A place of opportunity

Find a job with meaning with a WA Government graduate, cadetship or vacation programs

Welcome to the WA public sector – we are different to what you might think.

Our range of university graduate and cadetship programs provide the foundational skills needed for successful and rewarding careers, while you work on important programs that support the Western Australia community. 

Use this page to find the graduate programs best suited to you, and subscribe to hear more about our job opportunities.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram for the latest news and stories!

A full transcript of this animated video is available.

Meet our grads

Graduate program quick facts

Answers to the questions we are most commonly asked.

What salary will I earn?

Most WA public sector graduate programs start on a Level 3 salary of more than $79,000 a year.

How are graduate programs structured?

Programs range from 12 months to 3 years with most including rotations across different divisions, and some across different agencies!

This provides plenty of variety and learning opportunities no matter what program you choose.

Will I be employed when I finish the graduate program?

Many graduate programs offer the opportunity of for permanent employment at the end. Where this is not possible, your agency will help you find your next opportunity.

There are more than 166,000 people employed across the WA public sector. With the experience you have gained, you’ll be hot property!

What training do I receive?

All programs provide comprehensive support and training that often includes guidance from an experienced mentor, networking opportunities, agency induction and role specific training.

Many agencies also enrol their graduate staff in the Public Sector Commission’s Launch program. This innovative 10 month development program includes practical skills plus experiences to help you develop a growth mindset, an essential element for a successful career.

Can international students apply for graduate programs?

The graduate programs offered by the Public Sector Commission and Office of the Auditor General accept applications from international students who have valid working visas.

Most other programs require applicants to be Australian citizens or permanent residents. However, if you are an international student and interested in a program please contact the agency and talk about their program and other employment opportunities they may have.

If you can’t seem to find the information you are looking for, email us at opportunity@psc.wa.gov.au

Where is my qualification needed?

Find out where your tertiary qualifications are needed.

Most agencies are interested in graduates with a wide range of qualifications, skills and experience, but here you can discover where your qualification may be a high priority for an agency, or closely aligned with their functions.

These agencies may be a good place to start as you look at the graduate and cadetship programs on offer.

Remember though – public sector agencies are interested in much more about you than just your qualification, so do not ‘cross off’ an agency if their name is not listed next to your qualification. 

Your qualification‘High priority’ agencies
Agriculture, environment, biological sciences and sustainability
Architecture, design, urban and regional planning
Business and commerce
Engineering and construction
Finance and accounting
Humanities and social sciences
Hospitality, tourism and recreation
Information technology
Mining, geology, geoscience and earth science
Health, medicine and biomedical sciences
Law
Marketing, media and strategic communications
Psychology, social work, mental health

Come and say hi! - Our 2024 events

A place of opportunity will be out and about in 2024. Check out our calendar of university events and careers expos and come and say hi. We might even have a giveaway for you, or a competition to enter.

2024 events

EventDateLocation
Health and Science UWA Industry Pop-Up Wednesday 1 MayUWA Nedlands
Engineering and Mathematics UWA Industry Pop-Up Tuesday 7 MayUWA Nedlands
Business School UWA Industry Pop-Up Tuesday 14 MayUWA Nedlands
St Thomas More College Career FairFriday 2 August48 Mounts Bay Road, Crawley

Announcements

News story

'A place of opportunity’ wrapped up

Ten events in 35 days, 45 awesome staff from 14 agencies and uncountable interactions with the next generation of public sector graduate officers.
News story

And we’re away for 2024!

‘A place of opportunity’ has lots of great ways for you to get the buzz around WA public sector graduate programs.
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