Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Graduate Programs & Internships

The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business is forward thinking and strives to be innovative in everything we do. We identify risks, emerging trends and opportunities. We look for creative solutions to challenges and we are on the front foot providing advice to Government.

Having a job is central to the Australian way of life and provides financial security throughout life, enabling choice of investment in housing, education and health. Having a job can also enhance self-esteem, social skills and self-confidence.

We want every Australian to have the opportunity to get ahead and build a better life for themselves and their families; and for employers to have the confidence to grow their businesses and hire new employees.

By providing good advice on policies that will create jobs, helping job seekers to work and encouraging great workplaces, we build Australia’s participation and productivity.

We support economic growth, we encourage small and family business to grow, and maximise opportunity through access to quality skills and training.

The department works on initiatives such as jobactive, Transition to Work, Empowering YOUth Initiatives, ParentsNext and the Seasonal Worker Programme.

Our Ideal Graduates

Our ideal graduates are bold thought leaders who are passionate about supporting national policies and programs that help Australians find and keep employment, and work in safe, fair and productive workplaces.

They embrace diversity, valuing the contributions of people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and demonstrate our shared values.

Personal qualities we are looking for include strong communication, curiosity about the world around them and an open-mind to new ideas and thinking outside the box.

The Graduate Program

The Graduate Program is a ten-month program offering workplace learning and development in a supportive environment.

We accept graduates with any degree and offer placements in one of five streams:

• Generalist
• Quantitative Analysis
• ICT
• Legal
• Economics

The Graduate Program offers:

Placements in a range of different work areas, providing opportunities to work on a variety of programs and policies developed and implemented by the department.
Professional development, including structured learning and development activities.
Opportunities to be involved in a wide range of networks, social and fundraising events.
An attractive remuneration and conditions package.

Why you should apply

Our Graduate Program will offer you a broad range of career development opportunities, on and off the job training, a permanent position with the department on completion of the program, competitive salary, leave entitlements and great working conditions.

It will also give you the chance to make a contribution to policies and programs that are central to the Australian way of life.

Some of the benefits include:

• Two five-month work placements
• Meaningful and challenging work
• The opportunity to work on policies and programs that directly affect Australians
• Diverse career opportunities across the department
• Extensive learning and development suite that includes policy development, project management, strategic thinking and innovation, stakeholder engagement and graduate projects
• Great workplace culture with a sense of community and a network of previous graduates willing to help
• Relocation assistance for those outside of the ACT
• Competitive salary and superannuation benefits
• Excellent employment conditions, including flexible working hours and generous leave entitlements
• Ongoing employment once you complete the program