skills and make a positive impact in our Graduate Development Program.

Our program provides endless pathway opportunities to grow your career, skills and experience while doing work that directly impacts the Australian community.

Whether you’re passionate about science, technology, innovation, resources, or any other policy area in our diverse portfolio, the scope of topics you can work on can’t be matched anywhere else.

During our program you’ll experience:

  • comprehensive soft and technical skills training to help you excel in your career
  • hands-on learning that will challenge and inspire you
  • opportunities to collaborate with fellow graduates on important projects that address real-life policy issues, making a tangible impact on society.

Applications open

Applications for the 2027 program are now open.

Program benefits

Our program offers:

  • a structured 12-month training and development program
  • opportunity to contribute to creating a better future for all Australians
  • competitive pay and conditions with 37.5-hour work week
  • access to flexible work arrangements
  • multiple work placements to experience diverse roles and responsibilities across the department
  • starting as an Australian Public Service (APS) level 4
  • advancement to APS level 5 once you successfully complete the program
  • tailored graduate support
  • exclusive networking events
  • placement opportunities in capital cities around Australia
  • help to move (for eligible graduates).

Meet our graduates

Learn about some of our past graduates and find out what they say about working with us.

  • Amelia MacMillan
    Generalist stream
    I liked working at DISR because the culture was unmatched. There was an incredible amount of friendliness, support and care.
  • Georgia Athanasopoulos
    Generalist stream
    I think if you are open to trying new things and learning about subject areas you may have never explored before, it’s the perfect department!
  • Riyaz Syed Sahib
    Data stream
    My favourite aspect of the department was its wide range of activities, which gave me the opportunity to try different things.

Apply to join our program

You can apply to join our program on APS Jobs through the following Australian Government Graduate Program streams:

  • Accounting and Financial Management
  • Data
  • Digital
  • Economist
  • Generalist
  • Human Resource
  • Indigenous Graduate Pathway
  • Legal
  • STEM.

Depending on what you studied at university, you can apply for one or more streams. Different government agencies and departments lead each stream. Our department leads the STEM stream.

During the application process, you can choose which agency you’d like to be considered for. To work with us, nominate our department as your first choice.

Apply to an Australian Government Graduate Program

Applications for the 2027 program are now open.
Apply now

More information

Learn more about working with us
Find ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies
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