Our Graduate Development Program provides recent university graduates with opportunities to work in a diverse range of fields within the newly formed Department of Communities. Commencing in 2010, our Program has seen 52 Graduates offered ongoing employment within the Department.

During the two year program, experienced professionals, peer support and a dedicated mentor will help you transition from study to employment within the Western Australian Public Sector.

Aboriginal Candidates: We also have dedicated positions for recent Aboriginal graduates. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream is designed to provide both professional development and cultural support to recent Aboriginal graduates and this stream runs in conjunction with our generalist program.

Who are we?

At the Department of Communities, the concept of People, Place and Home, describes the essence of why we exist, and why our work is important to all Western Australians. We provide services to a diverse range of people including people with disability, children who are in the legal care of the State and those who need a place to call home. Our purpose is to create pathways that enable individual, family and community wellbeing, and we do this by focusing on our five outcome areas:

  • Safe children – to enable a good start to life
  • Strong families and kin – to provide safe and nurturing environments
  • Empowered people – with valued roles and fulfilling lives
  • Inclusive and accessible communities – that enable social, economic and cultural prosperity
  • A place to call home – that provides a secure foundation for life.

Our work is delivered through seven divisions, which provide integrated strategy, policy and service delivery, while maintaining specialised portfolios and expertise. These are:

  • Strategy and Transformation
  • Policy and Services Design
  • Commissioning and Sector Engagement
  • Service Delivery – Metropolitan Communities
  • Service Delivery – Regional and Remote Communities
  • Corporate Operations
  • Commercial Operations.

Graduate Development

First Year
During your first year, you will complete three rotations of four months in different areas of Communities, building an extensive knowledge base and diverse skill set. You will participate in the Public Sector Commission’s Graduate Development program as well as other structured and on the job learning.

Second Year
In your second year, you will use your networks and experience developed during your first year to obtain rotations in areas of your own choosing. Your leadership capabilities will be further developed through the Graduate Program.

Throughout the program you will be supported by the Corporate Executive, managers, mentors, buddies and the graduate program team.

Program Rotations
The rotational program ensures each of our graduates have a unique experience, with opportunities to work across various business streams - including but not limited to:

  • project management
  • strategic planning
  • policy analysis and development
  • regional and remote planning
  • communications
  • ​strategic finance and economics
  • contract management
  • innovation programs
  • organisational development
  • community focused programs and projects

Your Academic Background

We hire graduates from all disciplines. The Department of Communities undertakes a diverse range of work and we are looking to recruit a mixture of talented graduates from a broad range of universities and academic backgrounds. Some of our previous graduates’ degrees include:

  • commerce
  • anthropology
  • psychology
  • arts
  • sociology
  • criminology
  • Aboriginal studies
  • sustainability
  • business
  • law
  • project management
  • urban and regional planning
  • architecture
  • communications

To read more about past graduates go to the Case Studies page. 

What We Can Offer You

As a Western Australian Public Sector employee, you will enjoy all the benefits of working for the Western Australian Government, including flexibility and variety of work. Some of the other benefits you will experience include:

  • Diverse rotations with the opportunity to work across numerous business streams
  • A dedicated mentor, peer support and networking opportunities within Government, Private and the Not for Profit sectors, which will help with your development
  • Competitive salary with an increment in year two
  • Professional and personal development through training, site visits, placements, workshops and leadership programs
  • Opportunities for regional and remote travel
  • Flexible working hours to suit your lifestyle
  • Career progression in a challenging and rewarding workplace, with the opportunity for you to make a difference to the lives of Western Australians.

Eligibility, applications and FAQ

To be eligible for the Department of Communities Graduate Program you must:

  • Have a Bachelor degree or higher, that has been completed within the past two years (2017 or 2018) before applying for the program, or will be completed before the start of the program (February for the yearly intake)
  • Be an Australian citizen or have permanent residency status in Australia for a permanent appointment to the Western Australian public sector. Alternatively you may have documentary evidence (i.e. working visa) of your entitlement to live and work in Australia for the duration of the full program (two years) prior to applying
  • Identify as of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stream

Applications for our Graduate Development Program 2020 intake will open in the second half of 2019. 

Find out how to apply. 

See the list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

In their own words

The following videos feature graduates and Aboriginal staff from the Housing Authority, which is now part of the Department of Communities: