General Information about the participating Parliamentary Departments
Department of the House of Representatives
The Department of the House of Representatives provides services to support the efficient conduct of the House of Representatives, its committees and certain joint committees as well as a range of services and facilities for Members in Parliament House. The department also promotes the work of the House in the community and is responsible for the conduct of the Parliament's international and regional relations. The Department of the House of Representatives is Investors in People accredited. Investors in People is an internationally recognised quality standard that sets a level of good practice for improving performance through people. Investing in people gives us a practical link between our personal development and corporate goals.
Department of the Senate
The Department of the Senate provides the Senate, its committees, the President of the Senate and senators with a broad range of advisory and support services related to the exercise of the legislative power of the Commonwealth. In supporting the operations of the Senate and its committees, the Department of the Senate provides services in four main categories: Senate support, committee support, senators' services and public education and awareness. The Department of the Senate is responsible, not to the government of the day, but to the Senate and all senators, and maintains impartiality in serving all senators equally.
The Graduate Program
| The Department of the House of Representatives is offering placements, for periods of three months, to graduates who have been accepted into existing Australian Government departments and agencies graduate programs. The Program is designed to give graduates exposure to the parliamentary department's work in supporting the Parliament. |
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The skills and knowledge graduates obtain through the program may assist in building the foundation for career progression and professional development. We are looking for outstanding graduates from a range of disciplines who are highly motivated with sound research and analytical skills, effective communication skills and good people skills.
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Career Development
Placements offer graduates a valuable opportunity in a high-profile environment with excellent professional development opportunities. The parliamentary departments have a strong commitment to the development of its people and graduates will have access to parliamentary specific training during their placements.
A placement with the Department of the House of Representatives is a graduate’s opportunity to be involved in the political process without being political. A diverse range of challenging and rewarding work for graduates is offered through a variety of work areas.
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Placement Opportunities
Where possible, graduate placements will be in areas which complement placements in their home departments or agencies. Placements may involve:
- work with a Committee secretariat providing research and administrative support to Parliamentary Committees;
- work with offices providing support to the House of Representatives; or
- work with the International and Community Relations Office, promoting the community’s understanding of, and interaction with, the work of the Houses and the Commonwealth Parliament or supporting the work of international parliamentary relations.
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Performance Assessment
At the end of the placement, a formal assessment of the graduate’s work performance against set work objectives will be conducted by the graduate’s supervisor in consultation with the graduate. A report outlining the assessment findings will be forwarded to the graduate’s home department or agency at the completion of the placement.
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Eligibility
| Graduates participating in existing graduate programs with Australian Government departments or agencies are eligible to apply. The endorsement of the home department or agency must be gained as part of the application process. Applications without endorsement may not be further assessed. |
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Graduates are assessed on the basis of their academic achievements and work experiences.
Graduates from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will be placed in work areas that complement their experiences while meeting operational demands of the parliamentary department.
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Salary and Conditions
Conditions of service and salary will continue to be administered by the graduate’s home department or agency. At the completion of the placement the relevant parliamentary department will reimburse the graduate’s associated salary costs on receipt of a tax invoice from the graduate's home department or agency.
Terms of Employment
The terms of employment during the placement will be those of the graduate’s home department or agency. Graduates will be expected to comply with the Parliamentary Service Code of Conduct and Values. If any dispute relating to a graduate’s employment occurs while participating in the program, they will be taken to be an officer of the Parliamentary Department and that Department's dispute resolution processes will be applied as far as possible.
Selection Process
Applications are subject to a merit selection process. As a minimum requirement applicants must:
- be participating in an existing graduate program with an Australian Public Service department or agency;
- hold, as a minimum, a bachelor degree from an Australian university or a degree recognised by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition as equivalent; and
- be an Australian citizen.
To be successful in obtaining a position as a graduate with a parliamentary department, applicants will need to possess:
- appropriate academic qualifications;
- proven high level analytical, research and evaluation skills;
- demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills;
- a proven ability to contribute ideas and demonstrate initiative and flexibility;
- a proven ability to organise, schedule, prioritise and complete assigned tasks; and
- an interest in parliamentary procedure and practice.
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How to Apply
Applications for the 2013 Parliament of Australia Graduate Program have closed.
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The Department of the House of Representatives is an Investor in People organisation and it upholds the principles and practices of Workplace Diversity. |
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