PM&C Graduate Program

Before you apply for the PM&C Graduate Program, learn about our graduate recruitment process.

Why choose the PM&C Graduate Program

Our graduate program offers an opportunity for you to embark on a journey of professional growth and career development. What sets us apart is our unique organisation structure, which shadows the priorities of the broader Australian Public Service (APS). This gives you the opportunity to gain exposure to wide-ranging subject matter reflecting the priorities of government, all from within one high-performing central agency.

Within our supportive and collaborative environment, you will leverage your skills and knowledge to address real-world challenges and contribute to impactful projects that shape the nation's future. Our graduate program will expose you to diverse learning experiences. In our graduate program, you will:

• Steer your own career direction by participating in 3 or 4 rotations of your choice over the 12-month program.
• Find mentorship and networking opportunities with experts at the heart of government.
• Gain invaluable insights into the workings of the Australian Government, laying a robust foundation for your successful career in public service.

PM&C has a strong commitment to supporting mental health and promoting a healthy work-life balance. For more information on what makes PM&C a fantastic place to work, visit Why work at PM&C.

About the PM&C Graduate Program

Our 12-month graduate program offers a range of experience supporting the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, portfolio ministers and assistant ministers, our Secretary and our senior leaders to improve the lives of all Australians through high-quality support and advice to the government.

Based in Canberra, you will gain practical experience and exposure to a wide range of government activities, policy advice and development, and program delivery. You will contribute to PM&C's unique role at the centre of government. Working in partnership with agencies across the APS and stakeholders across national and international jurisdictions, you will deliver outcomes and respond to emerging government priorities that improve the wellbeing of all Australians, advance Australia's interests and keep our country safe and prosperous.

Our unique program design tailored for you

Your graduate program journey is unique, and you drive your career direction by nominating 3 or 4 rotations over the 12-month program. By further developing connections with peers and mentors, you will learn about the breadth of work the department delivers.

Areas available for rotation include:

• Domestic policy: creating and coordinating policy solutions to Australia's key economic, social and environmental issues.
• Government: encouraging consistency across government and coordinating public ceremonies and national honours.
• International policy: contributing to decision making related to overseas trade, foreign aid and development, and international security.
• National security: providing advice on initiatives for border protection, defence, counter-terrorism and crisis management.
• Office for Women: working across government to advance the Australian Government's commitment to achieve gender equality and improve the lives of people in Australia.
• Regulation: ensuring the proper functioning of society and the economy which includes any laws or other government-endorsed 'rules' where there is an expectation of compliance.
• Public data: improving the way public data is managed, shared and published for the benefit of everyone in Australia.
• Corporate: supporting the internal function of PM&C through ministerial support, technology and business services, finance and shared services, human resources and governance, performance and audit.
• Social policy: putting the needs and aspirations of Australians at the centre of policy development and service delivery. The focus is on increasing the opportunities, contribution, independence and wellbeing of vulnerable people and communities.

More information about what we do at PM&C is available in our corporate plan and at A day in the life at PM&C where you can also find stories from a previous PM&C graduate on what a day in their life looks like at PM&C . You can also check out our organisation chart to learn how our structure shadows the entire APS.

Continue to learn

Our program invests in you so you can rapidly grow your skills. You will be supported to push yourself out of your comfort zone at your preferred pace.

Nervous? Don't be. We will support you to develop the foundational and specialist skills, knowledge, behaviours and networks that you need to contribute at PM&C and in the APS to launch and progress your career.

Graduates move through our program together as a peers. You will also be allocated a buddy and senior mentor to guide you, in addition to your local supervisor and team in each rotation.

The overall aim is to build your confidence and skills and tap into your fresh and diverse thinking so that we can deliver the best outcomes for all Australians.

The graduate journey

The below timeline demonstrates an example of a graduate journey:

Salary, benefits and relocation

We offer graduates a permanent, ongoing position in the APS with attractive salary and benefits, including access to flexible work, leave and generous superannuation.

The PM&C Enterprise Agreement 2024–27 covers PM&C graduates. Graduates commencing in February 2026 will have a starting salary at the maximum of the APS 3 classification level, which will be $77,086. On 12 March 2026, a month after commencement, this will increase by 3.4% to $79,707.

Our graduate program includes opportunities for rapid promotion to the APS 4 classification level after 6 months and APS 5 classification level after 12 months. Some graduates are successful at winning promotion to the APS 6 level soon after completion of the program.

Relocating and starting a new job can be exciting, daunting and challenging. We will pay relocation assistance for reasonable costs and, where required, provide transition accommodation in Canberra to ensure a seamless introduction to life in a new city. This may include relocation assistance for dependents such as partners, children and, in some cases, your pets.

Who we are looking for

We seek university graduates who are committed to working on matters of national significance to improve the lives of all Australians. This shows up at work as being curious, driven, open to working on emerging challenges, and adapting to evolving government priorities.

Our graduates are confident yet humble. They are committed to sharing diverse ideas, problem-solving, offering their unique views and insights and following through with outcomes; all while learning from their peers and colleagues. Our graduates value the importance of teamwork, camaraderie, and mutual support among colleagues and management.  They share our commitment to fostering transparent communication and inclusivity, where every voice heard and valued.

We celebrate our vibrant and multicultural population and are committed to ensuring our workforce reflects the diversity of the Australian community. We encourage applications from:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and/or queer people
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• carers
• mature-age people
• people living with disability.

PM&C’s unique position as the federal government’s central agency means our breadth of work provides opportunities that extend beyond international relations and public policy. Our broad workforce has a place and experience for almost every skillset. Studied event management? Keen to consider consulting? Were you previously a nurse, teacher or librarian, or did you study ancient history and town planning? No matter your qualification there is a team that is keen for your perspective.

If this sounds like you, we welcome your application. There's no one specific qualification or skill set we are after. Our graduates are diverse, with a variety of backgrounds, skills and life experiences.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• have completed at least a 3-year undergraduate bachelor degree obtaining a credit average within the last 8 years. All degrees must be complete by 31 December 2025 and be recognised in Australia.
• be able to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance to a minimum of Baseline level
• be an Australian citizen by 30 June 2025. Where relevant you will need to provide evidence to verify impending citizenship.
• be willing to relocate to Canberra to participate in the program.

For more information on how to apply, visit Graduate recruitment process.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please email us at EntryLevelPrograms@pmc.gov.au or call (02) 6271 6000 and ask to speak with the entry-level programs team.