Our graduate program offers a primary stream, which is open to all disciplines, and four degree-specific streams; a legal stream, digital stream, social work stream, and an engineering stream.
You can apply for up to two streams, including the primary stream plus one degree-specific stream. Each stream offers on-the-job experience and a tailored learning and development component.
Who can apply
To be eligible for the 2023 NSW Government Graduate Program, you must:
- at the time of submitting your application, have the right to work full-time in Australia until at least 31 August 2024. (This may include Australian Citizenship or permanent residency, New Zealand citizenship with a current New Zealand passport, or holding a visa that allows you to work full-time in Australia)
- complete your undergraduate or postgraduate degree between 1 June 2020 and 31 December 2022*
- be available to start work on Monday 6 February 2023
*Eligible degrees: Qualifying degrees as rated by the Australian Qualifications Framework are at level 7 and above.
*Completion dates: The eligible dates are based on your date of completion or degree completion date as confirmed by your university or in your university transcript, not your degree conferral date or graduation ceremony date.
In addition, to be eligible for the legal, digital, social work, or engineering streams you must also meet some stream-specific requirements as detailed in the sections below.
Primary stream
Are you interested in gaining broad experience across a range of roles in NSW Government?
Graduates in the primary stream can work in a range of areas, from analytics or human resources, to policy and projects, and more. When applying to the primary stream, you can nominate functional areas of interest to try roles in.
In the primary stream, you’ll study a Diploma of Government, which will help to ease your transition from university to work life and provide foundational government knowledge.
The primary stream has approximately 199 roles on offer in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan, Central West, Hunter, North Coast, South Coast, South East and South West regions. The primary stream is open to all university degrees.
Legal stream
Are you interested in working on legislative instruments, learning about criminal prosecution, or conducting reviews of Policies and Acts?
If you want to work as a lawyer in NSW Government, the legal stream offers you experience such as litigation, providing legal advice and developing policy.
In the legal stream, you will study towards a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, so you can be admitted as a solicitor in NSW.
The legal stream has approximately 15 roles on offer, all based in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan region.
To be eligible for the legal stream, you must:
- hold a law degree
- be willing to study a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GLDP) during the program. If you have started studying a GLDP, you are ineligible for the legal stream.
- agree to pay up to $4,000 of the GLDP fees, with FEE-HELP options available.
Digital stream
Are you interested in harnessing emerging technology such as virtual reality, blockchain and sensors to develop innovative and citizen-centric digital solutions?
In the digital stream, you'll play a part in defining how the people of NSW interact with digital government services. From identifying cyber security risks, to designing and delivering products and services, you will work across critical areas such as health, housing, customer service and transport.
You will also become a member of Australian Computer Society’s Partnership Program which includes targeted online courses that are tailored to your career aspirations. You will also attend workshops with your cohort so that you have a foundational knowledge of government and how government works.
The digital stream has approximately 52 roles on offer in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan, Central West and Hunter regions.
To be eligible for the digital stream, your degree must be an information technology or technical degree.
Disciplines we are looking for relate to cyber security, web development, applications development, computer design, computer engineering, data analytics, data science, software engineering, software development and programming, systems analysis and design, programming, data engineering, information technology, computer science, computer systems, UI/UX, and IT architecture.
Social work stream
Are you interested in working with children, young people and their families and carers to bring about support, protection, and safety?
In the social work stream, you’ll play a part in transforming the lives of vulnerable children. You’ll apply your knowledge and skills to improve the lives of children, adults, families, and communities who often experience disadvantage and live in varied and challenging circumstances. The social work stream provides a pathway to becoming a case worker.
In the social work stream you will learn about how child protection works across systems, policies and practice. You will also complete tailored case worker development training and attend workshops with your cohort so that you have a foundational knowledge of government and how government works. You will undertake group supervision so you can make the best possible decisions about children and their families.
The social work stream has 10 roles on offer in the Department of Communities and Justice in Greater Sydney Metropolitan and region locations.
To be eligible for the social work stream, you must:
- hold a degree in social work, psychology or social science welfare
- have a current driver's licence
- hold a current Working with Children Check clearance
Engineering stream
Are you interested in applying your knowledge of science and mathematics to find effective solutions to problems?
The engineering stream will provide you with invaluable experience in analysing and addressing problems and coming up with practical ways to change things so they perform better. You will gain exposure and contribute to critical high-profile initiatives that impact the citizens of NSW. You could be working on a wide range of different projects, from health, infrastructure, to transport.
In the engineering stream you’ll receive tailored development from Engineers Australia which will focus on your personal development, project management, and professional skills.
The engineering stream has approximately 28 roles on offer in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan, Central West, Hunter, North Coast, South Coast and South West regions.
To be eligible for the engineering stream, you must hold an engineering degree.
Disciplines we are looking for relate to biomedical engineering, civil engineering, construction management, building construction, and project management.
Where you'll work
- Greater Sydney metropolitan, including Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Kingswood and Liverpool, Parramatta and Sydney CBD
- Hunter, including Newcastle, Gosford and Maitland
- Central Tablelands, including Bathurst, Dubbo, Lithgow, Parkes and Orange
- North Coast, including Coffs Harbour and Grafton
- South Coast, including Nowra
- South East including Queanbeyan
- South West, including Wagga Wagga
You’ll also work in different roles across NSW Government. Your first placement will be your ‘home’ agency, where you will return for your ongoing (permanent) role once you successfully complete the program.
