The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR)
What they do: The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning creates liveable, inclusive and sustainable communities in Victoria. The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions supports Victoria’s economic development.
Staff stats: Both departments employ more than 3000 staff members
The good bits: Inclusive culture, having a valuable social impact
The not so good bits: Bureaucracy
Hiring grads with degrees in: Property & Built Environment; Sciences.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Plannings broad goal is to preserve the liveability of (a rapidly growing) Victoria, while it reckons with climate change challenges and protects the state’s natural environment, infrastructure and heritage. DELWP staff work in diverse fields, such as law, engineering, biology, ecology and general and applied sciences.
The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions core goal is to maximise the living standards and wellbeing of Victoria by sustainably developing the economy and encouraging employment. With staff located in 80 Australian workplaces and 20 international offices, the department’s role is multifaceted. Staff members’ roles include developing policy, driving tractors, breeding livestock and modelling financial data
DELWP achieved its target of having its executive ranks gender-balanced last year. The department has a Diversity and Inclusion Council and Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. DELWP runs regular programs to develop women’s leadership skills and careers. It publishes monthly gender balance reports and offers staff family violence support. DELWP has set a target of having three per cent of staff be Indigenous by 2020.
DJPR’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in its fostering of an Aboriginal staff network and LGBTI Pride Network, as well as it’s development of an Accessibility and Inclusion Framework. This encourages diversity and inclusion through employment programs aimed at disabled, Indigenous and young Australians.
DELWP staff help shape a liveable, inclusive and sustainable Victoria.
DJPR staff play a vital role in encouraging Victoria’s economic growth, creating jobs and making sure the state’s resources are used wisely.
DELWP and DJPR run a Science and Planning Graduate Program as a joint initiative. It’s open to grads from all disciplines but for obvious reasons, those with a background in science, natural resource management, agriculture, ecology, conservation, planning and related fields have an advantage. Applicants must be prepared to live and work in regional Victoria and be interested in the environment, planning, agriculture and land management.
The application process has four stages. The first stage is an online application, which involves submitting your personal information and answering a short questionnaire. If you make the cut, you’ll be invited to do an online psychometric test. If you get a satisfactory result in that testing you’ll be invited to spend half a day in a Melbourne assessment centre. Here you’ll participate in a group exercise, complete a written report and undertake a behavioural interview. The final stage is an interview with the panel, including the manager of the position, where you’ll be expected to “elaborate on your skills and achievements, and tell us about any challenges you've faced and problems you've solved”.
If you’re successful, you’ll be formally inducted in late January. During this induction, you’ll get acquainted with the other grads doing the program and design your individual work plan and projected program outcomes. During the two-year program, you’ll complete three eight-month rotations. You should expect to work in at least two regional areas and potentially one metro destination, depending on your role. Previous graduates have completed projects in salinity, water management, public land management, biodiversity and land use planning, fire and emergency management, agriculture and community engagement. The majority of roles are located within DELWP.
Graduates in Victoria’s public service sector typically start on a salary of approximately $55,000. After successfully completing the grad program, you’ll ascend to the next salary band, which starts at a little over $68,000. The DJPR and DELWP offer flexible work arrangements, as well as generous superannuation and leave entitlements.
While doing the grad program, you’ll have the opportunity to complete courses in public speaking, policy development, project evaluation, group leadership and facilitation and community engagement. All those who are successfully recruited into the Science and Planning Graduate Program have an ongoing role. Towards the end of the grad program, you’ll liaise with your program coordinator and the graduate program management team about your career progression.
Your experiences will vary depending on where you’re posted and what role you’re undertaking but you’ll enjoy the satisfaction that comes from playing an important role in making a Victoria a pleasant and prosperous place to live. Both DELWP and DJPR are great places to start your career if you value work-life balance and inclusivity.
"The two Victorian Government Departments in this Science Graduate partnership are the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR).
DELWP brings together Victoria’s climate change, energy, environment, water, forests, planning, local government and emergency management functions into a single department to maximise connections between the environment, community, industry and economy.
Our challenge is to improve Victoria’s liveability with a population that is expected to almost double by 2050, while responsibly tackling climate change and protecting our natural environment, infrastructure and heritage for future generations. The community is at the centre of everything we do. At DELWP, we believe the way we work and behave with each other, our stakeholders, ministers and the community is as important as the outcomes we achieve for the Victorian community. Together, we have developed an agreed set of behaviours to bring our values of Service Excellence, Teamwork, Ownership, and Wellbeing and Safety to life. By living these values, we create a high performing, positive culture that makes DELWP a great place to work.
Here at DJPR, we're making sure Victoria's economy benefits all Victorians by creating more jobs for more people, building thriving places and regions and nurturing inclusive communities.
Our work supports six ministers, spans 10 portfolios and operates across metropolitan, regional and international offices. We also oversee various public entities, including the public corporation, regulatory authorities and specialist boards.
Ultimately, our work is about sustainably developing the Victorian economy by growing employment and improving the lives and prosperity of all Victorians. We work with many government, industry and community stakeholders to do this."
Graduate officer, Forest and Fire Operations Division at The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR)
Graduate Officer, Natural Environment Programs at Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning at The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR)