Public Sector Vacation Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

How our work supports the WA community

We are working to deliver a safe, fair and responsible future for the Western Australian community, industry, energy and resources sector.

This includes:

• keeping people safe from scams and poor products (Consumer Protection)
• managing our state’s mineral resources and environmental impact (Resource and Environmental Regulation)
• keeping people safe at work (WorkSafe)
• planning the state’s energy future (Energy Policy WA)
• managing the employment conditions for many of the common jobs in WA (Labour Relations).
• Supporting business areas to get their work done (Corporate Services – IT, Human Resources, Finance, Communications, Records Management, Assets)

We pride ourselves on our supportive, inclusive and innovative working environment that helps our people to contribute, develop and thrive to reach their full potential.

Our vacation program

Working within our Corporate Services division, you will undertake activities as part of our work to establish an Aboriginal Mentoring Program.

You will be working on:

• creating resources to support 2 workshops involving staff from our Aboriginal Empowerment Unit
• helping to run the workshops
• recording information and perspectives from Aboriginal staff
• presenting information and data back to the project manager and other stakeholders with recommendations on approaches.

What we need from you

• A willingness to learn is the most important requirement.    
• All degree types are welcome however this placement will be of most benefit to those studying business, management, HR, project management or similar degrees.
• Overall, an openness to communicate and work directly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff is highly regarded.

How we support you

The DEMIRS Aboriginal Strategy Team is your main point of contact during the vacation program.

You will be welcomed as valued members of our Gnalla Network consisting of more than 50 Aboriginal staff across the department. You will also complete a brief induction which describes other supports such as our Employee Assistance Program. 

Your pay

Your pay will be around $1,153 a week (before tax) plus 11% superannuation.

This is the General Division Level 1 Step 1 or equivalent pay rate.

When

Our program ran for 2 weeks from 17 to 28 June 2024. 

Where

You will work at our Mineral House office at 100 Plain Street, East Perth.

Our office is easily accessible by bus along Adelaide Terrace or via RedCat. There are paid parking options at Queens Gardens, less than a 5 minute walk to the office. 

Have a chat to us

For more information, telephone the Manager of Aboriginal Strategy on 9222 3733 or email shona.ngeru@dmirs.wa.gov.au

How our work supports the WA community

We plan and manage the way public land and heritage is used and protected to create vibrant cities, regions and towns for Western Australians.

Our work ranges from managing much loved public assets such as Whiteman Park to overseeing the Aboriginal Lands Trust and Crown land estates.

Our vacation program

Depending on your degree type, you will gain experience and knowledge in:

• business services such as human resources, finance and/or facilities management
• land use planning or management
• Aboriginal heritage.

What we need from you

We were looking for 2nd and 3rd year students who were:

• keen to learn new skills
• honest and reliable
• interested in helping others
• embody our values of innovation, integrity, respect, collaboration and professionalism.

We value a wide range of skills and expertise, so we invite applications from people studying in any area.

If you are studying any of these degrees, we are especially interested – urban planning, architecture, environmentalism, heritage practice, Aboriginal affairs, engineering, law, cartography, economics, finance, human resources, business, administration, IT, communications or design.

How we support you

We have an open and welcoming environment for all newcomers.

On your first day you will be given a short induction and will be assigned a buddy to answer all your questions about the department. You will also have a supportive manager and get help from the Youth Programs Team and our Aboriginal Employment Officer.

Your pay

Your pay will be around $1,150 a week (before tax) plus 11% superannuation.

This is the General Division Level 1 Step 1 or equivalent pay rate.

When

Our vacation program ran full time for 2 weeks from 1 July to 12 July, but we provided some flexibility with these dates.

Successful applicants may have the opportunity to undertake a cadetship or internship if you enjoy and do well in the vacation program. This is also a great pathway to our graduate program.

Where

You will work at our main office at 140 William Street, Perth which is right above the Perth train station! Applications for our Albany office may also be considered.

Have a chat to us

Name: Caitlyn Saxton
Phone: (08) 6551 8034
Email: youthprograms@dplh.wa.gov.au

How our work supports the WA community

We construct and maintain government buildings, manage major state projects, lead government procurement and administer revenue, grant and subsidy schemes.

The vacation program opportunity is in our Buildings and Contracts area which manages the planning, design, construction and maintenance of non-residential buildings including schools, health facilities, police and fire stations, and sporting facilities.

Last financial year, Buildings and Contracts delivered 84 projects with a value of $524 million. Their work included upgrades to HBF Park for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and new schools such as Dayton Primary School and Piara Waters Senior High School.

Our vacation program

You will shadow one of our senior project managers on an important construction project in the Education portfolio. You will get an insight into how to deliver a project according to good practice, understand the phases and processes involved in the delivery of a project and learn about the importance of stakeholder engagement.

You will attend project meetings in the office or on site, help with preparing meeting documents, and get exposure to writing for government.

What we need from you

• Be in the last 2 years of a Business/Commerce, Architecture or Engineering degree.
• Good written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn.
• Aligned with Finance’s values – clarity, collaboration, growth and empathy.

How we support you

• Mentoring from a senior project manager.
• Opportunities for training and development to support a career in the building and construction industry.
• Flexible work arrangements.

Your pay

Your pay will be around $1,150 a week (before tax) plus 11% superannuation.

This is the General Division Level 1 Step 1 or equivalent pay rate.

When

We offered a vacation program for 2 to 6 weeks in the mid-semester break, but we provided some flexibility with these dates.

Where

You will work from Finance’s Djookanup offices, 16 Parkland Road Osborne Park. The office is accessible via public transport or own vehicle with paid parking around the office.

Have a chat to us

If you have any questions, please telephone Deb Binet (Senior Project Manager, Buildings and Contracts) on 0457 348 357 or email Deb.Binet@finance.wa.gov.au.

How our work supports the WA community

Our role is to help the 160,000 staff who work in public sector agencies to do their jobs efficiently and with integrity for Western Australians.

This includes helping agencies to have a diverse workforce with people from all backgrounds and cultures, the systems in place that allow their staff to do their work well, and staff who always do the right thing in their jobs.

So working here means you can have a big impact across the sector.

Our vacation program

We have positions in 4 different areas.

One position is in our Workforce Strategy team. You will:

• help research what other states and countries are doing to create diverse and inclusive workforces
• help us to improve our workforce programs
• support our events.

One position is in our Workforce Policy and Practice team (preferably for someone studying Business or Law). You will:

• help research sectorwide projects
• help research the capabilities of agencies to run well and deliver good services to the community.

One position is in our Strategic Communications team. You will:

• help to write content for our staff so they better understand the Noongar seasons
• review and improve communications and promotional materials for Solid Futures and School Based Traineeship Programs
• help create content for our ‘A place of opportunity’ Insta and TikTok channels.

Two positions are in our Agency Capability and Improvement team. You will:

• help design a survey to explore agency culture and assess workplace trust
• learn about data analysis and make suggestions about how survey data can be reported.

What we need from you

• An open mind and positive attitude to work
• A desire to learn and try new things
• Honesty and integrity
• Willingness to ask questions

How we support you

• Culturally appropriate induction and other training
• A supportive mentor and great, collaborative teams
• Lots of opportunities to learn and develop your professional skills

Your pay

Your pay will be around $1,150 a week (before tax) plus 11% superannuation.

This is the General Division Level 1 Step 1 or equivalent pay rate.

When

Our program ran full time for 2 weeks starting 16 June to 15 July but part time hours during that period would also have been considered.

Where

Dumas House at 2 Havelock St, West Perth WA 6005 and/or Hale House at 1 Parliament Pl, West Perth WA 6005.

You can get to our offices easily via the free Red CAT bus from Perth.

Have a chat to us

Contact Lisa Ward by telephone on 6552 8627 or email lisa.ward@psc.wa.gov.au.

How our work supports the WA community

Our agency delivers high quality education in public schools across our vast state, and supports the education of all students in Western Australia.

As the largest employer in the state, our people are our most valuable assets.

We offer diverse and rewarding career opportunities in an inclusive, culturally safe and responsive workplace.

Our vacation program

Our vacation program is 2 weeks, full time.

You will work in our Education Business Services Division learning and delivering a range of office administration and project support tasks depending on the specific area you are placed in.

This could include managing incoming phone calls and emails, scheduling and helping to organise appointments and meetings, conducting research, and undertaking some project work, all of which ultimately help schools run well.

What we need from you

• Strong communication skills
• Research, organisational and problem solving skills
• A positive and a ‘willing to have a go’ attitude
• Willingness to be a team player.

How we support you

We will provide a face-to-face induction, onboarding in the business area and a ‘buddy’ to help you.

You will also have access to a careers session where you will hear about ways you can find a job in our agency in the future.

Your pay

The pay rate for work experience students is equivalent to a General Division Level 1 step 1 public service officer.

Your pay will be $1,153 a week (before tax)  plus 11% superannuation.

Casual loading of 25% may also apply.

When

Our program ran from Monday 1 July to Friday 12 July.

Where

Education Business Services is in the Department of Education building at 151 Royal Street, East Perth.

The Yellow CAT bus and train (Claisebrook station) are great ways to travel to our office. You can also cycle or walk from the Perth city centre.

Parking is also available at the public car parks in the area but be aware these can get full by 8.30 am.

Have a chat to us

If you want more information please call Gillian McDonald, Senior Capability Building Coordinator on 9264 4355 or email educationbusinessservices.capabilitybuilding@education.wa.edu.au

How our work supports the WA community

We operate a large hospital and health service network that supports the health and wellbeing of more than 680,000 Western Australians.

Our facilities include Royal Perth Hospital, Armadale Health Service, Bentley Health Service, Kalamunda Hospital, Byford Health Campus and St John of God Midland Public Hospital.

At these sites our amazing staff deliver a range of high quality health care services including emergency and critical care, state trauma, elective and emergency surgery, general medical, mental health, inpatient and outpatient services, aged care, palliative care, rehabilitation and women’s, children’s and neonate’s services.

Through our values – kindness, respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity and accountability –  we make a positive impact in our community, every day.

WA Health is committed to building a strong, skilled and growing Aboriginal workforce. We value and respect the cultural knowledge and unique skills of our Aboriginal workforce. We are dedicated to creating a culturally safe and supportive workplace, free of racism.

Healthy people, amazing care.
Koorda moort, moorditj kwabadak.   

Our vacation program

If you are studying a clinical degree you will undertake supervised, practical work related to your area of study, for example:

• allied health
• nursing and midwifery
• medical
• paramedical
• pharmacy.

If you are studying other degrees you will be placed in teams that provide vital support and administration services such as communications, community engagement, legal and business/finance.

What we need from you

• You can be studying a range of disciplines and degrees including business/commerce, finance, public health, social work, psychology, health sciences, information technology, medicine, nursing and midwifery, health promotion, law, allied health and many other fields.
• Be motivated and interested in improving your career prospects in health.
• Excellent communication skills and dedication to your studies.
• A passion for making a difference to our people, families and communities.

How we support you

We will support you in this placement by providing:

• culturally appropriate induction and mentoring
• great employment opportunities and future career pathways
• the opportunity to grow your personal and professional support networks
• experiences that develop and accelerate the skills you are learning at university.

Your pay   

Your pay will be around $1,167 a week (before tax) plus 11% superannuation.

This is the HSU Level 2 Step 1 or equivalent pay rate.

When

Placement would have been for a minimum of 2 weeks or up to 4 weeks depending on the department you were placed in. After applying, we considered part time employment and placement in different work locations if you asked for these.

Where

Depending on your area of study, you may be placed at any of the hospitals we operate.

Staff working at Armadale Health Service, Bentley Health Service and Kalamunda Hospital are not required to pay for parking. Parking is limited at Royal Perth Hospital, with bicycle storage facilities available at both Armadale Health Service and Royal Perth Hospital.

For those who use public transport, please visit the Transperth website where you can access a journey planner, public transport timetables and ticket information. Any cost involved in travel must be covered by the student.

Have a chat to us

Natalie Horobin – Senior HR Business Partner (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion)
Telephone: 9224 1876
Email: Natalie.horobin@health.wa.gov.au

How our work supports the WA community

We manage information about land across our state to help our community, government and industry customers. The data and services we provide are used to create WA land titles (that state who owns exactly what land), property information and valuations, maps and other information such as clarifying place names and addresses.

Our vacation program

Our vacation program is individually tailored and you will work on a variety of projects, making use of your skills, experience and interests. Projects may include:

• field survey inspections and maintaining geodetic and spatial cadastral data
• maintaining and enhancing the State’s Names and Addressing database
• contributing to dual place naming initiatives
• working on our Reconciliation Action Plan
• research projects and environmental scanning
• human resources projects.

What we need from you

• Enrolled in a degree related to a relevant field such as human resources, finance, IT, GIS, surveying, spatial sciences or data. However, all degree types are welcome.
• Play your part in a team by collaborating and communicating.
• Be willing to give it a go and think creatively.
• Most of all, be positive and enthusiastic!

How we support you

• Culturally appropriate induction and mentoring.
• Buddy allocation – feel supported in your new work environment.
• An innovative and forward thinking organisation to help drive your career forward.

Your pay

Your pay will be around $1,150 a week (before tax) plus 11% superannuation.

This is the General Division Level 1 Step 1 or equivalent pay rate.

When

Our vacation program took place between 17 June and 19 July 2024.

We were flexible – placements were between 2 and 5 weeks long and either full or part time.

Where

Our office is in the centre of Midland, a short 10 minute walk from the train station. There are also paid parking options close to our building.

Have a chat to us

If you require further information, call Siobhan Cassidy on 9273 9150 or email recruitment@landgate.wa.gov.au.