Updating Results

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

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4.0
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Government & Public Service

Our Graduate Program offers:

  • two diverse work placements which provide the opportunity to work on a variety of programs and policies developed and implemented by the department 
  • a supportive, inclusive, and flexible working environment 
  • on-the-job experience including the opportunity to work and learn from subject-matter experts 
  • various opportunities to be involved in a wide range of networks, social and fundraising events. 

We offer the opportunity to directly contribute to shaping the employment landscape through our policies and programs. Our diverse and inclusive workplace encourages different perspectives, a sense of belonging and the exchange of expertise between peers.  

Our entry level programs give you a strong foundation and the necessary skills to kick start your career. You’ll build on your technical and communication skills, as well as your strategic and innovative thinking, problem solving skills, stakeholder engagement skills and research capabilities. You will gain experience in the processes of government and work within legislative frameworks. 

For more information on entry level programs, visit our website. 

About us

We are the department that helps job seeking Australians find safe, secure, and well-paid work while we ourselves strive to be a model employer. We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees.  

We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or retraining to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities. 

Secure jobs are vital—driving future economic growth and providing people with certainty. We focus on connecting Australians who are starting, advancing, or changing their career with the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to gain or regain employment. 

Our work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. It is our unique purpose to help people realise their potential and we want you to be part of it. 

Our culture

Underpinning our important work is our focus on culture. We recognise that how we do things is equally important as what we achieve. Our workplace is one where different perspectives are encouraged, people feel a sense of belonging and draw on the expertise of their peers. Our people demonstrate the APS Values, which includes being open, thoughtful, curious and candid. We also value employee wellbeing and developing leadership through investment in capability.  

Diversity and Inclusion

We recognise that our people are our greatest strength. We strive to create an inclusive workforce that reflects and understands the diversity of the Australian community that we serve. We foster a work environment that is culturally safe, respectful and underpinned by integrity. We do so through the delivery of dedicated diversity and inclusion strategies, plans, programs, events and other initiatives. 

We are committed to the attraction, retention and positive workplace experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people who identify as neurodivergent. 

We are committed to actioning the APS-wide Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy 2020-2024, the Australian Public Service Disability Employment Strategy 2020-2025, and the APS Gender Equality Strategy 2021-2026. 

Diversity and Inclusion Networks

Our employee-led networks are an essential part of our inclusive and diverse workplace. They offer a way for employees to connect with, find support, and thrive with others in the department. 

  • Our Diversity and Inclusion Networks include: 
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Network 
  • Dis/Ability and Carers Network 
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Network 
  • Gender Equity Network 
  • Pride Network. 

The networks help to actively drive and promote diversity and inclusion initiatives, celebrating days of significance such as: NAIDOC Week, Reconciliation Week, Pride Month, International Day of People with Disability (among others) with events, engagement activities and other opportunities to get involved.  

Career development

We create opportunities for our people to define a range of career paths for themselves through learning, development and professional growth. We offer a range of professional and personal development opportunities, including participation in the Jawun Secondment Program, mentoring programs, professional leadership programs and more! We aim to grow visionary leaders at all levels and empower them to make decisions about their work and where they want to go in the future.  

Social Club

Taking charge of the department’s good vibes is the employee-led Social Club. The Social Club regularly hosts happy hours, the end of year party, pilates and sporting activities, as well as fundraising opportunities. Anyone can join and all ideas for future activities are welcome!  

Reward and recognition

We are committed to rewarding our employees for their contributions through formal awards and informal recognition. We host an annual Secretary’s Awards which formally recognises our colleagues who have made a significant contribution to the work of the department, both in how we work and what we deliver.  

Connect with us 

  • We want to hear from you! Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook and keep up with what we’re up to here at #TeamDEWR. 

Recruitment Process

We work collaboratively with other APS agencies to recruit talented individuals through other specialty graduate and entry level programs. These speciality graduate programs are co-ordinated centrally by the Australian Government Graduate Program (AGGP). 

Applying to one of these speciality streams means you only have to go through the application and selection process for your selected speciality stream once. This streamlined process enables you to be considered for a range of Australian Government agencies. 

We are a participating agency in the Economics, Legal, Accounting, Human Resources, Digital (including ICT), Data, Generalist, and STEM Streams, and the Indigenous Graduate Pathway. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for our Graduate Program, you will be required to: 

  • be an Australian Citizen or going to be granted Australian citizenship before you commence and be able to provide evidence of this 
  • have successfully completed a Bachelor degree or higher within five years prior to the start date of the Graduate Program. You will be required to provide evidence of completion before the start of the program 
  • obtain and maintain a valid Australian Government Baseline security clearance 
  • relocate to Canberra for the commencement of the program if the position requires you to 
  • satisfy the relevant medical checks (if required for the position). 

Remuneration & Career Growth

We offer excellent employment conditions with competitive remuneration, superannuation, and employee entitlements. Most of these are outlined in our enterprise agreement, and a career with us allows you to many benefits including: 

  • relocation assistance to move to Canberra (if applicable) 
  • excellent employee conditions with competitive remuneration, superannuation, and employee entitlements 
  • permanent ongoing employment in the Australian Public Service 
  • career progression on successful completion of the program from APS Level 4.1 to APS Level 5.1 
  • an Employee Assistance Program for wellbeing and career support 
  • dedicated buddy and supervisor 
  • Graduate Sponsor passionate about seeing you thrive and succeed 
  • structured learning and development program 
  • networking opportunities 
  • access to study assistance on successful completion of the program 
  • performance discussions to set your career goals and aspirations 
  • yearly health allowance 
  • access to flexible working conditions 
  • pay rises in line with our Enterprise Agreement.

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.0
Overall score based on 16 reviews
They Score Best in…
8.8
Work Hours
8.3
Satisfaction
7.9
Salary
7.3
Management
What Graduates Say About Them
  • I still access to flex hours... work between the hours of 7am-7pm if needed on an ad hoc basis, along with working from home one day a week.
  • Seeing the direct positive impact my work has done in improving the lives of people.
  • In the right areas - everyone is incredibly genuine and helpful. There is a real camaraderie and team spirit to achieve a collective goal.
  • It is expected that graduates will move from APS levels 3 to 5 during the year-long program with opportunities to progress to level 6.
  • $500 for 'health purchases' (unmonitored) is nice.
  • Government administration can be terribly slow and painful to deal with. Red tape is a big problem.
  • Sometimes ridiculous expectations that we should be on-call on weekends or nights when work gets busy.
  • We are no longer given the opportunity to study a graduate diploma in public administration at University.
  • Colleague socialisation exists but is limited outside of among the graduate cohort.
  • Very lengthy, tedious, and bureaucratic... the hoops to jump through and requirements were very demoralising.

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Canberra
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
C
Creative Arts
E
Engineering & Mathematics
H
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
I
IT & Computer Science
L
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
M
Medical & Health Sciences
P
Property & Built Environment
S
Sciences
T
Teaching & Education
Current Jobs & Opportunities

Graduate Job or Program

Canberra
Our economics graduates are involved in the core work of the department and are given real responsibility with support from the team from the start.
Salary
AUD 67,828 - 70,648 / Year

Career progression from APS Level 3.1 to APS Level 5.1 on successful completion of the program

Graduate Job or Program

Brisbane, Canberra & Sydney
Do you want to work with a wide variety of rich data sources from across our department’s broad remit, while advancing and learning new data skills?
Salary
AUD 69,863 - 83,908 / Year


Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories

Mingxiao Zhao

Doctoral Degree in Finance and Accounting at Charles Darwin University (CDU)

  • Graduate stories

Joshua Evans

Graduate in Structural Adjustment Team at Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Modern History at Macquarie University


A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Joshua Evans

Graduate in Structural Adjustment Team at Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

Bachelor of Arts, major in Modern History at Macquarie University

  • Day in the life

Raagavi Jeyaseelan

Bachelor of Business at University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)


Videos


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