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Indigenous graduate & cadetship opportunities

Graduate applications extended until Friday, 12 June

The Australian Public Service (APS) Commission coordinates recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and graduates for career opportunities in a large range of Australian Government agencies.

By lodging a single application with us you may be considered for employment opportunities in over 40 Australian Government agencies!

We are seeking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work in a variety of fields in the APS from international relations through to the environment. This also includes, but is not limited to, opportunities to work in Indigenous affairs.

While the majority of positions are Canberra based it is expected that positions will also be available in most capitals and some regional centres.

What is a graduate programme?

Graduate programmes are for applicants who will have completed an undergraduate degree by February 2010. This means that you can apply if you’re in your final year of studies, or, if you completed your degree a few years ago.

A graduate programme is a great way to kick-start your career. Typically running for one year, participants have the opportunity to undertake a variety of work placements, participate in ongoing professional development, and access a great support network that includes current and former graduates.

We are seeking graduates from a range of disciplines. Graduate starting salaries in 2010 are expected to range up to $53,000. Actual salaries will vary according to which agency you are employed in and your skills and experience.

Find out more about applying for graduate opportunities...

What is a cadetship?

A cadetship is a combination of full time study and work placement. Each year cadets undertake 12 weeks of work placement with their employing agency. These work placements are normally undertaken during university breaks.

Cadets receive a wage while undertaking work placements, as well as an allowance while studying and financial assistance for text books and university fees.

The APS cadet intake is run in conjunction with the Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations’ (DEEWR) National Indigenous Cadetship Project (NICP). Applicants will need to be familiar with the NICP Terms and Conditions, to find out more, visit www.nicp.deewr.gov.au or ring 1802102.

Find out more about applying for cadetship opportunities...

Applying for graduate opportunities with the APS

Download an application kit

The Australian Public Service employs graduates with a wide range of qualifications from humanities, commerce and finance through to science and public relations.

Graduate programmes offer a great way to transition your studies into a career. As well as offering fantastic salaries, graduate programmes provide structured learning and development designed to develop your understanding of public administration processes and the business of your employing agency. Development activities on a graduate programme usually include;

access to a mentor
work rotations designed to develop your understanding of the overall business of the agency
training and development courses in areas such as policy processes, project management and interpersonal skills
networking activities with current and former graduates

Applying

To be eligible for the graduate intake you must have either completed your degree, or be completing your degree by February 2010. You must also be Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander and have an interest in working in government.

Successful candidates will be required to attend an assessment centre in Canberra in July, the Commission will arrange travel and accommodation for candidates where required.

Candidates selected to attend assessment centres will need to provide confirmation of their Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander heritage. This is commonly a letter or form obtained from an incorporated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation and stamped with their common seal.

These forms are commonly provided by Aboriginal Land Councils or similar Indigenous community organisations.

Contact details

If you have any questions contact the Indigenous Employment Team on Phone 02 62023561 or Email indigenous@apsc.gov.au

Employing Agencies

Following are some of the agencies that participated in 2008. To find out more about the agencies click on the text to visit their web sites.

Applying for a cadetship with the APS

‘I’d highly recommend a cadetship with the APS, it provided me with a solid foundation of study and work experience that led to a seamless transition into the workforce on completion of my degree.’

Download an application kit

The APS Indigenous Cadetship intake is an initiative that is a partnership of a number of Australian Government agencies. We are looking for cadets from a range of disciplines.

The APS Indigenous cadet intake is run in conjunction with the National Indigenous Cadetship Project (NICP). It is an initiative of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). NICP supports employers, both government and non-government, to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in a cadetship arrangement.

NICP also maintains a database of students interested in cadet opportunities in both the public and private sector. So even if you are not successful in the APS intake there are a number of other employers from mining companies to hospitals who use the NICP database to recruit cadets.

To learn more about NICP, or register as a student on the NICP database, visit www.nicp.dewr.gov.au

Eligibility

Applicants must be:

Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander.
Planning to undertake full time studies towards their first undergraduate degree as at February 2010.
Eligible in accordance to NICP requirements and registered on the NICP database

Generally you will not be eligible if you are studying:

for only one semester
a foundation or bridging course
by distance
under a block release arrangement where you attend intensive coursework over a shorter period of time

Applying

Successful candidates will be required to attend an assessment centre in Canberra in September, the Commission will arrange travel and accommodation for candidates where required.

Successful candidates will need to provide the following information at the assessment centre

A recent academic transcript
Verification of Aboriginality and/ or Torres Strait Islander heritage

Verification of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage

Applicants to this position must be able to provide confirmation of their Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander heritage. This is commonly a letter or form obtained from an incorporated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation and stamped with their common seal.

These forms are commonly provided by Aboriginal Land Councils or similar Indigenous community organisation.

We can not accept statutory declarations or statements made from non-Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander organisations or associations.

Contact details

If you have any questions contact the Indigenous Employment Team on Phone 02 62023561 or Email indigenous@apsc.gov.au

Employing Agencies

Following are some of the agencies that participated in 2008. To find out more about the agencies click on the text to visit their web sites.

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Indigenous graduate & cadetship opportunities

Graduate applications extended until Friday, 12 June

What is a graduate programme?

What is a cadetship?

Applying for graduate opportunities with the APS

Applying

Contact details

Employing Agencies

Applying for a cadetship with the APS

Eligibility

Applying

Verification of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage

Contact details

Employing Agencies