School Leaver Program

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The Australian Government School Leaver Program is an entry level program run in partnership with the Department of Finance and the Australian Taxation Office for potential candidates who have recently completed Year 12. As a School Leaver, you will gain full-time permanent employment with a competitive starting salary in the Australian Public Service.

About the program

• Full time position with a competitive starting salary starting at the APS 1 Level—$57,297 per year.
• Advancement opportunity to the APS 2 Level upon successful completion—salary increase to $65,059 per year.
• 15.4% superannuation and 4 weeks paid leave per year.
• Statement of Attainment of a Certificate IV in Government or Human Resources.
• Quarterly network events.
• Matched with a 'buddy' from the previous years' program.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the School Leaver Program, you must:

• Have completed your Year 12 certificate in 2024 or be completing one in 2025;
• Be an Australian citizen or have proof you will be granted Australian citizenship by November 2025; and
• Be able to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

For further details, please see the Department of Finance website.

Application requirements

The application process is a multi-stage assessment process that may include elements such as:

• A written application;
• An Online assessment; and
• A virtual assessment centre.

Key dates

*subject to change

If you have any questions, please email our Entry Level Programs Team.

What do our former School Leavers have to say?

Some previous participants of the Program have shared their experiences.

Kate Nadia Chatteur—2024 Australian Government School Leaver Program

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My favourite memory from the program (I know this is cheesy) is all the friends that I made, who I wouldn't have met otherwise. I applied to this program as I was still figuring out what I wanted to study and choose as a career path. I wanted some real-world work experience to find some direction. The most important lesson that I've learnt is that no one expects perfection –  making mistakes is normal, a part of learning, and human. The main thing is to recognise the error, communicate it, and offer solutions. This program always has something new and surprising. It has allowed me to get an insight on government as a whole and some really solid foundational skills and knowledge which are transferable everywhere. I stayed here because of the work culture of my line area and the department. The diversity of people and work portfolio is so interesting and opens up many opportunities!

Ashleigh Dalton—2023 Career Starter Program

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My time in the Career Starter Program was an incredible opportunity to develop on-the-job skills while working in a space that focuses on nation-building infrastructure projects. There are many incredible projects you are given the opportunity to work on which is why I have chosen to stay with the department. My favourite memory of the program was meeting with the head of the department and hearing about his various career paths and valuable lessons he learnt along the way. The program has supported my career by providing me with foundational and transferable skills, exposure to a variety of experiences and key opportunities for development. The Career Starter Program is a valuable experience that will challenge you, and provide you with friends and mentors who will support you throughout the year and your career.

Mia Barrett—2023 Career Starter Program

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Throughout the program, I developed so many unique skills that I now use in my day to day work. I gained exposure to the inner workings of the APS as well as different work areas in the department, that helped shape my career aspirations. The biggest lesson I learnt on the program was to take advantage of any opportunities that were presented, regardless of how daunting they appeared. This helped me grow as a person. The reason I chose to remain in the department is due to its amazing culture. This is what initially attracted me to the department and was proven by the support and encouragement I received from day one. The department has such a diverse portfolio and I wanted to stay and explore more to further my career.