Data Stream Graduate Program (Jan 2026)

"I was really excited to join the Graduate Program because I knew that it would be a really great way to enter the workforce, and I’d be surrounded by other people who are also looking to advance their careers. There are so many opportunities for professional development and to learn on-the-job, you’re really well supported by supervisors whose role is to teach you as much as they can and make sure that you’re getting the best out of yourself.”

Jemma, 2022 Graduate

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) is eager to recruit graduates who can apply their strong analytical, numeric and communication skills to real-world issues to help develop policies and deliver programs that contribute to Australia’s workforce and skill needs today and to the future to further Australia’s prosperity.

We offer formal and on-the-job training supported by experienced supervisors to develop your skills in quantitative data analysis using industry-standard software including, but not limited to, SAS, R, Python, Power BI, and SQL. Programming experience is not essential but may be beneficial for some graduate placements.

Additionally, all graduates in the Graduate Program will undertake a formal learning and development program.

Throughout the graduate program, you will have the opportunity to work with and learn from subject matter experts to advance your data skills. You will also benefit from the department’s Data Analyst Network, an online forum for data analysts to share information and skills on a broad range of topics relating to data and data analysis.

The department is focused on attracting graduates from a range of disciplines including economics, commerce, statistics, mathematics, science, social research, actuarial studies, finance, psychology, and a variety of others that involve working with and analysing data. If you have the desire to use data to inform evidence-based policy which aims to help develop and improve outcomes for Australians, we want to hear from you. 

What our data graduates do

Data graduates get exposure to and use data from a range of rich data sources within the department’s portfolio.

Data graduate roles cover the full data lifecycle including survey and questionnaire development, data acquisition, data engineering and data analysis, as well as more specialised disciplines such as data science, economics, financial and budget analysis, methodology, geospatial analysis, machine learning and modelling, and data management.

The work our data graduates undertake supports evidence-based decision-making in relation to all aspects of government including policy development, program management and service delivery.

Some of the areas in the department and what a data graduate could be working on include but are not limited to:

• Data Collection and Management
  • improving the way the department collects, manages, analyses and releases data. This includes designing and conducting surveys to collect first-hand information from program stokeholds, developing administrative data collected through services delivery for further analysis, and establishing data management and sharing policies and protocols to ensure data value is maximised in a safe environment.
• Performance reporting and program evaluation
  • applying advanced analytical techniques to a range of integrated datasets to gain insights into complex policy problems or to evaluate the performance of policies and programs to assess if they achieve designed objectives.
• Compliance and Assurance
  • monitoring program performance and protecting government outlays by using cutting-edge techniques and visualisations to identify non-compliance and fraud.
• Economics
  • developing strategic economic advice through analysing economic and financial data, including economic models and costings to support policy development.

We are looking for highly motivated graduates from a wide range of disciplines and life experiences who want to play a part in shaping Australia’s future and informing the decision-making process. You can apply to the APS Data Graduate recruitment program and be considered for a variety of exciting roles.

Background or knowledge in any other field with a focus on quantitative analysis problem-solving and research would also be an advantage. We are seeking highly motivated graduates with enthusiasm, a good work ethic, and an attitude open to learning and innovation who enjoy working as part of a team. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are also highly valued.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Be an Australian citizen or will be by 1 October 2025
• Must have completed your university degree within the last five years or be in your final year of study and have completed all your course requirements before commencing our program
• Be prepared to obtain and maintain baseline security clearance

If you secure a place in our 2026 Graduate Program, you will need to provide evidence of your Australian citizenship and be willing to undergo a National Police Check and health checks as required. The department will guide you through the process of obtaining your baseline security clearance as part of your onboarding process.

How to apply

We work collaboratively with other APS agencies to recruit talented individuals through other specialty graduate and entry-level programs. These speciality graduate programs are co-ordinated centrally by AGGP.

Visit the APS Jobs Career Pathways website to find out more or apply. Make sure you nominate the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations as your preferred agency for your chance to join us! 

Secure jobs are vital—driving future economic growth and providing people with certainty. We focus on connecting Australians who are starting, advancing, or changing their career with the relevant skills, knowledge, and experience to gain or regain employment.

Our work makes a difference to the lives of all Australians, and we want you to be part of it. 

Pre-register now!