Department of Home Affairs Graduate Programs

We offer challenging and diverse careers that touch upon many parts of Australian life – industry and commerce, trade and travel, our national security, the protection of our community and the security of our offshore maritime resources and environment.

Our employees work in over 100 locations in Australia and outside Australia, across a range of interesting subject areas influenced by international and domestic developments.

Our success depends largely on our ability to foster the innovation, efforts and diverse skills of our people. We strive to create a motivating and rewarding working environment in which we value performance, our people, integrity, service and service standards.

Our 12 month graduate program offers you a range of interesting and challenging work, access to professional development, excellent employment conditions, support through various diversity networks, rewarding professional relationships as well as endless career opportunities and pathways.

We provide you with support through an orientation and induction program, a mentor to launch your career, a range of Graduate events, access to health and wellbeing programs, as well as a team of supervisors, mentors and program managers to assist and guide you.

You will also have exposure to Senior Executive Service (SES) Officers and participate in events such as:

• Secretary’s Book Club
• Graduate Project
• SES v Graduate debate
• Graduation Ceremony

We need a diverse workforce that is professional, agile and capable in order to fulfil our mission of a prosperous, secure and united Australia. We provide an exciting range of opportunities in the following vocations.

Policy

Policy is a busy and dynamic vocation in the Department. The work is challenging and often fast paced, requiring flexibility and agility to deliver results.

The Policy vocation covers a complex agenda of policy initiatives including immigration and citizenship policy; traveller, customs and industry policy; national security and law enforcement; international engagement and capacity building, while influencing whole-of–government strategic policy development and remaining cognisant of cross-agency program management and operational environments.

Corporate

The Corporate vocation is a key enabler that supports teams across the Department with technical expertise and advice in the areas of finance, law, human resources, risk and security management, communication, parliamentary and executive services.
Employment in this vocation will provide extensive exposure to all the various parts of our organisation and will provide you with a solid platform to build your career and develop a network of contacts.

Program Implementation

The Program Implementation vocation manages and delivers Government programs in relation to visas, citizenship, emergency management, national security, customs and trade. The Department’s significant program of initiatives focuses on supporting a safe and secure Australia that maintains strong economic growth and is globally competitive, liveable, sustainable and welcoming.

Through this vocation, your work will have true value and you will be contributing to projects of national importance.
Intelligence

This vocation provides intelligence services and formulates products to support strategic and operational decision making to counter border threats and support the Departments mission. Intelligence is critical to the safety and security of Australia, and the Department of Home Affairs is at the forefront of the Government’s intelligence effort. It operates in a complex, rapidly evolving environment, with real threats and real world implications that matter to the lives of Australians.

Your career with us will expand your understanding of the national security and intelligence environment, and will enable you to answer some of the most complex problems facing Australia today.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

A career in ICT at Home Affairs is exciting, diverse and challenging. We offer hands-on experience and training in some of the most innovative and advanced technologies available, including:

• Cyber Security (risk mitigation, incident responses and network operations)
• Biometrics
• Smart Gates (airports)
• Wearable technology
• Software Development (Java, Web, Mobile Apps, database administration, systems analysis)
• ICT projects - Project Management (Agile), Business Analysis
• Data Science (Big Data analysis)

We employ fresh thinking, energetic and motivated people who can use their ICT skills to help protect Australia. The ICT vocation has a number of entry level programs available including graduate, cadet and apprentice programs.

Our Graduate Development Program applications open in March each year.

We need a diverse workforce that is professional, agile and capable in order to fulfil our mission of a prosperous, secure and united Australia.

We want people who:

• can problem solve complex issues
• think critically
• have excellent written and verbal communication skills
• participate in a culture that values diversity, respect and inclusion

Your options are not limited by your degree. Your degree has equipped you with a wealth of transferable skills that can be utilised across all facets of the department.

We provide an exciting range of opportunities across various business areas.  

Working at the Department will allow you to be part of something bigger. To share in the purpose of building a safe and prosperous nation. 

With us you can:

• shape migration policy
• deliver innovative disaster recovery solutions
• drive social integration and inclusion programs
• counter radicalisation
• tackle serious crime

As our work is important, diverse, complex and cutting edge, it is important that our workforce is multi-skilled, adaptable and responsive to emerging circumstances.

We value the contribution each person makes and every employee is important.

We recognise and celebrate a number of days of significance, by hosting events and activities for all staff.  These include:

• International Women's Day
• Harmony Day
• National Reconciliation Week
• Pride Month
• NAIDOC Week
• International Men's Day
• International Day of People with Disability

We also have number of initiatives in place to give back to the community, both locally and nationally including:

• Grad Bakeoff – this graduate specific initiative is a chance for the Department to celebrate Refugee Week while raising money to support refugees in the community. The Grad Bake-off has the current graduate cohort challenge the previous year's cohort to see who can raise the most money by selling home-baked treats.  In 2018 and 2019 all funds raised through the Grad Bake-off were donated to Canberra Refugee Support to help provide scholarships for refugee students in the ACT.
• Fund raising Fridays – The money collected from Fundraising Fridays is donated to Beyond Blue and to local charities in each Region. Staff are able to contribute with a gold coin donation for casual dress.
• Department of Home Affairs and ABF Trivia night – first held in 2018, brought together over 450 generous staff, friends and family from across the Department and ABF to raise money for two worthy charities Soldier On and Tara Costigan Foundation
• Share the Dignity Drive - The Department's Staff Advancing Gender Equality (SAGE) Network supports the Share the Dignity Drive through collecting donations of personal hygiene products for homeless women, victims of domestic violence and those experiencing homelessness and poverty.
• Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal – since 1921 the Returned & Services League (RSL) began raising money for returned solider following the First World War.  Staff from across the Department continue the tradition of selling poppies to raise money to support our Defence Force personnel.

In addition staff can choose to donate to charity from their pre-tax salary through Workplace Giving. Workplace Giving is a joint relationship between employers, employees and charities and assures your donation is received free of cost to the charity.

The Department is committed to building and valuing a diverse workforce that represents the community we serve.

A workforce that fosters inclusiveness and embraces the diversity of its people, such as differences in:

• cultural backgrounds
• race
• ethnicity
• disability
• age
• gender identity or sexual orientation

For more information visit Our inclusive workplace

The Department has various diversity network and forums that are open to staff who are interested in working together as a cohesive group, to effectively raise awareness and increase support for workplace equality, diversity and inclusion matters. They also provide a support system for staff to share stories, information and connect with one another. They include:

• Indigenous Staff Support Network
• Focus on Ability Network
• Staff Advancing Gender Equality Network
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer + Staff and Allies Network
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Network

Our Graduate Development Program applies the Australian Public Service (APS) RecruitAbility scheme, which supports people with disability applying for jobs in the APS by giving a better opportunity to put forward your skills and experience during the selection process.

RecruitAbility offers you the opportunity to progress to further assessment stages in the selection process if you:

• declare you have a disability
• apply and opt into the scheme
• are assessed as meeting the minimum requirements of the vacancy

Our Disability Action Plan 2016-20 shows our commitment to better support our employees and clients with disability, and those who care for a person with disability. It will help build relationships, create new opportunities, and provide accessible workplaces that allow everyone to fully participate.

We also provide reasonable adjustment for staff with disability. Reasonable adjustments refer to administrative, environmental or procedural adjustments made to enable an employee with disability to:

• safely perform the inherent or essential requirements of their job
• participate to their maximum potential in recruitment processes, and promotion and training opportunities
• enjoy equal terms and conditions of employment

The Department has various diversity network and forums that are open to staff who are interested in working together as a cohesive group, to effectively raise awareness and increase support for workplace equality, diversity and inclusion matters. They also provide a support system for staff to share stories, information and connect with one another. They include:

• Indigenous Staff Support Network
• Focus on Ability Network
• Staff Advancing Gender Equality Network
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer + Staff and Allies Network
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Network

We acknowledge Indigenous Australians as the traditional custodians of this land and we recognise the importance of learning about our rich histories, cultures and achievements. 

Our core foundations of success are built on respect, acceptance, understanding and equal opportunity to promote the attraction, retention and development of Indigenous Australians. 

This allows us to reinforce our commitment to working with you to build a successful career; one that continually provides ongoing access to support, active career management and professional development opportunities to maximise progression and potential.

We strive to ensure the following initiatives and support are always accessible to our Indigenous staff:

• access to our Indigenous Staff Support Network and Reconciliation Ambassadors Network
• an Indigenous Employment Team and senior Indigenous champions who advance Indigenous initiatives
• access to a mentor and/or buddy to provide support and guidance
• a Reconciliation Action Plan as part of our commitment to the ‘Closing the Gap’ agenda
• the promotion of cultural awareness training for all staff to support professional development

Indigenous Australians are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information, visit Careers for Indigenous Australians.