Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C)
PM&C Graduate Adviser Virtual Experience
Australia, Online/remote
What is this?
Welcome to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's (PM&C) virtual experience. You will be working in the centre of government at PM&C, taking a holistic view of policy issues and coordinating across government agencies. We work in a fast-paced environment to find solutions to complex policy issues, to benefit the Australian people. We work collaboratively with government agencies and other stakeholders and consider all viewpoints when forming our advice.
As a PM&C graduate, you will be working like any other policy advisor, engaging in topical areas and providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Our 'choose your adventure' graduate program allows you to work in a wide range of policy areas, from international to healthcare policy, from microeconomic to climate policy.
Why should you do this?
This Virtual Experience Program is self-paced and should take only 2 to 4 hours to complete.
This Virtual Experience Program is free for all students.
When you complete the Virtual Experience Program, youโll earn a digital badge and certificate you can share on Linkedin and include on your resume.
Throughout the program, youโll learn and develop deep insights into what it is actually like to work as a Graduate Adviser at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C). Apply your government & public service knowledge to a real-world problem & gain practical experience and knowledge to draw upon in interviews.
What skills will I gain?
Identifying government priorities and applying them in an international context
Understanding how to consult across government and view policy issues through various lenses
Writing high-level, concise and targeted briefs for senior government officials and the Prime Minister.
What will you do?
Module 1: Preparing the Prime Minister for an APEC Informal Leader's Retreat (1-2 hours)
The Prime Minister has been invited to attend an APEC Informal Leader's Retreat hosted by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. We have been tasked to brief the Prime Minster on key priorities to advocate amongst leaders at the Retreat and to support communique negotiations.
Hiring criteria
- No experience required
- Australian Citizen +more
- Business & Management +more
Reviews
Mostly engaging with stakeholders and other teams in the department
A day in the life of an Adviser at PM&C will involve working on several different work items, often to short timeframes. The work could include writing briefs for senior decision-makers to meeting, meeting with other agencies to discuss work progress, contributing to Cabinet processes, providing policy advice on your subject area to other internal teams, making corporate contributions through the PM&C Social Club or employee Networks, and working with highly intelligent and experienced colleagues from all walks of life.
Varied roles, but often similar basic tasks such as answering correspondence, responding to tight turnaround consults by other work areas, writing briefs for various classifications above you (director, (First) Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Secretary, Prime Minister, Assistant PM, Prime Minister's Office (PMO)), preparing meetings, research and analysis tasks, working toward long-term projects
About the employer
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C)
4.2
1,000 - 50,000 employees
Government & Public Service
We are the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, or PM&C for short. Our role is to provide fresh thinking and sound advice to government.
Pros and cons of working at Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C)
Pros
The best thing about PM&C is by far the visibility provided over the entire remit of Government work.
Being exposed to the Cabinet process, great people.
PM&C has an excellent culture which filters from senior leadership all the way to lower APS classifications.
Flexible working is supported, and many colleagues work their preferred hours, work from home at least one day per week, or have other arrangements.
The promotion opportunities at PM&C are various, and there are often internal EOIs going which allows everyone to move internally at will.
Cons
The turnaround time for pieces of work is often very short generally ranging from a fortnight to less than an hour.
PM&C owns very little policy and you will not develop experience in carrying a policy, project, or initiative from inception to implementation.
Having to relocate for it.
The speed interview stage was definitely the most challenging.
The pay might be considered a bit below market value for certain roles or work areas.