Applications are currently closed for Round 2.
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, we’ve got pathways you can opt into if you’re an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person or a person with disability.
As a graduate, you’ll:
- have diverse roles
- work in different departments
- 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.
If you applied in round 1
You can't apply for this round if you applied in round 1 earlier this year.
How the program works
Find out all you need to know before you apply.
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If you think a career in the public service is something to be proud of, then we want to hear from you.
We’re less interested in your grade point average and more interested in who you are.
We want people who are creative, curious, have a drive to learn and live our shared values of integrity, respect and human rights.
Victoria’s strength is in its diversity of backgrounds and lived experience.
We want graduates that reflect the community we serve.
If you’re an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person or a person with disability, then check out the pathways you can opt into.
For all applicants, we have streams you can choose from, where we look for strengths in:
- verbal and written communication
- problem solving and analytics
- adaptability and resilience
- teamwork and stakeholder engagement.
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When you apply, you must:
- have completed your undergraduate or postgraduate degree or the same as level 7 and above of the Australian Qualifications between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2024
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or have unrestricted working rights for ongoing work
- not be on a temporary graduate
- not have taken a voluntary redundancy from the Victorian public sector in the 3 years up to the program start date of 29 January 2024.
You may be required to provide evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status or exemption if you are successful in receiving a formal offer to join the program.
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You'll work in 3 roles across different departments and get:
- a starting salary of $62,604 plus super
- personal and professional training
- mentoring from executives
- training in general and specialised areas
- flexible working conditions, such as hybrid working
- a chance to build networks with like-minded graduates across government
- a promotion and pay rise to more than $74,500 plus super at the program’s end
- access to future career opportunities that are only available to people who work in the Victorian Public Service.
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For most streams, there are 10 departments and Victoria you can choose to work in.
And each department has agencies attached to them that you may end up working in.
In your application, you’ll tell us the top 2 departments you’d like to work in.
You’ll work in 3 roles over 12 months across 3 departments.
Your choice of department will help decide where you may start and have an ongoing role.
Work location
All our roles are based in Victoria and the majority of those are based in Melbourne's central business district. You will negotiate your flexible and hybrid work arrangements with your employer in each rotation. The Victorian Government’s flexible work aims to strike a balance between your needs and the requirements of the role and team.
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We’ll:
- never share your information with anyone without your consent
- leave it up to you, if you want to tell your employer or peers about yourself.
Read our privacy policy to see what we collect and why.
Program streams
You can only apply for one stream in round 1 or round 2 (not both).
In round 2, we’re recruiting graduates for our generalist stream only. Applications for round 2 open at 9.59 am on Monday 24 July and close at 11:59 pm on Sunday 27 August 2023.
In the generalist stream, you’ll work in 3 roles across different departments over 12 months.
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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.
Some of the roles we offer in this stream are:
- policy officer
- communications officer
- marketing coordinator
- community engagement officer
- organisational development officer
- corporate governance graduate.
Pathways
Find out about the pathways we have for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability.
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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 pathways for:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants
- applicants with disability.
You still choose a stream to apply for and you can let us know about any adjustments you already use or know you’ll need.
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The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pathway is an alternative entry pathway for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
You can opt to use this pathway if you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
This support is flexible and tailored to you.It includes things like:
- support with your application
- support from your own pathway manager
- one-on-ones during the application process
- regular contact and catch ups with the Aboriginal Employment Unit at the Victorian Public Sector Commission.
If you would like to talk to someone about the Aboriginal pathway please contact the Aboriginal Employment Unit at aboriginal.employment@vpsc.vic.gov.au or or call the graduate employment team on 03 9922 8600.
Some graduate roles available may give you priority consideration as per the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act .
Barring Djinang
This pathway is an initiative of Victoria’s public sector Aboriginal Employment Strategy, Barring .
The team in charge of Barring Djinang works with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander public sector employees.
If you get into the program, check out what else in the Barring Djinang strategy could help you as a public servant.
Your privacy
We’ll:
- never share your information with anyone without your consent
- leave it up to you, if you want to tell your employer or peers about yourself.
Read our privacy policy to see what we collect and why.
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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:
- a phone interview instead of a video interview
- audio description and live captioning for assessments
- materials in larger font
- more time to answer questions in the interview
- more time to do the online test.
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 make a real effort to listen to your needs and act on what you say.
Other ways we’ll support you are:
- access to mentors with disability
- access to workplace adjustments and flexible work
- ways to connect with peers with disability.
Our action plan for people with disability
This pathway is an initiative of Victoria’s public sector disability employment action plan, Getting to
The plan aims to raise the number of people with disability who work in the public sector to at least 12% by 2025.
The plan has 3 focus areas:
- build awareness through access to information
- attract and recruit people with disability
- support employees with disability.
We believe that people with disability make the public sector stronger and better reflect our diverse Victorian community.
Some graduate roles available may give you priority consideration as per the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act .
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 or on 03 9922 8600.
Your privacy about your disability
We’ll:
- never share your information with anyone without your consent
- leave it up to you if you want to tell your employer or peers about yourself.
Read our privacy 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.
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Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday 27 August 2023
What you'll do
You’ll tell us in an online 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:
- proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency
- undergraduate academic results and if applicable, postgraduate results or progress on your results if you don’t know what they are yet (we accept my )
- resume.
If you opt to use a pathway
As part of the online form, you'll have the chance to opt into the:
- pathway for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- pathway for applicants with disability.
If you opt in, we’ll be in touch to talk about any adjustments you already use or know you’ll need.
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The test closes at 9:59 am on Monday 4 September 2023
What you'll do
You'll do a test on your numeracy, logic and verbal communication, with behavioural and situational assessments.
You can do a test question before the start of each section to practise.
We'll send you the results when you’re done.
What you'll need
You'll need:
- stable internet access
- at least 1 hour to do the test.
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The cut off for your video is at 9:59 am on Tuesday 12 September 2023
What you'll do
You'll record a video of yourself and get:
- 2 minutes to read each question
- 2 minutes to record your response to each question.
You can do a test question before you start to practise.
What you'll need
You'll need:
- stable internet access
- at least 20 minutes to do the task.
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What you’ll do
You’ll attend an online information session and hear from the graduate team and departments on which positions 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.
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What you’ll do
You’ll do a group activity.
What you’ll need
You’ll need:
- to complete a pre-work document
- stable internet access
- a device to take part in a video call.
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What you’ll do
You’ll do an interview with with a government hiring team.
What you’ll need
You’ll need:
- stable internet access
- a device to take part in a video call
- at least 40 minutes to do the interview.
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If you get an offer
We'll:
- check your references
- call you
- do a pre-employment
- 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.
Reviewed 27 August 2023