Graduate Development Program

Our Graduate Development Program is an 11-month program where you will:

• rotate across 3 different work areas
• take part in the Australian Public Service Commission Graduate Development Program
• have access to other learning and development opportunities
• attend networking events and activities
• work with other graduates to run our internal social club
• join a mentor and buddy program to help develop new skills and knowledge of the Clean Energy Regulator.

Eligibility for the Graduate Development Program

To apply for the program, you must:

• have completed an undergraduate degree (or higher) in the last 3 years or be in your last year of study and will complete your study before the program starts
• have maintained a credit (or equivalent) average throughout the degree
• be an Australian citizen
• be willing to move to Canberra
• be able to get and maintain at least a baseline security clearance.

What we're looking for in a graduate

As a regulatory agency, we want graduates with analytical and communication skills. You must be able to work under pressure to tight deadlines. Ideally, our graduates have a passion for the work of the Clean Energy Regulator and a drive to contribute to our goals.

We're looking for motivated graduates with a wide range of qualifications and experiences. This includes, but is not limited to:

• business, commerce and economics
• engineering and technology
• science and environmental studies
• mathematics, statistics and data science
• politics, public policy and law.

Benefits for you

We hire our graduates as Australian Public Service (APS) Level 3. Benefits include:

• competitive salaries
• generous leave entitlements (paid annual and personal/carers leave, public holidays and end-of-year shutdown)
• paid relocation to Canberra (including up to 4 weeks of temporary accommodation)
• a full-time permanent APS 4 role after you complete the program.

Tips for your application

Update your resume

Make sure your resume is up to date. Include current personal details, education and relevant work experience. Aim for 2 to 3 pages in length. We recommend uploading your resume as a PDF.

Get a copy of your most recent academic transcript

Contact your university for a copy of your academic transcript.

Select your referees

Your referees are people we may contact to verify the claims made in your application and interview.

We ask for the details of 2 referees. The first referee should be your current or most recent work supervisor or manager. We will only contact referees if you progress past the interview stage.

Tell us why you’re the best person for the program

Let us know in 500 to 750 words:

• your understanding of what our graduate program is
• how you see the program connecting with your broader career goals and aspirations
• which parts of the program would most benefit you.

We recommend writing your response in Microsoft Word or a similar program. This helps you check your word count, spelling and grammar.

When writing your application, use the APS Commission's cracking the code as a helpful resource.

Submit your application

When you're ready to submit your application, log in to our career and employment opportunities:

• portal for generalist positions
• portal for digital positions.

Then:

• complete the online application form and answer the questions
• copy and paste your statement of claims into the application
• upload your resume and any other documents needed
• preview and submit your application.

Remember: 

• You won't be able to submit your application if you've skipped any mandatory questions.
• You can withdraw and resubmit your application at any time until the closing date.
• You can see the status of your application when you’re signed in.

Next steps

Once the application period ends, our graduate selection panel will review your application. If you’re shortlisted, we'll invite you to take part in further assessment, which may include:

• an online work test
• online personality and skills assessments
• a virtual interview with the panel
• referee checks.

Shortlisting and assessment can take 4 to 6 weeks once applications close.