Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Australian Government Graduate Program - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Stream (Jan 2026)
Canberra, Canberra
Opportunity details
- Graduate Job or Program
- AUD 50,000 - 80,000 / Year
- 40-60 vacancies
- Apply by 15 Apr 2025
- Start date 28 Jan 2026 - 12 Feb 2026
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (the department) is partnered with the Australian Public Service Commission to lead the recruitment process for the Australian Government Graduate – STEM Stream. This offers candidates with a Major in Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics, the opportunity to be considered for a role as a graduate within a growing number of Australian Public Service (APS) agencies who participate in the program.
What’s in it for you?
Graduates in this stream may have the opportunity to work in one of many APS departments and agencies. If you are successful, you will be offered a job to start in one of the following departments or agencies in 2026:
- Australian Communications and Media Authority and eSafety Commission
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission/Australian Energy Regulator
- Australian Digital Health Agency
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
- Australian Sports Commission
- Bureau of Meteorology
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Department of Defence
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Finance
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Department of the Treasury
- Geoscience Australia
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
- Reserve Bank of Australia
- Safe Work Australia
- Services Australia
Graduates within the Australian Government Graduate – STEM Stream will also be provided with networking opportunities, meeting senior STEM leaders from across the APS and having unique STEM experiences during their time in the graduate program.
Our ideal candidate / Skills and capabilities we need
We value people who have strong communication, teamwork, research and analysis skills, who are adaptable and show initiative and judgment.
What you will do
Additionally, some of the work STEM graduates may be able to experience includes:
- advancing women in STEM strategy
- international and national space negotiations and agreements
- earth observations
- robotics
- neuromorphic engineering
- chemical and biological analysis
- electro technology
- genomics
- cyber security
- technology and programming
- software engineering
- geophysics
- spatial analysis
Eligibility
- To be eligible for a graduate position you must:
- be an Australian Citizen at time of application
- have completed a minimum of a three-year undergraduate degree in STEM within the last 5 years (completed between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2025)
- have any relevant overseas qualification recognised by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR)
- be able to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance
Hiring criteria
- No experience required
- Australian Citizen
- Business & Management +more
- Bachelor or higher
Reviews
As a graduate I've had 3 rotations. Each rotation was different. My first rotation was a laboratory based role which varied day to day. The things I were doing consisted of preparing to do tests and analysis in the laboratory, calculating results and writing up reports. Some days I would also be preparing for student engagements and participating in external stakeholder meetings. My second rotation looked into developing promotional material for the laboratory, highlighting new services that we can provide during our stakeholder meetings. My final rotation looked more into how policy and government work within the department. Focusing more on development of useful documents, drafting up documents for managers, and being involved in meetings concerning the work that I was undertaking. During the program I would also sporadically work on the Graduate Major Project that is assigned yearly for graduates to work on an emerging policy area. My tasks consisted of desktop researching, stakeholder engagements, weekly meetings with my project team and reporting writing.
A lot of pretty straight forward draft advice type work
I am a Graduate so my role is to support my supervisor and team achieve policy outcomes. I do a lot of desk top research, inbox monitoring, drafting policy documents and attending team meetings
About the employer
Department of Industry, Science and Resources
3.9
1,000 - 50,000 employees
Government & Public Service
The Graduate Development Program offers an opportunity to work in a department that supports economic growth and job creation for all Australians.
Pros and cons of working at Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Pros
Every team I've been a part of have been very friendly - there is a culture of wanting to care and support each other, especially new people.
Working at DISR is a unique opportunity to learn how government functions in a practical and meaningful manner, engaging with stakeholders and getting real world experience.
There is a lot of focus on trying to produce really good science and research in Australia.
The areas of the Department do genuinely value and appreciate grads - I've found them to be welcoming, helpful, understanding, and kind.
The diversity of portfolios in the department allows me to have a look a variety of areas that Government can look over. Colleagues are friendly and supportive in my self-development journey.
Cons
Currently hugely under resourced, with people moving in and out of teams. Workloads are higher and people are more stressed at the moment, meaning there's been a drop in the quality of work.
Lack of communication, particularly in the graduate program.
Training can sometimes be late, unapplicable to work or provide little value.
Pay and lack of guidance.
The division I'm working in doesn't feel like it is a part of the department, so I often feel like there is a whole social connection missing between the technical work of the laboratory and the corporate office.