Updating Results

Victorian Government

3.8
  • > 100,000 employees

2023 Graduate Program: Generalist Stream (Jan 2023)

Location details

On-site

  • Australia

    Australia

    • Victoria

      Melbourne

Remote

Metro Melbourne

  • Australia

    Australia

    Remote work

    • Victoria

      Melbourne

Location

Melbourne, Metro Melbourne

Opportunity expired

Opportunity details

  • Opportunity typeGraduate Job or Program
  • SalaryAUD 61068 / Year
  • Additional benefits$61,068 plus super
  • Number of vacancies1-50 vacancies
  • Application open dateApply by 19 Apr 2022
  • Start dateStart date 22 Jan 2023

The Victorian Government

We want Victoria to be innovative and reflective of the community we serve. Graduates join us because we offer meaningful work that directly impacts Victorians and offers incredible career opportunities. No other employer has such a diversity of roles. Work in a place where you can live our shared values, including integrity, respect and human rights.

The graduate program

The generalist stream is open to graduates from all academic disciplines. You’ll have a home department that you start in for your first rotation and return to at the end of the program. You’ll get to experience a diverse range of roles, learn how government works and build your capabilities while following a structured learning and development program. Past generalist graduates have been placed in areas including organisational development, policy, research, environment, workforce reform, communication and engagement.

Complete 3 rotations in different departments over 12-months. You'll contribute to important work and make connections across government. Along the way, you'll develop your talents and discover new interests.

Program benefits

  • 3 different roles in different government departments/agencies
  • A structured learning and development journey
  • Participation in executive mentoring
  • A promotion and pay rise to more than $74,000 on successful completion of the program
  • Collaboration with a large cohort of like-minded graduates
  • Contribution to a variety of exciting initiatives
  • Opportunity to learn about the Victorian Public Service

Skills required

  • Verbal and written communication
  • Problem-solving and analytical mindset
  • Adaptability
  • Teamwork and stakeholder engagement

Eligibility criteria

  • Completed your undergraduate or postgraduate degree or the same as level 7 and above of the Australian Qualifications Framework between 1 January 2020 and 1 January 2023.
  • Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident or have unrestricted working rights in Australia at time of application.
  • Not be on a temporary graduate visa.
  • Not have taken a voluntary redundancy from the Victorian public sector in the 3 years up to the program start date of 23 January 2023.

Application stages

  1. Online application form
  2. Online assessment
  3. Video interview
  4. Assessment centre
  5. Employment offer

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathway provides culturally appropriate guidance and support to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants through the recruitment and selection process. You'll be supported by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff and other experienced professionals during the recruitment process and your career within the Victorian public sector. The pathway is part of the Victorian public sector’s 5-year Aboriginal employment strategy, Barring Djinang.

Some graduate roles available may give you priority consideration as per the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

Disability pathway

The disability pathway provides graduates with disability access to safe, inclusive support and workplace adjustments from a dedicated professional. It enables us to better understand you as an individual and assists with equitable access throughout the entire recruitment and selection process. It can also include support during the graduate year. The disability pathway is consistent with the Victorian Government’s Getting to Work disability employment action plan.

Some graduate roles available may give you priority consideration as per the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

How to apply

The 2023 Victorian Government graduate program applications are open between 7 March to 9:59 am AEST 19 April 2022. We are also accepting applications for our accounting and finance, data analytics and economic consultancy streams. 

Apply now.

Work rights

The opportunity is available to applicants in any of the following categories.

Work light flag
Citizen
Work light flag
Permanent resident
Work light flag
Australia
Australian CitizenAustralian Permanent ResidentAustralian Work Visa (All Other)

Qualifications & other requirements

You should have or be completing the following to apply for this opportunity.

Degree or Certificate
Qualification level
Qualification level
Bachelor or higher
Study field
Study field (any)

Hiring criteria

  • Experience requirementNo experience required
  • Study fields
    Business & Management
  • Degree typesBachelor or higher
Show all hiring criteria

Reviews

user
Graduate
Melbourne
a year ago

Depends on the department, but I feel for the most part the work I have been doing has actually made a genuine contribution.

user
Graduate
Melbourne
a year ago

Depends on the department and team. In my second and third rotation, had great managers and meaningful work to develop my skills. In my first rotation it was a struggle to get any work to do at all. Developing PowerBI dashboards to analyse services and performance, as well as budget usage.

user
Graduate
Melbourne
a year ago

Depending on the rotation, anywhere from exploratory data analysis, SQL, BI reporting, building dashboards, and engaging with stakeholders to understand requirements for a task. In my current role, day to day responsibilities are mostly preparing regular reports.

Show all reviews

About the employer

Victorian Government logo

Victorian Government

Rating

3.8

Number of employees

> 100,000 employees

Industries

Government & Public Service

Start your career in the Victorian Government graduate program and find work with purpose.

Pros and cons of working at Victorian Government

Pros

  • I've enjoyed working on meaningful programs and projects that I can see have a positive impact on the community. Even as a grad, I feel I've been able to make a valuable contribution.

  • Carefully considered graduate workplan that connects you with a like-minded graduate cohort. Offers three departmental rotations so that you get an engaging insight into public service work as a graduate.

  • I think the ability to work on projects and policies that are topical and improve Victoria is the best aspect of the job. There are a lot of really interesting roles and responsibilities. I like working on things that make a difference to people and place. It feels good to work for people and not profit. So far, I have worked on emission reduction projects, major infrastructure projects and grant programs. I am excited by all the important things I will work on in the future.

  • The prioritisation of staff well-being, flexible working arrangements, and the ability to remain mobile at the beginning of my career, gaining insight and experience into a number of areas.

  • Meaningful work and shared values between employees. In general, public servants are quite nice people. Meeting lots of people in the program. Great work life balance :)

Cons

    • Some managers are not sure how to best utilise grads or how to ensure we feel welcome in our short 4 month rotations. These managers are in the minority, however.

    • The uncertainty and underappreciation. Mobility and MOG changes are part and parcel of working in the VPS however they can be quite unnerving. The announcement of job cuts just weeks into the program was very unsettling. These efficiency savings have made me worry about losing my position and future career decisions. I also wasn't aware of just how unstable the job and teams were when I applied. Every team I have been in during the program has had people acting and leaving. I have also seen a change in premier and portfolio reshuffles. Secondly, I think there is a perception that public servants don't do anything and are bludgers. The Victorian Government Graduate program is very hard to get into and everyone is really passionate and hard working. Similarly, I have worked in teams with really inspiring and smart people. I think it is a shame that public perception isn't better. Further, I think the ceiling in terms of pay is quite low unless you're an executive. While the public service should be for people and not profit, in this fiscal environment we should be paid accordingly. I have been stressed as a graduate about paying my rent and affording to live in Melbourne.

    • Being a graduate there is not always a constant workload where motivation levels fluctuate over time.

    • Pay is ok. VPS 2.1.6 Given recent inflation, I think it is no longer competitive. 2 years ago it would have been appropriate, but it feels like taking a pay cut to be a part of the program. I understand that other graduate programs are not necessarily that much higher, but I think across the board there needs to be an increase. I'm in the Data Stream for the graduate program. I have a master’s in data science, but the work I've been given has mostly been data analyst related. I don't feel challenged in these roles, but I think that may be due to being overqualified.

    • The pace can be quite stressful and there are limited opportunities to celebrate the success of completing a particular piece of work before having to do the next one.