Melbourne, Metro Melbourne
Opportunity expired
The Victorian Government
We want Victoria to be innovative and reflective of the community we serve. Graduates join us because we offer meaningful work that directly impacts Victorians and offers incredible career opportunities. No other employer has such a diversity of roles. Work in a place where you can live our shared values, including integrity, respect and human rights.
The disability pathway
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.
Some graduate roles available may give you priority consideration as per the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.
Complete 3 rotations in different departments over 12 months. You'll contribute to important work and make connections across government. Along the way, you'll develop your talents and find new passions.
Program benefits
Skills required
Generalist stream
The generalist stream is open to graduates from all academic disciplines. You’ll have a home department that you start in for your first rotation and return to at the end of the program. You’ll get to experience a diverse range of roles, learn how government works and build your capabilities while following a structured learning and development program. Past generalist graduates have been placed in areas including organisational development, policy, research, environment, workforce reform, communication and engagement.
Law stream
The law stream is open to graduates with degrees in Law and / or a Juris Doctor that allows for admission to practise as an Australian lawyer. You'll work in legal and legislative areas undertaking research, drafting advice, developing effective networks and relationships and attending court. You'll be provided further training related to the law environment within the government.
Project delivery stream
You can apply to this stream if you have majors in architecture disciplines, engineering disciplines, landscape architecture, construction disciplines, project management (or project management equivalent). In the project delivery stream, you’ll work on how the government develops, designs and constructs high-profile public infrastructure. You'll be trained in specific skills that you’ll be able to use in project-delivery in the public service and private sectors.
Eligibility criteria
You will be required to provide evidence of your vaccination status or exemption if you are successful in receiving a formal offer to join the program.
Work location
All our roles are based in Victoria. You will negotiate your flexible and hybrid work arrangements with your employer in each rotation. The Victorian Government’s flexible work policy aims to strike a balance between your needs and the requirements of the role and team.
Application stages
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway provides culturally appropriate guidance and support to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants through the recruitment and selection process. You'll be supported by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff and other experienced professionals during the recruitment process and your career within the Victorian public sector. The pathway is part of the Victorian public sector’s 5-year Aboriginal employment strategy, Barring Djinang.
Some graduate roles available may give you priority consideration as per the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.
How to apply
The 2023 Victorian Government graduate program applications are open between 25 July to 9:59 am AEST 29 August 2022. We are accepting applications for our generalist, law and project delivery streams.
Apply now at grads.vic.gov.au
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.