Department of Jobs and Small Business 2020 Graduate Program

The Department

The Department of Jobs and Small Business Graduate Program is your opportunity to work with a department at the forefront of dynamic and ever evolving social policy that affects all Australians. You will have the opportunity to work on these programs and contribute to the department’s vision: More Jobs. Great Workplaces.

The program is a quality, engaging and rewarding 10 month program offering workplace learning and development in a vibrant, supportive and opportunity driven environment. Within the program we offer:

• Two placements in a range of work areas, providing opportunities to work on a variety of programs and policies developed and implemented by the department
• professional development, including structured learning and development activities
• opportunities to be involved in a wide range of networks, social and fundraising events
• an attractive remuneration and conditions package.

The Position

The department recruits graduates across five disciplines:

• Generalist
• Economics
• Legal
• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
• Quantitative Analysis

Generalist — our generalists work in exciting and engaging areas in policy development, program management and HR. Some of the areas our generalist graduates work in include employment services (such as jobactive, PaTH, ParentsNext, Empowering YOUth Initiatives) and workplace relations (such as WHS/workers’ compensation, fair entitlements, migration policies), along with Corporate initiatives in HR, communications and finance. 

Economics — The Department of Jobs and Small Business is seeking economics graduates who are enthusiastic, energetic and have a strong background in economics, econometrics and/or quantitative/statistical skills and who are looking for a challenging and rewarding career.
 
Graduate economists will conduct economic and labour market analysis within the Department have a strong set of core conceptual and technical skills (such as data manipulation, statistical analysis and research skills). They should be able to interpret, communicate and present their analysis to a range of audiences in an accessible way. 

Economics graduates will help ensure an evidence-based approach is applied to policy development and service delivery. Evidence-based approaches to policy development include statistical analysis of the policy environment, broader economic trends and the use of data, evaluation and research to understand policy implications. 

Legal — Graduate lawyers are involved in the full range of work undertaken by our three legal teams, including provision of legal advice, legislation development (including drafting of legislative instruments) and litigation:

• The Workplace Relations Legal Group, which focuses on workplace relations, work health and safety law, and workers’ compensation,
• Corporate Legal, which focuses on administrative law, corporate and commercial law, intellectual property, insolvency law, social security and information law, and
• The Recovery and Litigation Branch, which manage a litigation fund, work alongside in-house forensic accountants to identify opportunities to invest the fund in the bringing of legal claims. Thereafter they manage the legal claims through the litigation lifecycle including pre claim negotiations, settlements, trials and appeals.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) —ICT graduates work alongside ICT professionals, and contribute as part of a team in roles not limited to: development, business analysis, system testing, database administration, system administration, production support, IT cyber security, user experience designers, user researchers, interactive designers and network and gateway. 

Quantitative Analysis— quantitative analysis graduates work in a variety of areas in the department and gain experience in analytical programs such as SAS and SQL. Some of the work our graduates do includes measuring and reporting on the labour market outcomes of disadvantaged groups, designing surveys to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of programs or interventions, and using predictive modelling and analytics to develop insights into the behaviour of job seekers.