Indigenous Graduate Pathway
How it works
One application – many opportunities
The Indigenous Graduate Pathway provides a rewarding career in the Australian Public Service for recent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tertiary graduates. We recruit on behalf of a large number of Australian Government agencies who are seeking a range of skillets and abilities. You apply once through our system and your application is assessed for all participating agencies – no need to complete multiple applications.
Successful candidates undertake placements that will provide the opportunity to be a part of challenging work and make a meaningful contribution to the Australian community.
We are seeking graduates from all degree types; we want deadly ideas, fresh thinking and perspectives from all disciplines. Whatever your area of tertiary study is, there is an opportunity for you.
A career in the Australian Public Service, regardless of which Department or Agency you work in, gives you the opportunity to contribute to Australia’s future. Each Agency is responsible for a different aspect of Australian life, from education, health and community services to immigration, defence and infrastructure.
What you get during your graduate program
As a graduate in the Australian Government, you will get hands-on experience along with formal development opportunities tailored to build your skills. This will give you a professional advantage in the increasingly competitive workforce, wherever your career may take you.
Typically, graduates undertake a structured program which comprises of:
- work rotations designed to expose you to business areas across the agency;
- opportunities to undertake a diverse range of real work;
- on the job and formal training to help you establish your professional grounding;
- opportunities to build professional networks; and
- 12-24 months program duration depending on hiring Agency.
Who we are looking for
If you are looking for a great start to your career, or are looking for a career change and can see yourself contributing to the work of the Australian Government, this pathway is a great match for you.
We are looking for great communicators who are motivated to contribute their skills and knowledge to the work the Australian Government does. For all roles, you will need to have demonstrated capabilities in the following areas:
- working with others;
- conceptual and analytical thinking;
- aspiration and engagement; and
- communication.
We strongly encourage applications from people with disability and offer practical support such as making reasonable adjustments to ensure that you are able to participate equally in the recruitment process.
We welcome graduates from any discipline. You will need to have a strong interest in the work of the Australian Government and be ready to apply your knowledge, experience and qualifications to that work. Before applying you are encouraged to find out more about the employing Agencies.
Participating Agencies
There are 47 Australian Government Agencies who are participating in the 2022 Indigenous Graduate Pathway recruitment activity. These are:
- Aboriginal Hostels limited
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal
- Attorney-General's Department
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
- Australian Communications and Media Authority
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
- Australian Digital Health Agency
- Australian Electoral Commission
- Australian Federal Police
- Australian Fisheries Management Authority
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
- Australian Public Service Commission
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Australian Signals Directorate
- Australian Taxation Office
- Bureau of Meteorology
- Civil Aviation Safety Authority
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
- Department of Defence
- Department of Defence – Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO)
- Department of Defence – Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO)
- Department of Education, Skills and Employment
- Department of Finance
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Department of Health
- Department of Home Affairs
- Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
- Department of Social Services
- Department of The Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Department of the Treasury
- Department of Veterans' Affairs
- Digital Transformation Agency
- Fair Work Ombudsman
- IP Australia
- Murray–Darling Basin Authority
- National Archives of Australia
- National Disability Insurance Agency
- National Indigenous Australians Agency
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
- Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman
- Productivity Commission
- Safe Work Australia
- Services Australia
Wherever you may work in the Australian Government you will find opportunities to undertake a wide range of challenging work and to make a major contribution to the Australian public. As one of Australia's largest employers, we offer:
- diverse, flexible and inclusive workplaces in locations across Australia, with many opportunities in Canberra at the heart of government
- good working conditions, with attractive remuneration and employer superannuation contributions
- challenging and varied work across a range of fields, with learning opportunities and networking available for career development; and
- an opportunity to apply your professional expertise and pursue your interests while contributing to the Australian community.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2023 Indigenous Graduate Pathway you must:
- Be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person;
- Be an Australian citizen; and
- Have received, at a minimum, an undergraduate degree from a recognised Australian university (or equivalent overseas institution) between January 2018 and January 2023.
Documents you will need
During the process you will be asked to upload:
- your current resume
- your Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Heritage*
- your most recent official academic transcript.
Further information on these documents, including what your confirmation of heritage should stipulate can be found in our Candidate Booklet [which will be available on 31 January 2022].
What you can expect
There are three stages to the Indigenous Graduate Pathway Assessment Process: What’s your Story; Meet, Greet, Yarn; and Find your Place.
Each stage encompasses a range of activities designed to obtain a holistic understanding of who you are. Along the process, you may be invited to complete online testing, have the opportunity to meet with representatives from participating agencies as well as attending our Virtual Assessment Centre. Below is an outline of the activity schedule:
| Date | Assessment and Offer Milestone | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| January - May | What’s Your Story? |
|
| May - June | Meet, Greet, Yarn |
|
| June - July | Find Your Place |
|
Our Candidate Assessment Booklet will outline these stages in further details, provides some great tips, and hints to assist you reaching your full potential.
We are here to support you
Our team has years of experience coordinating programs for Indigenous Australians and are committed to supporting candidates through every step of the process. If you have any questions, something isn’t working or making sense, we’re here to help. We’re always happy to have a yarn.
Please contact the Indigenous Graduate Pathway team via Indigenous.graduates@defence.gov.au or on 1800-344-011.
Please note whilst our email ends in @defence.gov.au we are coordinating the Indigenous Graduate Pathway on behalf of all participating Commonwealth agencies.