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Applications for the 2026 Victorian Government graduate program have closed.
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Our pitch to you
We want Victoria to be innovative and progressive. So, we’re on the lookout for people with a range of skills, backgrounds and lived experiences.
Our graduate program has streams tailored to what you studied at university. Plus, there are pathways you can opt into if you’re an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person or a person with disability.
Graduates start in February 2026 and will:
- have 3 diverse roles
- work in different departments over 12 months
- get access to learning and development opportunities
- learn and grow with mentors and peer networks
- be guaranteed a job at the end of the program.
In 2025 we're doing one round of recruitment for the 2026 graduate program.
How the program works
Find out all you need to know before you apply.
We are looking for innovative and progressive graduates to help make our vision for Victoria a reality. We want diverse people with a range of skills, backgrounds and lived experiences.
We need graduates that reflect the community we serve, so we encourage people from all different parts of the community to apply. We’re less interested in grade point averages and are more interested in who our applicants are.
We want people who are creative, curious, have a drive to learn and live our shared values(opens in a new window) of integrity, respect and human rights. Some strengths we look for include:
- verbal and written communication
- problem solving and analytics
- adaptability and resilience
- teamwork and stakeholder engagement.
When you apply, you must:
- have completed your undergraduate or postgraduate degree or the same as level 7 and above of the Australian Qualifications Framework(opens in a new window) between 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2026
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an Australian permanent resident. Please note: an active application for permanent residency does not meet the eligibility requirement
- not be on a temporary graduate visa(opens in a new window)
- be available for full time employment from the program start date of February 2026
- consent to a police check
- be able to attend an allocated virtual assessment centre session between 19 June and 3 July 2025
- not have taken a voluntary redundancy from the Victorian public sector in the 3 years up to the program start date of 2 February 2026.
In your online application you will need to upload your:
- resume
- proof of citizenship, or residency status
- academic transcript, academic progress statement or My eQuals link.
The online application form checks the eligibility of each applicant when applying.
You'll work in 3 roles across different departments and get:
- a starting salary of $66,416 plus super
- personal and professional training
- mentoring from executives
- training in general and specialised areas
- flexible working conditions and hybrid working
- a chance to build networks with like-minded graduates across government
- a promotion to an ongoing VPS 3 position and pay rise to $79,122 plus super at the program’s end
- access to future career opportunities in the Victorian Public Service.
For most streams, there are 10 departments(opens in a new window) you may work in. Each department also has agencies attached to them that you could end up working in.
You’ll work in 3 roles over 12 months across 3 departments.
All our roles are based in Victoria and the majority of those are based in Melbourne's central business district. You will discuss your work arrangements with your employer in each rotation. The Victorian Government’s flexible work policy(opens in a new window) aims to strike a balance between your needs and the requirements of the role and team.
Read our privacy policy(opens in a new window) to see what we collect and why.
Program streams
Program streams connect what you studied at university with roles that match your skills and experiences.
There are 4 different program streams in 2026.
In your application, you'll tell us what stream you want to apply for based on what you studied in university.
What you’ve studied
You can apply to this stream with any undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
What work you’ll do
You’ll do a broad range of work so you’re well-rounded and experience different perspectives and ideas.
Types of roles in this stream:
- policy officer
- communications officer
- project officer
- community engagement officer
- organisational development officer
- corporate governance graduate.
What you’ve studied
You can apply to this stream if you have majors in:
- accounting
- banking
- business management
- commerce
- finance.
What work you’ll do
You’ll draw on your accounting and finance skills in every placement in this stream.
You’ll get support towards Chartered Accountant or Chartered Practicing Accountant accreditation.
Types of roles in this stream:
- graduate budget analyst
- graduate financial accountant
- graduate budget officer
- graduate analyst
- financial accounting officer
- graduate business partner
- graduate finance analyst.
What you’ve studied
You can apply to this stream if you have majors in economics or econometrics.
What work you’ll do
You’ll contribute to a prosperous Victoria and play a role in managing our economy. This may be providing economic, social, financial or public policy analysis, providing advice to Government or preparing briefings on a wide range of topics for stakeholders, management or government partners.
To solve real-world economic problems, you may apply:
- experimental economics
- behavioural economics
- market design principles.
Unlike other streams, most roles in this stream are with the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Types of roles in this stream:
- graduate policy officer (economics)
- graduate economist
- graduate analyst.
What you’ve studied
You can apply to this stream if you have majors in:
- biostatistics
- computer science
- data analytics
- data science
- econometrics
- engineering
- information technology
- mathematics
- modelling
- science
- statistics.
You’ll have an advantage if you have coding experience in languages like Python, R, MATLAB, SAS, SQL.
What work you’ll do
You’ll work with a diverse range of datasets and analytics tools to improve the lives of Victorians.
Types of roles in this stream:
- data analyst (graduate)
- data and policy analyst
- graduate project officer (data analytics)
- graduate data analyst.
Pathways
Find out about the pathways we have for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability.
It’s important the Victorian Public Service reflects the community we serve.
To help us make the public service diverse and inclusive, we’ve made support pathways for:
- First Peoples
- applicants with disability.
You still choose a stream to apply for and you can let us know about any adjustments you already use or may need.
Note that although these are support pathways into the program, if you apply this way you are still considered against all candidates for the same roles.
The pathway for First Peoples is an initiative from the First Peoples Workforce Development Strategy, Barring Djinang(opens in a new window). The strategy is designed to improve attraction and retention of First Peoples in the Victorian public sector.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people can choose to use the First Peoples pathway when they apply.
The pathway offers flexible and tailored support for each applicant.
Support when you apply
During the application process a dedicated team member from the First Peoples Workforce Development branch will provide applicants with:
- one-on-one application support
- regular contact and catch-ups (where needed) before submission.
Support if you get into the program
If you get into the program, the pathway provides graduates with:
- regular contact and catch-ups
- pastoral care support
- cultural and professional support
- access to broader cultural groups and networking opportunities.
If you'd like to talk to someone about the First Peoples pathway, please contact the First Peoples Workforce Development branch at FirstPeoplesWorkforce@vpsc.vic.gov.au.
Some graduate roles available may give you priority consideration as per the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010(opens in a new window).
Watch the video below to hear graduates Amber and Lauren talk about their experience of the pathway:
Your privacy
Read our privacy policy(opens in a new window) to see what we collect and why.
We want applicants with disability to have an equitable experience.
So, we’ve taken action to make our process fair for people with disability.
You don’t need to share any information about your disability to apply through this pathway or throughout the program.
Support when you apply
If you opt into this pathway, we’ll work with you to give you flexible and tailored support in the application process.
For example, previous applicants have had these adjustments(opens in a new window):
- audio description and live captioning for assessments
- materials in larger font
- more time to answer questions in the interview
- interview questions in advance
These are just examples and we’ll work with you based on your needs.
Support if you get into the program
If you get into the program, we’ll check in with you and your manager regularly to see what support you need to succeed.
We’ll listen to your needs and act on what you say.
Other ways we’ll support you are:
- access to workplace adjustments and flexible work
- ways to connect with peers with disability.
Speak to us about the disability pathway
If you’re unsure whether to opt in, get in touch with us for a confidential chat at GraduateDisabilityLiaison@vpsc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window) or on 03 9922 8600.
This pathway is an initiative of Victoria’s public sector disability employment action plan, Getting to Work.(opens in a new window)
Some graduate roles available may give you priority consideration as per the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010(opens in a new window).
Your privacy
Read our privacy policy(opens in a new window) to see what we collect and why.
How the application process works
Find out what you need to do to apply and what happens at each step.
Applications closed 11:59PM Sunday 27 April 2025.
What you'll do
You’ll tell us in the online application form:
- who you are
- what you’ve studied
- what stream you want to do
- if you’d like to opt into a pathway as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant or applicant with disability.
What you'll need
You'll need your:
- resume
- proof of citizenship, residency status or working rights in Australia
- academic transcript, academic progress statement or My eQuals link.
If you opt to use a pathway
As part of the online form, you'll have the chance to opt into the:
- pathway for First Peoples
- pathway for applicants with disability.
If you opt in or are an applicant with a disability, you will be able to request any adjustments you may want to use, already use or know you’ll need within the application form.
The assessment closes on 5 May 2025.
What you'll do
Following the successful completion of your application form and fulfillment of all eligibility criteria, you’ll immediately be invited by email to complete online blended assessments which include an online test and a video.
Please note you can complete these assessments at any time before they close on 5 May. You can complete the test and video at different times or in the same session.
You’ll:
- do a test on your numeracy, logic and verbal communication, with behavioural and situational assessments.
- record a video of yourself and get:
- unlimited time to read and prepare each question
- 2 minutes to record your response to each question.
You can do a practice test before you begin your assessment.
This online blended interactive assessment is untimed.
We send you a feedback report when you’re done.
What you'll need
You'll need:
- stable internet access
- at least 2 hours to do the test.
What you’ll do
You’ll attend an online information session and hear from departments about the work areas and roles that are being recruited.
What you’ll need
You’ll need to complete a preference form, following the session, that contributes to the department assessment centre you are allocated to attend.
What you’ll do
You’ll be allocated a session in the virtual assessment centre. You’ll do:
- an activity on your own, checking stream specific competencies (not required for generalist stream)
- a group activity.
- an interview with a government hiring team.
What you’ll need
You’ll need:
- to prepare for the assessment centre activities
- stable internet access
- a device to take part in a video call.
The virtual assessment centre may run for up to 4.5 hours.
We'll:
- check your references
- call you before making an offer
- do a pre-employment check(opens in a new window)
- send you some more paperwork to do.
Hear from our graduates
Don't take our word for it, hear what our graduates have to say.
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