Melbourne, Metro Melbourne + hybrid arrangements
Opportunity expired
Graduates join us because we offer meaningful work that directly impacts Victorians. No other employer has such a diversity of roles with flexible working conditions and permanent job upon successful completion.
Over 12 months, you’ll work in 3 roles across different departments and have access to future career opportunities that are only available to people who work in the Victorian Public Service.
As a graduate, you’ll also have opportunities to learn and grow with mentors and peer networks and be guaranteed a permanent job at the end of the program.
The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander graduate pathway
The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander graduate pathway provides culturally appropriate guidance and support to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants through the recruitment and selection process. The pathway is part of the Victorian public sector’s five-year Aboriginal employment strategy, Barring Djinang.
You'll contribute to important work and make connections across government. Along the way, you'll develop your talents and find new passions.
Support in this pathway is flexible and tailored to you and includes things like:
Program benefits
You'll work in 3 roles across different departments and get:
Skills required
Eligibility criteria
You may be required to provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status or exemption if you are successful in receiving a formal offer to join the program.
Application stages
Pathway for applicants with disability
The disability pathway provides graduates with disability access to safe, inclusive support and workplace adjustments from a dedicated professional. It enables us to better understand you as an individual and assists with equitable access throughout the entire recruitment and selection process. It can also include support during the graduate year. The disability pathway is consistent with the Victorian Government’s Getting to Work disability employment action plan.
How to apply
Applications for round 2 of the 2024 Victorian Government graduate program are open from 24 July 2023 to 11:59 pm AEST 27 August 2023.
Click the "Apply on employer site" button to start your application.
Depends on the department, but I feel for the most part the work I have been doing has actually made a genuine contribution.
Depends on the department and team. In my second and third rotation, had great managers and meaningful work to develop my skills. In my first rotation it was a struggle to get any work to do at all. Developing PowerBI dashboards to analyse services and performance, as well as budget usage.
Depending on the rotation, anywhere from exploratory data analysis, SQL, BI reporting, building dashboards, and engaging with stakeholders to understand requirements for a task. In my current role, day to day responsibilities are mostly preparing regular reports.
3.8
> 100,000 employees
Government & Public Service
Start your career in the Victorian Government graduate program and find work with purpose.
I've enjoyed working on meaningful programs and projects that I can see have a positive impact on the community. Even as a grad, I feel I've been able to make a valuable contribution.
Carefully considered graduate workplan that connects you with a like-minded graduate cohort. Offers three departmental rotations so that you get an engaging insight into public service work as a graduate.
I think the ability to work on projects and policies that are topical and improve Victoria is the best aspect of the job. There are a lot of really interesting roles and responsibilities. I like working on things that make a difference to people and place. It feels good to work for people and not profit. So far, I have worked on emission reduction projects, major infrastructure projects and grant programs. I am excited by all the important things I will work on in the future.
The prioritisation of staff well-being, flexible working arrangements, and the ability to remain mobile at the beginning of my career, gaining insight and experience into a number of areas.
Meaningful work and shared values between employees. In general, public servants are quite nice people. Meeting lots of people in the program. Great work life balance :)
Some managers are not sure how to best utilise grads or how to ensure we feel welcome in our short 4 month rotations. These managers are in the minority, however.
The uncertainty and underappreciation. Mobility and MOG changes are part and parcel of working in the VPS however they can be quite unnerving. The announcement of job cuts just weeks into the program was very unsettling. These efficiency savings have made me worry about losing my position and future career decisions. I also wasn't aware of just how unstable the job and teams were when I applied. Every team I have been in during the program has had people acting and leaving. I have also seen a change in premier and portfolio reshuffles. Secondly, I think there is a perception that public servants don't do anything and are bludgers. The Victorian Government Graduate program is very hard to get into and everyone is really passionate and hard working. Similarly, I have worked in teams with really inspiring and smart people. I think it is a shame that public perception isn't better. Further, I think the ceiling in terms of pay is quite low unless you're an executive. While the public service should be for people and not profit, in this fiscal environment we should be paid accordingly. I have been stressed as a graduate about paying my rent and affording to live in Melbourne.
Being a graduate there is not always a constant workload where motivation levels fluctuate over time.
Pay is ok. VPS 2.1.6 Given recent inflation, I think it is no longer competitive. 2 years ago it would have been appropriate, but it feels like taking a pay cut to be a part of the program. I understand that other graduate programs are not necessarily that much higher, but I think across the board there needs to be an increase. I'm in the Data Stream for the graduate program. I have a master’s in data science, but the work I've been given has mostly been data analyst related. I don't feel challenged in these roles, but I think that may be due to being overqualified.
The pace can be quite stressful and there are limited opportunities to celebrate the success of completing a particular piece of work before having to do the next one.