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ACT Government

3.9
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

ACT Government Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Government & Public Service

Apply for the 2025 ACT Public Service Graduate Program today! 

Be part of something bigger and turn your ambition into action. 

The ACT Public Service is a professional, diverse and progressive organisation. Our work directly serves the needs of the Canberra community. Working with us, you can make a difference to people’s lives every day. 

Join our 2025 ACT Public Service Graduate Program and we can support you to develop skills, knowledge and networks to build an exciting and rewarding career.

We offer you:

  • A competitive salary (starting at $84,061) and accelerated opportunity for promotion. 
  • 10-month development program, including role rotations, designed to support you to establish and grow your career in the ACT Public Service. 
  • Flexible work arrangements and a healthy work/life balance.
  • Financial support for relocation to Canberra to join the ACT Public Service.

An unrivalled range of career paths, including but not limited to:

  • Finance and Commerce
  • HR and Business
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Science
  • ICT
  • Legal Policy (non-practicing roles)
  • Arts and Humanities

2025 ACT Public Service Graduate Program Eligibility - You must:

  1. Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or currently hold Australian Permanent Residency, 
  2. Have completed a tertiary qualification in the past five years, and
  3. Be available to commence with the Program in early February 2025.

ACT Public Service is an inclusion focussed employer:

The ACT Public Service actively supports workforce diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, neurodiverse people, culturally diverse people and those who identify as LGBTQIA+ are encouraged to apply. 

Recruitment Process

Candidates will undergo a  range of assessment for the 2025 ACT Public Service Graduate Program. All assessment is designed and developed to assess candidate's alignment with the ACT Public Service (ACTPS) Values and Behaviours and our ACTPS Shared Capability Framework. All our assessment is virtual, including our Assessment Centres!

Applications for the 2025 program are open now and will close Sunday 28 April 2024 at 11:59 AEDT. 

Our process includes:

  • Video pitch.
  • Shortlisting and matching of your qualifications, skills and experiences to the needs of the ACTPS
  • If successful, progression to a written assessment.
  • If successful, progressions through to the Virtual Assessment Centre (VAC).
  • At the VAC, a panel of three ACT Government employees will assess you against a series of activities.

During the VAC you should anticipate behavioural or evidence-based questions, practical exercises (eg aptitude test, situational role-plays, written exams). Evidence-based questions usually aim to gather concrete and specific information about you and usually start with the following phrases:

  • Describe a time when you...
  • How did you...
  • Give a recent example of...

Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand Citizens can participate in the ACT Public Service Graduate Program.

Note that a New Zealand citizen who resides in Australia and holds a Special Category temporary residence visa (SCV) under the Commonwealth Migration Act 1958 is treated as a permanent resident of Australia for the purpose of assessing that person's eligibility to be employed by the ACT Government but does not affect a person's residency status in relation to any other federal, state or territory law. 

Remuneration & Career Growth

The 2025 ACT Government Graduate Program offers a starting salary of $84,061 per annum plus superannuation. On successful completion of the program, graduates are promoted to an ASO5 (or equivalent) Classification on a salary of $93,784 per annum plus superannuation.

ACT Government employees are entitled to various types of leave including four weeks of annual leave and 3.6 weeks of personal leave per annum. Employees can also use compassion, Defence reserve, community service, maternity, bonding and parental leave.

Under ACTPS Enterprise Agreements, graduates may be eligible to receive reimbursement for reasonable costs associated with relocating to the ACT. For further information take a look at the Agreement or speak with the ACTPS Graduate Program Manager about reasonable relocation costs and what is required to access this entitlement.

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
3.9
Overall score based on 26 reviews
They Score Best in…
7.8
Office Work Environment
7.8
Recruitment
8.2
Salary
7.8
Office Work Environment
7.8
Recruitment
8.2
Salary
What Graduates Say About Them
  • My experience with my current company organisation was one of the best opportunities I could ever ask for. One thing that I am grateful for is that I had a very supportive supervisor and team. This rotation has given me the opportunity to learn and help different teams across procurement.
  • The ACTPS is very supportive of staff moving around, trying temporary positions and getting new experiences. The people are really lovely and care about their work.
  • Exposure, assistance, assurance, knowledge sharing, flexibility, networking.
  • Flexible working: place, time, and flexible arrangements In this way, support and trust The ACT Government is great at ensuring your wellbeing comes first, with little to no barriers to accessing that support. And the openness to mobility - no one is trying to keep you where you are to the detriment of your own choice and autonomy.
  • The people are incredible. There are a lot of women and diverse leaders. There's a great acceptance and encouragement of flexible work. Super supportive of the ATSI, LGBTQI+, disability, and CALD communities. Beautiful facilities, and if in central locations, really accessible to public transport. Much faster rate of getting from idea to execution than federal govt because of the different structure.
  • Certain tasks can be a little overwhelming at first.
  • Lacking a knowledge base (as a graduate )
  • Having certain commitments as a graduate, such as the grad project, which take away from me doing the work I have to do,
  • Sometimes the processes and red tape of working in government
  • (Canberrra is) far away from my home.

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Canberra
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
C
Creative Arts
E
Engineering & Mathematics
G
General Skills & Pathways
H
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
I
IT & Computer Science
L
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
M
Medical & Health Sciences
P
Property & Built Environment
S
Sciences
Current Jobs & Opportunities

Graduate Job

Canberra
Join our 2025 ACT Government Graduate Program and we can support you to develop skills, knowledge and networks to build a rewarding career.
Applications Close
28 Apr 2024
Start Date
2 Feb 2025 - 28 Feb 2025
Salary
AUD 84,061 / Year

Graduate Job

Canberra
Join our 2025 ACT Government Graduate Program and we can support you to develop skills, knowledge and networks to build a rewarding career.
Applications Close
28 Apr 2024
Start Date
5 Feb 2025
Salary
AUD 84,061 / Year


Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories
Ashleigh Cockburn studied a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Waikato and is now a Policy & Programs Officer at ACT Government.

Ashleigh Cockburn

  • Graduate stories
Ashleigh Cockburn studied a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Waikato and is now a Policy & Programs Officer at ACT Government.

Ashleigh Cockburn

  • Graduate stories
Rachel Bernabe studied a Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations and Bachelor of Event and Tourism Management at the University of Canberra and is now a Content Marketing Officer, VisitCanberra at ACT Government.

Rachel Bernabe

  • Graduate stories
Rachel Bernabe studied a Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations and Bachelor of Event and Tourism Management at the University of Canberra and is now a Content Marketing Officer, VisitCanberra at ACT Government.

Rachel Bernabe

  • Graduate stories
Ashleigh Cockburn studied a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Waikato and is now a Policy & Programs Officer at ACT Government.

Ashleigh Cockburn

  • Graduate stories
Ashleigh Cockburn studied a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Waikato and is now a Policy & Programs Officer at ACT Government.

Ashleigh Cockburn

  • Graduate stories
Rachel Bernabe studied a Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations and Bachelor of Event and Tourism Management at the University of Canberra and is now a Content Marketing Officer, VisitCanberra at ACT Government.

Rachel Bernabe

  • Graduate stories
Rachel Bernabe studied a Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations and Bachelor of Event and Tourism Management at the University of Canberra and is now a Content Marketing Officer, VisitCanberra at ACT Government.

Rachel Bernabe


A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Tina Procter

Tina Procter studied a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) at the University of Melbourne and is now a Digital Communications Officer (Social Media) at ACT Government.
  • Day in the life

Tina Procter

Tina Procter studied a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) at the University of Melbourne and is now a Digital Communications Officer (Social Media) at ACT Government.
  • Day in the life

Alannah Freeman

Wherever we go we always have to check in either with the landholders or park rangers. This helps us build relationships with other land managers and also keeps us safe since they know where we are in case of an accident.
  • Day in the life

Alannah Freeman

Wherever we go we always have to check in either with the landholders or park rangers. This helps us build relationships with other land managers and also keeps us safe since they know where we are in case of an accident.
  • Day in the life

Tina Procter

Tina Procter studied a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) at the University of Melbourne and is now a Digital Communications Officer (Social Media) at ACT Government.
  • Day in the life

Tina Procter

Tina Procter studied a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) at the University of Melbourne and is now a Digital Communications Officer (Social Media) at ACT Government.
  • Day in the life

Alannah Freeman

Wherever we go we always have to check in either with the landholders or park rangers. This helps us build relationships with other land managers and also keeps us safe since they know where we are in case of an accident.
  • Day in the life

Alannah Freeman

Wherever we go we always have to check in either with the landholders or park rangers. This helps us build relationships with other land managers and also keeps us safe since they know where we are in case of an accident.

Videos


ACT Public Service Live Q&A 2022

Watch this live Q&A to see the ACT Public Service team answer your burning questions about their graduate program.

ACTPS Graduate Program

The ACT Public Service is a unique organisation where your work makes a difference in the landscape and community around you.

ACT Public Service Live Q&A 2022

Watch this live Q&A to see the ACT Public Service team answer your burning questions about their graduate program.

ACTPS Graduate Program

The ACT Public Service is a unique organisation where your work makes a difference in the landscape and community around you.

Advice


Any there any tips for the ACT Government graduate program virtual assessments?

Arrive early, be prepared, be yourself & dress properly.

What are the citizenship requirements for the ACT Government graduate program?

You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen to apply for the ACT Government graduate program.

Any there any tips for the ACT Government graduate program virtual assessments?

Arrive early, be prepared, be yourself & dress properly.

What are the citizenship requirements for the ACT Government graduate program?

You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen to apply for the ACT Government graduate program.