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Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)

4.2
  • #8 in Government & public service
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Reviews

Based on 13 surveyed graduates working at Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate.
4.2
Based on 13 reviews

Pros & Cons

  • Very supportive of flexible working arrangements, work with passionate people who care about the work we do, lots of opportunities to move around and find work that suits.
  • Flexibility in working from the office or at home. Ability to change between government roles. Personal learning and Development budget.
  • Good flexibility and work/life balance. Good people and well-being is valued. Enjoyable and meaningful work. In my role, there are lots of new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow. Every week is different in project work.
  • There is a lot of breadth to the work DEECA does and as a graduate I have a lot of freedom to join projects in both longer and shorter term ways to build my experience
  • The initiatives for support (e.g. Peer Supporters), the flexible working, the opportunities for L&D, the culture.
  • Decisions can be slow and things often take a long time
  • Salary could be more competitive.
  • Fairly hierarchical workplace structure. Collaborating with and consulting other parts of the department isn't always smooth sailing. There is a fair bit of internal and external pressure on the output of the work.
  • Some of the worst things are also the best things, depending on the situation. Sometimes, its really challenging working in teams that are across the entire state (which also means you can get opportunities no matter where you are!), and there are lots of movements between positions, so it can be hard to keep track (but that also means you too can get any opportunity in any role relatively easily).
  • I can't think of anything major. Mostly just navigating a lot of new electronic systems

What Insiders Say

9.0
Career Prospects
9.0
Career Prospects
The grad program is an excellent fast track to promotion with its emphasis on experience and training. I have met many previous grads in high level roles at the department. There is also the opportunity to take secondments in more senior roles which is a great way to gain experience for a few months before trying for the role ongoing
8.0
Corporate Social Responsibility
8.0
Corporate Social Responsibility
I am currently working in the community and partnerships team so I have seen first hand the amount of work the department does to ensure communities are empowered to speak and be heard on projects and works happening in that area. I have a sense that this hasn't always worked in the past but there is a lot of proactive work being done by my team to ensure our communities see the benefits of infrastructure like wind turbines being installed on their land
8.4
Culture
8.4
Culture
There is a strong culture of flexible working, including hours worked, leave entitlements, work locations (including multiple offices and working from home). Managers and people leaders strongly encourage work-life balance, and expect that you will leave work for work hours, and not let it eat into your personal time/life. Professionally, people leaders will largely make a strong effort to get juniors connected to others within the team, and encourage opportunities to network and build a sense of teams. Socially, there are many opportunities to meet others, including social afternoon teas, weekly quizzes, networks that run 'speed-dating networking' rounds, amongst other things. Outside of work hours, graduate program employees will run unofficial catchups together, including lunches, weekends away, drinks after work and online quizzes together.
8.2
Diversity
8.2
Diversity
There is a bit of difference between different areas of the department but overall I would rate this quite high. I see plenty of woman in senior roles as well as operational and other more traditionally male roles. I see a large amount of ethnic and LGBT diversity in my direct team as well but I have noticed less in some other teams. I think the policies and commitment are there but it is still taking time to implement. There is a large focus on cultural and gender diversity. Things that I personally have noticed are having very clear position description that don't list a lot of unnecessary 'requirements'. Interview panels are usually formed with an eye to gender and cultural diversity, the same is true for advertisements for roles.
7.8
Satisfaction
7.8
Satisfaction
A wide variety of work keeps the role interesting, but managing my time is really important. Sometimes the work that I think is important is not what higher ups want to progress and you can feel pulled in different directions sometimes. At a district level work can be very reactionary which can feel frustrating. Being able to have an emergency role in addition to business as usual, makes work even more rewarding and variable. However, this also contributes to the importance of time management.
8.1
Management
8.1
Management
This can be very variable across the department, but I personally am very satisfied. Always accessible and supportive, sharing advice and contacts who might be helpful for career goals.
7.8
Office Work Environment
7.8
Office Work Environment
I am well looked after in the office - two monitors, a spacious desk, and a great view. The location is great, close by to Parliament Station, and lots of shopping, food and gardens. The dress code is fairly relaxed, most men tend to wear chinos, boots or similar leather shoes and a smart casual buttoned shirt. I have seen some people in jeans and Birkenstocks. Definitely no ties.
6.6
Recruitment
6.6
Recruitment
Really enjoyed the interview process (as much as one does) - although it had all the normal stresses - Hoban and the GMT were supportive and available for information. They made this a very friendly environment. Motivations for the role, qualifications, and capability questions based off the key selection criteria, with STAR responses expected. For example, tell us a time when you had to change course during a project or task. How did you approach the situation, what did you learn and what was the outcome? For one of these interviews all the candidates received the questions beforehand so that we had time to prepare. This was an option that could be requested by people requiring the process to be more accessible. This was extremely helpful and felt as though we were being interviewed based on the quality of our answers not our ability to think on the spot and remember details. Broad advice, try and gain experience in as many different areas as you can. I volunteered for two different organisations while completing my Masters and while one was unrelated to land management it gave me lots of experience in working with people from all different walks of life. Different workplace or volunteering experience give you lots to draw on in applications and interviews. It also shows you can manage your time and are motivated. Try and get some kind of volunteering experience in your area of interest, for example for a local Committee of Management. They are often very grateful for your work and you never know what opportunities and contacts will come out of it. More specifically for applications and interviews, really think about and make sure you can articulate why you want this job, you will get asked this over and over again. Try and use different examples across questions. An experience from university for one, from your job or volunteer position for another etc. Breadth is really valuable. Make sure your answer actually answers all the points in the question and practice answering questions out loud, preferably with someone so they can give you feedback.
7.0
Salary
7.0
Salary
Pay is good for the initial step between University training and professional employment. Sometimes asked to do work that is probably beyond the current pay scale - but important to keep in mind that it is a learning / development opportunity. Plus - incredible perks for L&D and guaranteed employment. Flexible work, moving expenses, Grad connections (a HUGE support network very early in your career), training & L&D, multiple roles to test what you like and what you don't
8.2
Training
8.2
Training
There is a lot of diversity in available training within the department and, especially while in the grad program, a lot of support and funding to access that training. Informal training is also excellent, I have yet to be told no when I've asked if a colleague can teach me something. I have learnt meeting facilitation skills and writing for different audiences, grant application assessment and procurement skills. Field survey and Flora Id, land management, chainsaw, 4wd, brush cutter, chemical pest control. Fire behaviour and weather monitoring, burn ignition, radio communication, logistics support.
9.4
Work Hours
9.4
Work Hours
DEECA is really flexible with work hours. Many people work hybrid (in the office and at home), and some work across multiple offices. Taking time out of your 'normal business hours' to go to personal appointments and take family/personal time is highly accepted, and lots of people work the hours they choose (some people start at 6am, some at 10am). You can also discuss arrangements where you work a 9-day fortnight and either make up the extra hours on other days, or get paid 90% of your full annual salary.
8.2
Sustainability
8.2
Sustainability
This is literally the point of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, so a there is an extremely high level of importance in a broad sense. On an office/individual level it varies a lot. New offices do place a high degree of importance on environmental sustainability within the building design.