Australian Government Career Starter Program

ABOUT THE CAREER STARTER PROGRAM

Are you a recent Year 12 graduate (Class of 2025), or are you completing Year 12 in 2026 and ready to kick-start your professional journey in the Australian Public Service? The Career Starter Program is your gateway to a rewarding career, combining real-world experience with formal study.

As a Career Starter, you’ll gain:

• Valuable hands-on experience in the APS
• Access to structured learning and development opportunities
• Opportunities to connect and network with fellow participants through regular forums
• Ongoing mentoring and support from experienced professionals to help you succeed and grow in your career.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will progress to the APS2 classification, opening doors to further career growth within the APS. 

With just one application, you’ll be considered for roles across a range of Australian Government departments and agencies, maximizing your chances of finding the perfect fit.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Career Starter you will:  

• Be a permanent employee within the Australian Public Service (there may be positions available in states outside of Canberra subject to agency vacancies);  
• Competitive starting salary at the APS1 classification. Please note salaries vary across agencies;  
• Advancement opportunity to the APS2 classification, upon successful completion of the program; 
• Four weeks paid leave per year;  
• Flexible and inclusive working environment;  
• Superannuation of 15.4%.  

The program consists of:  

• Working full time in a permanent APS1 role in a participating department or agency 
• Completing a Certificate IV in Government or Human Resource Management 
• Receiving support from a dedicated supervisor and team 
• Quarterly networking events with other Career Starters across government 
• A ‘buddy’ from the previous years’ program or similar. 

Roles may be offered in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney with successful applicants commencing the program in February 2026.

DETAILED VACANCY INFORMATION

For detailed information about this role, including the job specific capabilities, please refer to the downloadable vacancy pack, which can be accessed by clicking the hyperlink at the bottom of this page.

• Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.
• Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated. 
• You must have completed your Year 12 Certificate in 2025 or be completing it in 2026.
• RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activities for the vacancy if you choose to opt-in to the scheme, declare you have Disability and meet the minimum requirements for the vacancy. All requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered and managed in consultation with you. Further information can be found at https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability.

As a central agency of the Australian Government, the Department of Finance (Finance) plays an important role in assisting government across a wide range of policy areas to ensure its outcomes are met. Finance supports the government's ongoing priorities through the Budget process and fosters leading practice through the public sector resource management, governance and accountability frameworks. Finance plays a leading role in advising the government on many of its strategic priorities. We do this through our professional and considered approach to providing advice, developing policy, delivering services and engaging with our clients and stakeholders. Finance's key areas of focus are: - Budget - Business Enabling Services - Commercial - Governance and Resource Management