Intern

About the program

The Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Internship Program offers a unique opportunity to contribute to Australia’s public health future while gaining practical experience in a newly established national agency. As the first internship program delivered since the CDC became a standalone Commonwealth entity, participants will have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that support the CDC’s mission to protect and improve the health of all Australians.

Interns will be placed in a section aligned to their skills, interests and study background, where they will undertake a supervised work-based project and contribute to real-world public health challenges. Opportunities span a broad range of disciplines, including epidemiology, analytics, policy development, governance, law, stakeholder engagement, health equity, environmental health and communicable disease prevention. Interns will work alongside experienced professionals, build valuable networks and gain insight into the development of national public health policy, programs and advice.

Key capabilities 

The CDC is seeking enthusiastic, highly motivated, and self-starting university individuals who thrive in busy, dynamic, and collaborative environments, working independently and in small teams.  

We are seeking candidates who are:  

• passionate about public health, particularly preparing the nation for health challenges 
• skilled problem solvers and critical thinkers, who can get across new material and issues 
• effective verbal and written communicators 
• people who can effectively engage with a wide range of diverse stakeholders 
• team players who can create strong, productive relationships with colleagues and collaborate successfully on shared projects 
• motivated and organised individuals, who can thrive in a busy and changing environment. 

To be eligible for employment with the Australian CDC, applicants must also be an Australian citizen at the time of applying.  

An applicant’s suitability for employment with the CDC will also be assessed through a variety of pre-employment check processes, such as:  

• Satisfactory completion of a criminal history check
• Completion of a medical declaration and pre-employment medical (where required)
• Providing evidence of qualifications (where required) and  
• Obtaining and maintaining a security clearance at the required level

• Applications close Sunday, 30 August 2026 11:30pm AEST
• Applicants are asked to quote reference number 26CDC-EXEC-10151 to assist when making an enquiry

The independent Australian Centre for Disease Control (Australian CDC) is at the frontline of improving Australia’s ability to prepare for, and respond to, public health challenges, including pandemics. The Australian CDC is an independent technical advisory agency on public health matters and a leader in disease control, preparedness, response, and prevention. The Australian CDC collaborates with national and international health bodies to strengthen Australia’s public health infrastructure.