2026 Graduate Development Program

Applications are now open for our 2026 Graduate Development Program.

Do you want to work with us at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)? Our Graduate Development Program is an opportunity for early-career professionals and recent graduates to make their mark. Our work focuses on important environmental, climate, and energy-based issues.

DCCEEW will be recruiting graduates for our 2026 Graduate Development Program across Australia in a wide range of capabilities and expertise. You + DCCEEW will include more career opportunities than ever before.

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Locations

Graduate placements are available across Australia, and may be offered in:

  • Canberra
  • Sydney
  • Melbourne
  • Brisbane
  • Hobart
  • Perth.

You will also have the opportunity for regional placements during the program. In previous years graduates have rotated through Kakadu National Park, Norfolk Island and other exciting locations.

Graduates based outside of Canberra may be required to relocate to Canberra for a 3-month rotation and travel to Canberra for induction, events and development opportunities.

Gain experience

Working with us will give you the experience to take your career to the next level, no matter where your journey goes.

During our 12-month program, you will experience:

  • 3 exciting and diverse rotations
  • close engagement with our Executives
  • dedicated learning and development
  • networking activities and events.

 

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Opportunities

The breadth of our work and responsibilities means we have extensive opportunities relevant to your skills and interests. We have career pathways in fields including:

  • policy development
  • program management
  • project management
  • administration 
  • research
  • compliance and regulation
  • operations
  • service delivery
  • corporate services.

Whether you are tackling climate change, advancing renewable energy, protecting our environment or securing Australia’s water resources, your experience will be unique and impactful.

Apply now

Applications open on 3 March 2025 and will close on 7 April 2025.

DCCEEW will be leading its own Generalist Stream recruitment campaign, where graduates from all disciplines are highly valued and encouraged to apply.

Apply

We also participate in the Australian Government Graduate Program Streams.

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Benefits

Our program provides a number of benefits to graduates including:

  • Career Progression: With over 5000 positions in our department, you will have access to extensive career progression opportunities. Graduates start as an APS Level 3 and will progress to an APS Level 5 on successful completion of the program. Refer to the Australian Public Service Commission website for more information on APS levels.
  • Competitive Remuneration Package: Your starting salary is $77,125 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation contributions. Graduates are eligible for salary/level advancement during and on successful completion of the program.
  • Exposure: Learn from experts through on-the-job training and activities. You will also meet with our senior executive throughout the program.
  • Support: You will be supported by a dedicated Graduate Management Team prior to and during the program.
  • Buddy Program: You will be paired with a buddy from the previous year’s graduate cohort who will support you and share their experiences and insights.
  • Relocation Assistance: If moving interstate for your graduate role, you will receive a relocation assistance package.
  • Flexibility: You will have access to a number of flexible work practices and receive excellent work conditions that promote work/life balance.
  • Diversity and inclusion employee networks: Help contribute to a positive and inclusive workplace culture by joining one or more of our 7 employee networks.
  • Community: Participate in Social Club activities and events to connect with colleagues across the department.

Specialist streams

If you are a specialist, DCCEEW is part of the Australian Government Graduate Program (AGGP), where we are seeking graduates from the following streams.

Indigenous Graduate Pathway

The Indigenous Graduate Pathway (IGP), led by the Department of Defence, provides a rewarding career in the Australian Public Service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tertiary graduates.

DCCEEW has a strong focus on careers for First Nations Graduates, and as a participant in the IGP stream, DCCEEW will provide you with hands-on experience along with formal development opportunities tailored to build your skills and knowledge. All combined with the unique opportunity to contribute to the department's responsibilities in creating an Australia that is prosperous through sustainability, with community and Country at the heart of our actions.

You + DCCEEW

Legal

The Legal stream is run by the Attorney General’s Department. Legal Graduates will have the opportunity to work within roles across Legal Policy and Legal Practice and play a vital role in DCCEEW operations. Participation in this stream is a great opportunity to do meaningful work that supports the Australian community and our objectives.

Human Resources (HR)

The HR stream is run by the Australian Taxation Office for the Australian Public Service. HR Graduates will participate in a specially developed Learning and Development program and will gain hands-on experience to develop their professional capabilities within DCCEEW.

Data

Led by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, DCCEEW will be seeking Data Graduates to support our mission, specialising in one or more of the following sub-streams:

  • Data Analyst
  • Data Engineer
  • Data Managers
  • Geospatial Analysts
  • Data Scientists or Statistician.

Accounting and Financial Management

The Accounting and Financial Management Stream seeks graduates who are skilled in a wide variety of aspects in finance, commerce, business or accounting who are eager to strengthen their professional skills. DCCEEW has a broad and complex range of financial management arrangements that will provide graduates with these capabilities a fantastic career path.

Diversity

We encourage applications from people with diverse experience and backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQ people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, mature age and people with disability. We are an inclusive employer and are committed to supporting people who are transgender / gender divergent.

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The graduate program was a solid base for my future APS career. The opportunity to dive-in and actively contribute to such a wide variety of the department’s work was a unique and invaluable experience. I recommend it as a great way to commence a rewarding and diverse career in the APS

Michelle Croker, Head of Portfolio Strategy Division, DCCEEW

What a year it has been! I got to work on the policy side of the 2022-2032 Threatened Species Action Plan. I also had the opportunity to work in Norfolk Island which gave me a holistic view of the project lifecycle, from procurement and management, through to project delivery and reporting

Sam, DCCEEW

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I came to DCCEEW in hopes of experiencing my dream job as a scientist in the Australian Antarctic Program and I couldn’t have achieved this outside of DCCEEW’s grad program

Corinna, DCCEEW

Join us

We invest in our graduates and will provide you the opportunities, tools and support network for you to achieve great things.

Our Graduate Development Program is not too big or small. We ensure graduates can connect easily with one another and forge strong relationships across the graduate cohort.

As a valued employee, your voice matters and you will receive tailored support to succeed. We are committed to the growth of our most important resource – you.

Service is something that's near and dear to my heart whether serving the country or serving your community.

I like knowing that I'm a part of something bigger than myself.

It's a really rewarding environment, you get to work with some inspiring people.

As a graduate I've only just started my work in the public sector and so I wanted to make a meaningful change.

It's been a fantastic opportunity to see projects from start to finish.

I help to develop Priority Health campaigns.

I get to work really closely with State and territory governments.

It grants me the opportunity to listen to our communities and get their feedback.

I've also had a lot of opportunities and been supported to do initiatives across the APS. I think that's a testament to how supportive my team has been.

I'm really lucky to work with an agency that has a really diverse staff base. We have staff based all across the country

And when you hear a community group say thank you for the work that you're doing nothing compares to that.

I'm supported to have a working arrangement that is flexible as a working mother and I also really enjoy that I get to work on a broad range of content.

This is incredibly rewarding because you get to see the impact of what you do.

It has given me a lot of opportunity, which I never imagined possible.

I absolutely love it. I couldn't recommend it enough to other people. You really feel like you're contributing.

Contact us

Want to know more about the program?

Email: DCCEEW.Graduates@chandlermacleod.com

Phone: 1800 242 560