You’re about to graduate or have graduated, and want to start your career in the public sector in Australia. Bonza! That’s step one, done. Now on to step two - deciding on a graduate program from the many options in Australia’s government agencies and public service departments. Check out our top 10 list below to help you narrow down your choices and make a well-informed decision.
Please note that our rankings are based on our overall Top 100 graduate employers list, which incorporates factors like reputation, reviews by recent hires, and each firm's performance across metrics like culture, salary, work environment, and diversity.
Ever wondered what the Australian version of the American CIA or British MI5 is? Meet the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australia’s very own security service! Focusing more on security intelligence from within Australia, ASIO protects Australia and Australians from foreign interference, attacks on Australia’s defence system, espionage, terrorism, sabotage, and threats to Australia’s border integrity. It has two graduate programs to choose from depending on your specialism.
Due to the nature of its top-secret work environment, ASIO staff are required to be discreet throughout their career. Essentially this means that you can't tell people what you do or who you work for.
Canberra
Not available.
Want a sneak peek behind one of the oldest, and most diverse and beautiful states in Australia? Look no further than the Government of New South Wales, aka the NSW Government. Working with this administrative authority gives you a backstage view of what it takes to keep a major region in Australia up and running.
NSW Government was ranked #2 in the 2022 Australian Financial Review’s Top 100 Graduate Employers List and received the Most Popular Government & Defence Employer Award for the 5th year running.
Greater Sydney metropolitan, Hunter, Central Tablelands, North Coast, South Coast,
South East, and South West.
Yes for the Virtual Internship Program.
Learn more about NSW Government here.
Consider applying for the graduate program at Australia’s Department of Defence if you want to be involved in protecting and advancing Australia's strategic interests. Its graduate program offers a variety of opportunities for different career streams, or pathways, as the department puts it, which allows you to gain experience in different areas such as regional security and humanitarian efforts, intelligence analysis, equipment management and so on.
You can actually choose to apply for up to two employment pathways in the Department of Defence’s graduate program if you meet the degree requirements for each pathway.
Mostly Canberra. A limited number of regional rotations may be available in second and third rotations, which are at selected Defence establishments across Australia.
Flexible work arrangements available.
Learn more about the Department of Defence here.
Taxes are an important part of keeping our society up and running. And that’s where the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) comes in. The agency manages and develops tax and superannuation systems that support and fund services for Australians. If you’re into logic, solving intellectually complex problems, and working in a diverse industry, then consider applying for ATO’s graduate program.
The Australian Taxation Office was created as a branch of the Treasury after the 1910 Land Tax Act. Being around for over 100 years, this office has had several name changes including Federal Taxation Office, Commonwealth Taxation Office and now the Australian Taxation Office.
Adelaide, Albury, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Gosford, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney, Townsville and Wollongong.
Negotiable but mostly dependent on site restriction level and your manager's discretion.
Learn more about the Australian Taxation Office here.
You might think that statistics are just about mathematical equations, but they actually play a huge role in how we understand and advance the world. If this sounds interesting to you, then the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is a great starting point for your career. You will be part of an over 100-year-old agency to help bring data to life and inform Australia’s important decisions.
The ABS is behind the Australian Census aka the Census of Population and Housing, which is conducted every five years.
Geelong and all capital cities in Australia.
Flexible work arrangements available.
Learn more about the Australian Bureau of Statistics here.
If defending your nation is your calling, then consider applying to the Australian Defence Force. Comprised of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, the organisation focuses on key areas like military operations, overseas engagements, and disaster relief. The ADF offers roles for graduates in various fields such as chaplaincy, dentistry, engineering, environmental health, finance, law, medical science, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and psychology.
The ADF was set up in 1976 after the Australian government decided to consolidate its three separate armed services (Navy, Army, and Air Force) into single military headquarters with combined logistics and training camps.
Canberra, Sydney, Darwin, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Melbourne.
Flexible work arrangements available.
Learn more about the Australian Defence Force here.
When you need help with social, health and child support services and payments… Who you gonna call? Services Australia! Yep, this is the organisation that ensures government services are delivered to Australian individuals, families, and communities. So if you’re looking to serve your community and kickstart your career, their National Graduate Program may be the right fit for you.
Services Australia was officially renamed from the Department of Human Services in February 2020 with a vision “to make government services simple so people can get on with their lives”.
Mostly in Canberra, but some roles are available in major cities and regional towns.
Flexible work arrangements available.
Learn more about Services Australia here.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is an independent Australian Government body that regulates the conduct of Australia’s financial services, products, companies, and professionals. If the finance world brings you joy, then consider ASIC’s graduate program, where you may be involved in any of the following business units including surveillance, investigations, analysing intelligence, data analytics, consumer research or even supporting new technologies.
Graduates will work with ASIC to raise money for a charity partner throughout the program. In 2019, graduates raised more than $10,000 for Opportunity International Australia.
Sydney and Melbourne.
Flexible work arrangements available.
Learn more about the Australian Securities and Investments Commission here.
The Australian Capital Territory Government aka ACT Government is responsible for the Australian Capital Territory city-state. It focuses on both state and local government functions such as health, education, environment, justice, roads, libraries and city maintenance. Working for this entity means that you get to be hands-on with Canberra’s management and development. Very cool stuff indeed if you’re looking to work with the government.
The name of Australia’s capital city located in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, means “meeting place” in the local Ngunnawal language. An apt description for a city that houses Parliament.
Canberra.
Flexible work arrangements available.
Learn more about ACT Government here.
Looking to build a career in the Australian Public Service (APS) space? The Department of Education, Skills and Employment, or DESE for short, is a great starting point for your career as it allows you to learn APS fundamentals through work experience around a variety of programs and policies developed and implemented by the department. DESE focuses on creating opportunities and driving better outcomes through access to quality education and learning.
DESE has consistently featured in the Top 100 Graduate Employer rankings over the past few years.
Canberra.
Flexible work arrangements available.