Kick-start your career and race ahead of the pack. Become an ACCC graduate. Our graduates enjoy working in a high profile agency where they can apply and expand their existing skills and knowledge.
Work in an exciting and challenging environment
Our graduates enjoy applying and expanding their existing skills and knowledge to their work with us. They form an important part of a small, high-performing agency that is committed to promoting competition and consumer protection and fair trading in the Australian marketplace.
Our graduates also work with the Australian Energy Regulator. As a constituent part of the ACCC, the AER operates as a separate legal entity. As well as other duties, the AER is responsible for the economic regulation of the wholesale electricity market and gas transmission networks.
How to apply
ACCC/AER Graduate Program applications for 2023 opened in March 2022.
2023 graduate program milestones
The following table provides some key dates for the 2023 program:
|
Milestone |
Date* |
|---|---|
|
Applications close |
1 May 2022 |
| Shortlist finalised | May 2022 |
| Assessment centres (various locations) | June 2022 |
|
Formal offers made |
August 2022 |
|
Graduates begin |
6 February 2023 |
*Dates subject to change
Graduate rotations
Graduate rotations are designed to give graduates an understanding of the broad range of work undertaken by the ACCC and the AER. Each graduate will undertake rotations within the same location across at least two divisions.
To be in our graduate program
We have high expectations of our graduates and create a challenging environment for our graduates to succeed in – will you rise to the challenge?
To be considered, you will:
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have an interest in industry regulation, competition policy and consumer protection
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have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with all people
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be conscientious
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be resilient with the ability to adapt to a fast paced, challenging and ever changing work environment
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be able to gain new skills and an understanding of complex concepts quickly, and apply these to different situations
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have excellent analytical, critical thinking and problem solving skills
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possess a minimum of a Bachelor Degree* with all disciplines considered
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have completed your most recent tertiary studies after February 2017
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have a 65% or higher grade average
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be able to begin employment at the start of the program, Monday 7 February 2022, for an orientation program (potentially interstate)
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be willing to undertake and pass a character clearance
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not be serving a Commonwealth Redundancy Benefit period at the start of the program
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be an Australian citizen.
*Qualifications from overseas universities must be recognised by the Overseas Qualifications Unit.
Working conditions
The ACCC/AER graduate program is highly regarded by our managers, senior executives, employees and our graduates. The program has many benefits including:
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an intensive work program
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challenging rotations across the agency with opportunities to be challenged and try new things
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ongoing on and off the job learning and development to help you hone specialist skills that are relevant to your work
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flexible working conditions, including the ability to work part-time (minimum 30 hours per week), so that you can continue studying, manage other commitments or enjoy work-life balance
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regular opportunities to network, socialise share experiences and develop relationships with your graduate colleagues across the country
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an entry level program coordinator and assigned buddy, both of whom are available to support you personally and professionally throughout the program
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a competitive starting salary of $63,349, with advancement to the APS 5 classification with commensurate salary of $80,893 upon successfully completing the program
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a workplace that embraces diversity, inclusion and equality.
Graduate activities
Our program is structured so that graduates work in a range of areas and take part in diverse activities.
As a graduate your work in the ACCC could involve:
- analysing key market sectors
- helping to assess applications for collective bargaining, authorisations and notifications
- helping to review the economic regulation of network infrastructure
- investigating complaints from business or consumers about possible breaches of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
You may be involved in:
- consumer liaison activities
- product safety surveys
- compliance research, or
- a wide range of activities in our Corporate Division.
Indigenous Graduate Pathway
This year we are participating in centralised recruitment through the Indigenous Graduate Pathway. As an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander you will be able to complete one application and be considered for multiple Agencies and Departments within the Australian Public Service (APS).
To apply and find out more, see the Indigenous Careers website.
Your application and other APS agencies
The ACCC is part of the Australian Government Graduate Program (AGGP).
The Australian Government offers graduates job opportunities across multiple disciplines.
We are a participating agency in the Data and Economics Australian Government Graduate streams. Applying to one of these streams means you only have to go through the application and selection process once to be considered for a range of Australian Government agencies.
Wherever you start your public service career as a graduate, you’ll do meaningful work from day one, be asked to contribute, be recognised for your perspective and see the impact you can make in the Australian community we serve.
Find out more at the APS Jobs website.