Department of Health and Aged Care Graduate Programs & Internships

Applicants must be Australian Citizens to apply.

Applications open at 8:00 AM (AEST) on Monday 4 March and closed at 11:30 PM (AEST) Sunday 14 April.

As part of your application, you will need to:

• completed a Bachelor's degree or higher in the last 5 years (completed or recognised in Australia)
• provide current academic transcripts
• provide a current CV

Successful applicants can opt into our midyear intake in September 2024 or commence in February 2025.

The Department of Health and Aged Care also facilitate the following Internal streams:

• Generalist Program
• Legal Stream - We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated people to apply for the legal stream. As a legal stream graduate, you will be part of the LAD’s two-year Government Lawyer Development Program. Over the two years, you will have the opportunity to undertake extended rotations across core legal practice areas to ensure you develop strong foundational skills as a government lawyer. You will have access to specialised legal training, mentoring from senior lawyers, and financial and study leave support to assist you to complete your Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.  
  To be eligible for the legal stream you either need to have completed, or be willing to complete, your Practical Legal Training and be admitted as a lawyer (which the Department will support you to do).
• Communications Steam - We are looking for dynamic and motivated people to apply for the communication stream. As a communications stream graduate, you will be part of supporting the government’s priorities by providing effective, responsive, consistent communication advice and support services to improve the health of all Australians.  You will have the opportunity to undertake rotations across three communication branches which deliver behaviour change campaigns, below-the-line strategies, market research, strategies for diverse audiences, media engagement, writing services for executive and Ministerial offices, events, consumer and stakeholder engagement, graphic design and production and the department's key communication channels across the health.gov.au site, social media accounts and internal corporate channels. 
  To be eligible for the communication stream you either need to have completed, or be willing to complete, a communication or similar degree.
• Science Stream - In 2025, the Department of Health and Aged Care is piloting a dedicated Science Stream as part of our Graduate Program. We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated applicants for our science stream intake. Successful applicants will undertake 2 x 5-month rotations at the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA is part of the Health Products Regulation Group which also comprises the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme, and the Office of Drug Control. As a graduate with a science focus, you will support the government’s priorities of ensuring Australians can have confidence in the safety, quality, and effectiveness of the therapeutic goods they access.

Networks and groups 

At Health and Aged Care, we have a range of networks and communities that contribute to our workplace and culture. Open to all employees, our networks offer a place to have fun, enjoy our work and get to know our colleagues.

Networks work together to: 

• offer a supportive community that you can be part of 
• connect staff across the department
• organise events and fundraising activities
• advocate for members’ views and interests 
• contribute to initiatives and policies that improve workplace culture and inclusion  
• organise network-led celebrations for days of significance.

Flexible working arrangements

Flexible working arrangements can help you balance work, personal commitments and retirement planning while continuing to meet departmental needs. 

Health and Aged Care’s Enterprise Agreement 2019-2022 and related employment policies and guidelines provide for consideration of flexible working arrangements.