Join us at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (Health) and be part of a world-leading health system. Our vision is better health and wellbeing for all Australians, now and for future generations. Working with us gives you the opportunity to shape Australia’s health and wellbeing. This is a key component of our employee value proposition and represents why our people choose to work here.
The value you get from your career with us includes:
- Real work, real outcomes
- Positive working culture
- Focused on you
- Be the real you
- Flexible working
- Opportunities to suit your skills.
With our breadth of work across health, disability and ageing, we offer career opportunities that are varied, multi-faceted, and let you explore different contexts and work areas.
We recognise that great ideas and innovation happen when people from different backgrounds, areas of expertise and different life experiences come together. This is why our Graduate Program welcomes university graduates from all disciplines. Whatever your degree there are opportunities to apply your interests at Health. We will invest in your development and help you to use your degree to build a career that allows you to grow, change and challenge yourself.
As part of our Graduate Program, you are empowered to achieve your full potential in the workplace through our ten (10) month Graduate Program including:
- A comprehensive induction to the department and to the Graduate Program.
- 2 placements across different work areas where you are exposed to the variety of work and responsibility of our work.
- On-the-job work experience and structured learning and development activities that challenge and develop your capability and professional expertise.
- Managers, mentors, and buddies (from previous years graduates) who will lead you through the experience of working for the public interest as an APS employee.
- Networking and mentoring opportunities, including opportunities to be involved in the department’s social and professional networks.
- An inclusive, flexible, and healthy workplace with generous leave conditions and competitive salary.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing also facilitate the following internal streams:
- Generalist program
- Legal Stream
- Communications Steam
- Science Stream
As a Graduate you will be part of dedicated teams where you will get experience and exposure to activities that will develop skills in policy, program, project management, contract management and stakeholder engagement.
You will have the opportunity to establish strong working relationships across the department and external agencies.
Duties may include but not limited to:
- Communicating in a manner appropriate for a range of audiences (this may be further evidenced through drafting documents including briefings, minutes, correspondence, and reports in varying complexity)
- Project management activities including preparation of project documentation and stakeholder engagement activities
- Analyse, interpret and evaluate information/data from a broad range of sources to inform future policy/program direction
- Ensure competing priorities and tasks are managed efficiently and effectively, with a quality product being provided
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with key contacts and relevant internal and external stakeholders.
To be eligible to apply, you must:
- Be an Australian Citizen.
- Be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent.
- Have completed a Bachelor degree or higher in the last five years - between January 2022 and December 2026 (completed and/or recognised in Australia); and
- Have the ability to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance or hold a current security clearance of an appropriate level.
An applicant’s suitability for employment with Health will also be assessed through a variety of pre-employment checks, which may include:
- Satisfactory completion of a criminal history check, and where relevant, a Working with Children and Vulnerable People, check; and
- Completion of a medical declaration and possible pre-employment medical.
Affirmative measure - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment eligibility
These graduate positions are advertised under Affirmative Measures provisions and are only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants. This is a culturally inclusive recruitment process which enables candidates to best demonstrate their capabilities.
To be eligible to apply under these provisions, applicants must confirm their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage within three (3) months of commencement with the department.
Suitable evidence of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status may include:
- Letter signed by the Chairperson of an incorporated Indigenous organisation confirming that the applicant is recognised as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, or
- Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent document executed by an Indigenous organisation.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Graduate Program is currently located in Canberra. Successful applicants will be required to relocate to Canberra to undertake the role. Relocation assistance is available to successful applicants.
In 2027, it is possible that a small number of vacancies will be available in our Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne offices.
Applications close 11:30pm (AEST), Sunday, 12 April 2026. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.
If you have any questions about the Graduate Program, please contact us at entrylevelprograms@health.gov.au.
