Parliament of Australia Graduate Program 2010
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Page Menu: | General Information | The Graduate Program | Graduate Program FAQs | Testimonials | Further information
| Graduate Program brochure (PDF)
Please note: Applications for the 2010 Graduate Program have now closed.
General Information about the 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 to the Senate and all senators and maintains impartiality in serving senators from all political parties and independent senators.
The Graduate Program
The Department of the House of Representatives and the Department of the Senate are offering placements, for periods of three months, to graduates who have been accepted into existing Australian Government department and agency graduate programs. The Program is designed to give graduates exposure to the parliamentary departments' work in supporting the Parliament.
The skills and knowledge graduates obtain through the program will 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.
Career Development
 A placement with either department 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.
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 their people and graduates will have access to parliamentary specific training during their placement.
Placement Opportunities
Graduates can expect to work in areas which complement placements in their employing departments. Placements may involve:
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work with a Committee Secretariat providing research and administrative support to Parliamentary Committees;
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work with offices providing support to the House of Representatives or Senate Chamber;
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work with the Parliamentary Relations Office, supporting the work of international parliamentary relations;
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work with the Parliamentary Education Office, supporting the development and delivery of parliamentary education projects and programs to students; or
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work with the Liaison and Projects Office or the Senate Procedure Office, promoting the community’s understanding of, and interaction with, the work of the Houses and the Commonwealth Parliament.
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.
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 this endorsement will not be further assessed.
Graduates are assessed on the basis of their academic achievements and experiences.
Graduates from a wide range of disciplines are encouraged to apply. Disciplines may include, but are not limited to: arts, economics, law/legal studies, science, engineering, business/administration, industrial relations, languages, environmental studies, accounting, statistics, commerce, social and public policy, politics, agriculture and fisheries, and human resources. Successful candidates will be placed in a work area that complements their experience while developing their skills.
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 home department or agency for the graduate’s associated salary costs.
The terms of employment during your placement will be those of your home department or agency. However, you will be expected to comply with the Parliamentary Service Code of Conduct and Values. If any dispute relating to your employment occurs while you are participating in the program, you 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 candidates must:
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be participating in an existing graduate program with an Australian Government department or agency;
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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
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be an Australian citizen.
To be successful in obtaining a position as a graduate with a parliamentary department, applicants will need to possess:
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appropriate academic qualifications;
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proven high level analytical, research and evaluation skills;
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demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills;
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a proven ability to contribute ideas and demonstrate initiative and flexibility;
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proven ability to organise, schedule, prioritise and complete assigned tasks; and
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a genuine interest in parliamentary procedure and practice.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2010 Parliament of Australia Graduate Program have now closed.
Graduate Program FAQs
Got a question about our Graduate Program? Check our Graduate FAQs.
Testimonials
Read the testimonials of some of our past Graduates.
Further Information
For further information about the 2011 Graduate Programs, please contact:
Tracy Weston
Assistant Director (A/g)
People Strategies
02 6277 4146
or
Anthony Szell
Director, Human Resource Management
Department of the Senate
Telephone: (02) 6277 5757
PDF version of Graduate Program brochure
The information on this page is available in a printable brochure format (PDF – 917 kb)
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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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