2023/24 Vacation Employment Program (VEP) - Affirmative Measure Indigenous

The Opportunity

The PM&C Vacation Employment Program is a paid full-time internship for up to 12 weeks during the 2023-24 university summer holidays, beginning in December 2023. If you are an enthusiastic and motivated university student, and would like to gain valuable and practical hands on policy experience in the Australian Public Service, then we want to hear from you!

Successful applicants will be placed in a policy adviser role within Domestic Policy Group. Using your skills, knowledge and experience, you will have the opportunity to work on a broad range of tasks, including developing policy advice and analysis for the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 

Successful applicants may be placed in one of the following areas: 

Economic Division

Economic Division provides advice to the Prime Minister on a range of domestic and international issues affecting Australia, including policies relating to the Budget, tax, employment, the financial sector, the international economy and trade and foreign investment.

Social Policy Division

The Social Policy Division provides advice to the Prime Minister on significant social policy issues that affect the Australian community, including early childhood and school education, health and ageing programs, arts, sport, veterans’ affairs and immigration.

Industry, Infrastructure and Environment Division (II&E)

II&E provides advice on matters relating to industry policies, including manufacturing, transport and regional services; information technology and communications; science; rural commodities, minerals and energy; electricity, gas and water industry reform; national and international environmental greenhouse issues.

Policy Innovation and Projects Division

The Policy Innovation and Projects Division provides new and creative approaches to policy development, data and digital policy, as well as applying behavioural economics to policy design. 

Office for Women

The Office for Women provides advice to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women to advance gender equality and improve the lives of Australian women. 

Office of Impact Analysis (OIA)

OIA is a central part of the policymaking process and ensures policy proposals that come before decision makers are accompanied by robust high quality analysis of potential impacts. OIA works with agencies to ensure new policies and programs demonstrate a clear evidence base and works across the public service to analyse broader economic, social and distributional impacts of policy proposals.

About PM&C

We are a motivated and professional Department with around 1,000 staff. We welcome people with diverse experiences and from diverse backgrounds. We value people with ideas, the ability to present them persuasively, and the drive and skill to see them adopted. We take pride in our reputation for acting with integrity and discretion.

PM&C operates in three main groups:

• Domestic Policy Group (Social, Economic, Industry and Resilience) develops economic, environmental, social and urban policies.
• International and Security Group provides advice to the Prime Minister and coordinates across Government on intelligence, defence and security, and foreign trade and international relations.
• Governance Group provides support services for government operations as well as official and ceremonial support. It also provides the Department’s key enabling functions.

We take a whole-of-nation approach working closely with communities, stakeholders and across all areas of government, and acknowledge the special place of the First Peoples of our nation. We lead the APS in rigorous and collaborative policy development, implementation and program delivery.

What We are Trying to Achieve 

We work across many different government portfolios to ensure coherent strategies with mutually supportive policies and decisions based on a whole-of-government approach. We cover matters of particular importance to the Prime Minister, current government priorities, social and economic policies, and national security.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are looking for enthusiastic, highly motivated, and self-starting university students that:

• Are in their penultimate or final year of university studies, including postgraduate students and recent graduates
• Have obtained at least a credit average across all completed subjects
• Are studying any discipline, including (but not limited to) Economics/Commerce, STEM, Law, Public Policy, Social Sciences.  

Successful candidates will have strong communication and interpersonal skills, and demonstrated analytical ability, agility and resilience. You will be a critical thinker, able to work well in a team environment, and be able to write clearly and concisely. 

What We Offer

• A diverse and inclusive workplace and attractive remuneration package, including generous employer superannuation contributions.
• Exciting and fulfilling work at the heart of government with career development and networking opportunities difficult to find elsewhere.
• The opportunity to work with strong, smart, visionary and experienced leaders in a supportive work environment who encourage you to develop your interests and expertise.
• We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people; those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age people and those with disability.
• Relocation assistance for those with serious barriers to participation

Affirmative Measure Position

The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an Affirmative Measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. This vacancy is only available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait people.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this position you must be an Australian Citizen.

The successful candidate will be required to be assessed through our pre-employment screening checks, such as an Australian Criminal History Check.