Defence Graduate Program - Policy Stream

The Defence Policy Stream offers training and development opportunities to offer you a solid foundation for a fulfilling career in Defence's Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group.

As a graduate, your qualifications and ability to think critically, together with your inquisitive nature, will enhance the professional development training provided to you. Throughout your graduate year, you will develop skills in strategic thinking, analysis, communication and stakeholder engagement, and be provided with a unique experience working at the strategic centre of Defence on a broad range of issues contributing to Australia's national interests.

Work undertaken by Defence Policy Officers includes:

• Turning Government direction into defence strategy aligned with resources and capability;
• Supporting the Department's engagement with the Defence industry and innovation, including policy development and advice to Government on options for building Australia's sovereign defence industry;
• Analysing emerging geostrategic, geoeconomic and sensitive technology issues to inform Government decision making and long-term defence policy settings;
• Addressing emerging policy issues within Defence and the broader national security community;
• Providing policy advice to military operations and activities;
• Building links between Defence and Australian industry to support the development of a sovereign Defence industrial base; and
• Supporting the development and maintenance of Defence's international relationships with allies and partners, including through facilitating senior international visits.

Supporting the development and maintenance of Defence's international relationships with allies and partners, including through facilitating senior international visits.

The Defence Policy Stream seeks applicants from all academic backgrounds who have demonstrated critical thinking, communication, resilience and interpersonal skills to work at the heart of Defence's strategic centre within Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group. Policy Officer's within Defence directly contribute to protecting Australia's national security and furthering our national interests.

As a Policy Graduate, you will be provided formal and informal training, mentoring and networking opportunities that will provide you with a solid foundation to pursue a policy career within Defence and the wider Australian Public Service,
Policy Graduates are recruited to a 'Home Division' within Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group where they will commence the program and return at the end of the development year. You will undertake three four-month rotations that will give you exposure to the long-term career opportunities within SP&I and the broader Department.

Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group is a fully integrated civilian-military workforce and draw on high-quality and motivated people from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines.

Working within Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group is more than just a job, it offers opportunities over the course of a career to work across diverse policy and intelligence issues. We strongly encourage mobility across the three policy divisions (Defence Industry Policy, Strategic Policy and International Policy) and our two intelligence agencies (Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation and Defence Intelligence Organisation).

Your ability to think critically, together with your inquisitive nature, will enhance the formal training provided to you. If you are looking for meaningful and challenging work while contributing to the defence of Australia's interests both here and overseas – we encourage you to apply.

Quick Details

Salary: $68,442 pa + 15.4% superannuation. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will advance to APS 4: $76,215 + 15.4% superannuation. superannuation.Program: 12 months - 3 x 4 month rotations
Eligibility: Australian Citizens only
Location: Canberra (interstate rotations outside of Canberra are available)