Frequently asked questions

We recruit in different areas each year depending on the organisational need of the department and government policy at that time. Past graduates have held the following roles:

• Energy Policy Graduate
• Graduate Policy Officer, Forests
• Graduate Project Officer, Climate and Emissions, Agriculture
• Graduate Project Officer, Conservation Regulator
• Climate Science Project Officer
• Water Resource Project/Policy Officer
• Planning Graduate, Land use planning
• Resources Planner, Earth Resources Regulator
• Geoscience Software Engineer, Geological Survey of Victoria
• Assessment Officer
• Bushfire Risk and Evaluation Officer
• Fire Management Project Officer
• Fire and Ecology Project Officer
• Forest Policy and Planning Officer
• Native Vegetation Management Officer
• Natural and Built Resources Officer
• Public Land Management Officer
• Sustainable Irrigation and Salinity Project Officer
• Sustainable Landscapes Project Officer

Past graduates have worked on the following projects:

• Victoria’s transitions to renewable energy
• reliable, sustainable and affordable energy services
• productive and sustainable natural resources for Agriculture Victoria
• net-zero emissions, climate-ready economy and community
• reduce the impact of major bushfires and other emergencies
• sustainable development of Victoria’s earth resources
• healthy, resilient and biodiverse environments
• productive and effective land management
• safe, sustainable and productive water resources
• partnering with Traditional Owner Groups.

At your formal induction in February, you will meet and get to know other graduates and start working with supervisors to plan your work plan and program outcomes.

You will also have a coordinating supervisor and a location supervisor, who support and oversee your ongoing development throughout the program. You will receive a 'buddy' to help – usually a second-year graduate who is working in a similar field. You will also be matched with a mentor with at least 5 years’ experience in the public service.

In addition to project and fieldwork, graduates are encouraged to take courses in public speaking, policy development, project management and evaluation, group leadership and facilitation, and community engagement.

As a graduate, you’ll also receive access to a substantial learning and development budget to tailor your development to your career goals.

As a graduate, you may have some moves to different departmental locations over your 2-year program. These locations are metro and regionally based within Victoria, although this depends on your position.

We choose locations that will provide the best opportunities for you to learn, but wherever you go, you'll learn from experts in your field.

Flexible working is now the Victorian Government's default position for the Victorian Public Service. This means every role can have some form of flexibility. Managers and employees will work together to come to an arrangement that meets the needs of the employee, the organisation and the requirements of the role. To learn more, see: Working flexibly for Victorians - VPSC.

No, positions offered by the Graduate Program require a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in the field specified in the position description.

You must have completed your undergraduate degree before the commencement date of the Graduate Program.

No. If your degree is from an international university, it should be certified to meet the Australian equivalent before submitting your application.

Overseas qualifications from countries other than Australia or New Zealand need to be assessed for equivalence by DET (Australian Government's Department of Education and Training). The certificate of equivalence (or evidence of undertaking the process) must be provided with your application. For more information visit  International Education - Qualifications Recognition.

Applicants can include:

• Australian or New Zealand citizens
• Permanent residents of Australia
• A citizen of another country with a current visa that allows you to work continuously and full-time in Australia, covering the entire duration of the 2-year program (graduate eligibility criteria applies)

The graduate program will not sponsor applicants for immigration to Australia.

We encourage applications from graduates of all ages. Applications will be considered provided you have a completed undergraduate degree within the last 5 years, and your Tertiary qualification must be related to a Science or Planning field.

DEECA Science Graduates program is a fixed-term 2-year learning and development program. Graduates will have access to the internal jobs noticeboards and extended access to the Jobs and Skills exchange which provides Victorian Public Sector (VPS) employees with priority access to job opportunities across the VPS.

Graduates are highly sought for their skills, networks and ability to meet challenges. Toward the end of your 2-year program your coordinator and the graduate program management team will meet with you to discuss opportunities after the program.

The department affirms that the collection and handling of applications and personal information will be consistent with the requirements of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.