Plenty of options for grads in government

Karalyn Brown

Every year local, state and federal government employers offer hundreds of roles to graduates across a wide range of sectors.

What’s on offer?

Contrary to popular opinion, the government does not just employ policy administrators. Jobs for graduates in government are as diverse as there are degrees. Federal, state and local governments employ graduates such as accountants, engineers, lawyers, doctors, human resource professionals, scientists, environmentalists, media specialists and economists.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) is one federal government graduate employer. They run two separate graduate programs each year, a foreign and trade policy graduate program (the GT program) and a corporate and financial management graduate program (the CFMT program).

DFAT’s GT program is open to candidates across all academic backgrounds and prepares them for a career as a generalist policy officer. GT program graduates work to advance Australia’s interests across a broad range of areas including security and trade. They formally represent Australia while serving overseas. The CFMT program prepares trainees for a career managing the department’s assets, resources and programs. Overseas posted corporate officers are responsible for managing each post’s administrative processes and providing consular and passport assistance to Australian citizens.

The Auditor General’s Office of South Australia is a typical state government graduate employer. As the department responsible for the audit and reporting of accounts and financial statements of public authorities, they offer a Graduate Audit Analyst Program as a pathway to more challenging assignments and senior positions.

At the local government level, the Brisbane City Council advertises a two-year graduate development program with four 6-month placements. Council graduates have the opportunity to work in a number of different areas designed to stretch their skills within their disciplines while learning from experienced mentors. They hire graduates within urban and town planning, environmental health, civil engineering, landscape architecture, business analysis, human resources and workplace health and safety
Once the Council graduates finish the program, most transition into professional roles within Council at their existing pay level. However, within the following year, most have successfully promoted into higher paying professional roles.
Where to look for government graduate positions

Many agencies will advertise positions on their own websites, on careers sites such as: www.careerone.com.au. State and federal governments have a central jobs websites as well where you’ll find many positions advertised.

To find out more about federal government graduate opportunities go to http://www.apsjobs.gov.au/ click on “campaigns.” Then click on “graduates.” Here you’ll find links to information about graduate campaigns as they come up.

Here are useful links for state government graduate opportunities.

SA: You can register your interest online, here: http://www.espi.sa.gov.au/graduate/
Government graduate employers will contact you directly. Some agencies use this register, some recruit directly themselves. Click on “Government Pathways” on the left hand side to see a list and other ways to apply.

Vic: You can register your interest and search for roles at http://www.graduates.vic.gov.au/

NSW: Look on the individual department’s website for listed positions, or visit www.jobs.nsw.gov.au

WA: Has a graduate jobs portal on this site: http://www.gettingajob.dpc.wa.gov.au/GraduateOpportunities/Pages/GraduatePrograms.aspx Other graduate jobs are advertised on: www.jobs.wa.gov.au

The Northern Territory Government has an employment portal here: http://notes.nt.gov.au/dcis/RMS.nsf/NTGEmploymentHome to search for graduate jobs.

QLD: Look at http://jobs.qld.gov.au/students/graduates.asp

ACT: www.jobs.act.gov.au has a link to “special recruitment” for graduate positions, however there was no information listed about graduate roles on this page.

For local government opportunities look at the careers page on their individual websites.

To apply for DFAT go to http://www.dfat.gov.au/index.html and look at the top right corner and click on “Jobs” and then “Graduate Recruitment.” They take online applications. Shortlisted applicants will sit a written test, and if successful this will be followed by an interview and psychometric assessments. Check the website for details of the DFAT visits to university campuses. Applications for their 2011 graduate programs open 22 February 2010 and close 22 March 2010 and they do not accept late applications.

The Auditor Generals Department of SA has application instructions online. The process includes an interview.

The Brisbane City Council advertising opens around March/April each year. The program is advertised through Council’s careers website (www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:CAREERS), university websites, various discipline specific employment sites and university career expos.
Their recruitment process includes a written application and an assessment centre. From there, graduates are shortlisted for interview, then referee reports. To be eligible for the program, graduates must have completed their studies within the last two years.