DEECA Science Graduate Program

Program information

Work with us to create thriving, productive and sustainable communities, environments and industries.

The DEECA Science Graduate Program is a two-year learning and development initiative open to recent graduates of science, natural resource management, agriculture, ecology, conservation, or related fields.

This award-winning program provides you with varied and meaningful experiences to help kick-start your career. You’ll gain a mix of field and policy work, exposure to research, and be involved in community engagement activities to understand the work we do and build future leaders.

During the 2-year program, you’ll get:

• varied rotations across Victoria to develop your skills and explore different areas of the business
• a starting salary of more than $62,000
• learning and development opportunities tailored to your career goals
• flexible working arrangements
• a promotion and pay rise to more than $74,000 at the program’s end
• mentoring
• an excellent social and networking base with other graduates.

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Roles available in 2025

Every year, we recruit graduates of science, planning, natural resource management, agriculture, ecology, conservation, or related fields.

Graduate roles are available all over Victoria.

Find out what's available below.

Position 1 – Graduate Policy Officer, Forests

Location: Melbourne CBD, Colac, Melbourne CBD

In this position, the Graduate Policy Officer will support policy development and provide advice to DEECA executives and the Minister for Environment on the transition away from commercial native timber harvesting in Victoria.

The role will support delivery of a future forests program which pivots DEECA's policies and programs away from the management of commercial harvesting in State forests, towards ongoing sustainable management of these forests for a range of benefits. Policy topics this role will touch on may involve ongoing sustainable management of forest resources, treatment of by-products from DEECA's forest management activities, designing fit-for-purpose future forest legislation and regulations, and a domestic firewood strategy.

Other rotations for this role will include:

• Forest and Fire Planning, Barwon Southwest Region
• Regulatory Strategy and Guidance, Conservation Regulator

The successful applicant should ideally have a qualification in forest science, environmental science, ecology, conservation or botany. Studies in environmental policy, public policy or law are also complementary to this role.

Position 2 – Graduate Civil Engineer

Location: Negotiable: Melbourne CBD, Geelong or Traralgon, with additional travel required

The purpose of this role is to support and implement the management of assets and the delivery of associated capital infrastructure works on the State Forest and Parks Victoria road network.

The team provides high quality civil engineering services, including providing technical support in the development of Departmental engineering policies and guidelines, ensuring compliance with legislation, engineering standards and Department policies.

We do this through undertaking field assessments, survey work and preparation of concept designs, providing input into the preparation of tender and contract documentation, undertaking technical review of designs and inspection reports, providing support to resolve design issues during construction and providing advice on civil engineering issues.

To be considered for this position, you must have a civil engineering qualification.

Position 3 – Graduate Project Officer - Climate and Emissions, Agriculture

Location: Bendigo, Hamilton, Wodonga

The branch seeks a proactive and enthusiastic science graduate for a 2-year period to work across the Agriculture Sector Development and Services Branches. The candidate will have a keen interest in on-farm climate adaptation and greenhouse gas emissions space in the agriculture sector.

This position will provide the opportunity to learn valuable skills across a multidisciplinary team and broaden their knowledge in on-farm emissions and climate adaptation, as well as dairy and livestock industry engagement and production systems. The position will work closely with farmers and agriculture industry stakeholders, with a focus on adult learning principles, extension and customer service, informing improvements to services, systems, policies, and procedures.

The candidate will be required to be relocate to 3 regional placements at Bendigo, Rutherglen and Hamilton.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in Bachelor of Science for example agriculture science, animal science, climate adaptation, emissions and/or energy or agricultural economics and/or business management.

Position 4 – Energy Policy Graduate

Location: Melbourne CBD, Melbourne CBD, Regional Victoria (tbc)

As an Energy Policy Graduate, you will develop strong research, analytical and policy skills as you work on policy development that contribute to the state’s transition to net zero emissions.

The first rotation is with the Gas Substitution and Energy Efficiency branch working on building electrification and energy efficiency policy, delivering literature reviews, contributing to analysis and presentation of data, and supporting stakeholder engagement.

The second rotation is with the Energy Safety Policy team working on the Energy Safety Review (election commitment), contributing to stakeholder engagement, technical analysis of energy safety issues and preparation of briefings and correspondence.

In the third rotation within the Energy Group the work area will be determined by priority projects at the time and the interests and experiences of the graduate. This may include working in a regional location. You will gain experience in critical government processes, developing energy policy in regulatory reform, stakeholder engagement and program delivery.

This role is well suited to someone who enjoys working in a collaborative team environment and who has strong problem solving, data literacy and analytical skills.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in science or engineering.

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Contact us

You can get in contact with us by email at employment.programs@deeca.vic.gov.au

For general DEECA enquiries please phone 136 186

Victorian Government Graduate Program

DEECA also recruit graduates through the Victorian Public Service graduate program.

VPS GRADS is a 12-month learning and development program, where you work in roles across 3 different departments, and return to DEECA and your ongoing position after the program.