Graduate recruitment

The Department runs two graduate programs each year, a foreign and trade policy graduate program and a corporate graduate program.

The Policy Graduate Program is for applicants from all academic backgrounds and prepares successful candidates for a career as a generalist policy officer. Policy graduates work to advance Australia's interests across a broad range of areas — from security to trade and represent Australia in a formal capacity while serving overseas.

The Corporate Graduate Program is for those with qualifications in accounting, ICT and human resource management. The program prepares trainees for a career managing the Department's human and financial resources and programs. When serving overseas, corporate officers have responsibility for managing the post's administrative processes and providing consular and passport assistance to Australian citizens.

Both the Policy Graduate and the Corporate Graduate programs expose graduates to a number of areas within the Department to ensure they develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the Government's foreign and trade policy priorities, the international environment as well as the Department's financial and corporate context.

Policy Graduates undertake a two-year professional development program in Canberra, combining work placements with formal training modules, academic 'gap filling' courses and regional travel. The program commences in February with some introductory information sessions and a first placement. Over the course of the program, graduates will generally undertake four placements of 5-6 months across the key areas of the Department's work. These key areas include multilateral desks (such as disarmament, counter-terrorism or human rights), bilateral desks, trade desks (covering areas such as the WTO, free trade agreements or international finance) and corporate desks (such as consular or human resources). To the extent possible, first placements are allocated according to graduates' academic or work background. Thereafter, graduates will usually be given the opportunity to nominate preferences which will be considered during the placements process.

The policy graduate program includes a block of courses designed to build upon and give graduates the opportunity to fill gaps in their academic studies. For example, those who haven't studied economics have the opportunity to take an introductory course in economics and those without law have the opportunity to take an international law course. There are also workshops to develop graduates' presentation and negotiation skills, as well as courses in human rights principles, diplomacy and people management. Graduates also have an opportunity to travel interstate to make calls on peak industry bodies and government officials.

Corporate Graduates also undertake a two-year professional development program in Canberra, combining work placements with formal training modules. Corporate graduates start at the same time as policy graduates (in February) with a series of introduction sessions and a first placement. Corporate graduates will typically have six placements covering financial services and management, corporate planning and audit, post management and consular issues. Courses provided include financial management, people management, consular and DFAT writing skills. The Department covers the costs and study leave for corporate graduates to study towards a CPA, CA or other appropriate financial management qualification.

At the completion of the training program, graduates apply for a longer-term placement in the Department and become eligible to apply for overseas postings.

The Graduate Experience

The Graduate Experience video transcript and description

Economists in DFAT

Economists in DFAT video transcript and description

University outreach

During March and April each year, the Department visits select university campuses to promote graduate careers with the Department. This provides a great opportunity for interested graduates to ask questions about our graduate programs and to learn more about the work of the Department.

Who we want

As a dynamic agency working in a complex environment, the Department is looking for graduates from varied backgrounds.

Successful applicants will have a strong record of academic achievement and usually have honours, combined or higher degrees. However, academic qualifications are not the sole criterion for selection. Applicants will also be assessed on the quality of work experience, extra-curricular achievements and community activities.

The Department is looking for graduates who are:

• Talented and highly motivated
• Good communicators
• Strategic thinkers and practical problem solvers
• Team players, flexible, adaptable and resourceful
• Sensitive to, and appreciative of, difference and diversity.

In recent years DFAT graduates have had degrees in Antarctic Studies, Architecture, Arts, Asian Studies, Business, Commerce, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, International Relations, Language Studies, Law, Medicine and Science.

For the Corporate Graduate Program, the Department is seeking graduates with accounting, ICT and human resource management qualifications.

Indigenous Australians

In support of the Government's Closing the Gap: Indigenous Economic Participation Agreement, the Department is committed to increasing the recruitment of Indigenous Australians including through the use of the APS Special Measures provision.

People with a disability

The Department is committed to providing equal employment opportunities, access, equity and social inclusion for people with a disability.

What we offer

The Department's employees enjoy equity and fairness in the workplace, opportunities for professional development and support to balance their work and private lives.

Graduates will commence on a salary equivalent to Australian Public Service Level 3.2. (For graduates commencing in February 2012 the starting salary will be $58,453.) Other conditions of service include:

• Flexible working hours based on a 37.5 hour week
• 22 days annual recreation leave
• Cumulative personal/sick leave (20 days per year)
• A comprehensive superannuation scheme
• Long service leave
• On-site childcare facility
• In-house gymnasium.

Training and development

The Department is committed to providing all employees with focused training and development opportunities directly relevant to the department's corporate goals, and provides specific resources for this purpose. Beyond the graduate programs, the Department runs a number of courses in leadership and management skills, core professional knowledge and skills and languages.

A number of graduates with legal qualifications join the department each year. They often complete a placement in one of the Department's legal areas and may be able to use this practical legal experience towards their admission requirements.

The Department offers limited studybank provisions which graduates may apply for after completing their two year graduate program. Any part-time study considered under the studybank provisions must be relevant to the Department's corporate objectives and its evolving human resource requirements.

Overseas postings

The Department manages an overseas network of around 90 embassies, high commissions, consulates-general and multilateral missions. Some of these are large missions with more than 100 Australian-based staff including staff from attached agencies such as AusAID, Treasury or the Department of Defence. Others are small, some with just 1 to 2 Australian-based staff.

Bulk postings rounds are held each year in March and September. In general, the March round covers vacancies where the position or language training begins in the following October-March period, while the September round covers anticipated vacancies in the April-September period of the following year. The Posting Advisory Committee is also convened when there is a need to advertise unexpected or new overseas vacancies outside of the normal bulk postings rounds.

After completing the training program, graduates commence a placement in Canberra and are eligible to apply for overseas postings. Typical roles for policy graduates include advocating the Government’s foreign, trade and environmental policies, negotiating bilateral trade agreements and working on UN or WTO committees. Corporate graduates overseas assist in the management of the mission’s financial, human and property resources, and providing consular assistance to Australians.

Working overseas is one of the most interesting and challenging aspects of a DFAT employee's career. The graduate training program aims to prepare officers for work in the Department, including overseas. Generally, graduates can expect to be in Canberra for up to three years before their first overseas posting. While individual preferences will be taken into account, these will not necessarily be the determining factor in a posting decision. You will also be expected to serve in a variety of locations, including difficult and demanding ones.

While most staff and their families find overseas assignments extremely rewarding, there are several issues which may impact employee's application decisions. One issue is employment opportunities for spouses of staff on posting. Consistent with the Department's commitment to a family-friendly workplace, a number of bilateral arrangements have been negotiated on the employment of spouses and dependants. However, local employment requirements in countries where the Department has no formal arrangements vary and local law may prohibit dependants from entering into paid employment for the duration of the posting.

Another issue is that some countries do not recognise de facto and same sex relationships. The legal status accorded to a de facto or same sex partner by a host government is important because it may also affect the partner's privileges and immunities including the right to work, taxation and social security exemptions, access to local educational facilities, etc.

These types of issues need to be considered carefully by each individual when applying for an overseas posting.