Read about the experiences of our past graduates.
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2024 graduates
Danielle N
The ACCC graduate program is an 18-month whirlwind of opportunity that provides an invaluable introduction to regulatory work. From day one, you will work alongside experts in the field, receiving mentorship and guidance. You’ll contribute to work that shapes key policies and regulations to protect consumers and promote competition.
The program is run by a dedicated and experienced team that is genuinely invested in supporting and developing graduates. The program also incorporates flexible work arrangements that foster a unique work-life balance, and an inbuilt salary progression that guarantees your professional growth and hard work are recognised throughout the program. So, if you are looking to challenge yourself in a dynamic and rewarding environment while making a tangible impact, the ACCC graduate program is an opportunity not to be missed.
Kai T
The ACCC graduate program data and digital stream was a fantastic way to start my career. It provided opportunities to work on a variety of datasets, using different tools to provide data visualisation and data analysis.
Throughout this experience, I was supported by one of the friendliest people I have ever met. In the ACCC you can express ideas with confidence and know your opinions matter.
During my rotations, I learned about different markets and industries such as airports and insurance monitoring. If you are interested in contributing to meaningful work that helps everyday Australians, the ACCC graduate program is your place to be.
Corey O
The ACCC graduate program digital and data stream is designed to develop your technical skills. The type of work you will be offered is diverse and fast paced, with a variety of opportunities within different divisions. You will rotate into 3 or 4 divisions, such as Consumer Data Right, National Anti-Scam Centre and Digital ID. Each rotation provided me with unique challenges and experiences, like working with Agile, researching, and developing standards for new and emerging technologies. This broadened my knowledge of the different responsibilities and priorities of the ACCC while expanding my skills and expertise.
The ACCC has a great supportive culture, with several staff networks such as the Environment Network, Pride Network and Reconciliation Network that you can participate in.
2023 graduates
Cassandra A
The ACCC/AER graduate program is a rare opportunity to contribute to meaningful consumer outcomes on current issues, such as the energy crisis and the impacts of increased cost of living. You will gain exposure to a wide remit of work through a unique regulatory lens, strengthening your technical and soft skills.
From the get-go, there were structured trainings to establish a strong foundation in the legal and economic concepts underpinning potential regulatory work. This foundation was bolstered through our 4 rotations, where we got to work in collaborative and often interdisciplinary teams. I rotated through the inquiry into the national electricity market team and had a chance to contribute across different workstreams. This included data cleaning and analysis, consulting with retailers on confidential disclosures, website sweeps to verify code compliance, and report drafting. I enjoyed the balance of having autonomy over my work whilst being supported by the team. It was exciting to see how our report highlighted issues for consumers experiencing vulnerability and influenced policy reform!
Overall, the rotations will enable you to work flexibly in supportive and knowledgeable teams. You’ll develop nascent skills and leverage your respective expertise, broaden industry knowledge, and engender positive change.
Trang Q
The ACCC graduate program provided me with great opportunities to get to know the inner workings of a high-performing regulatory agency. The fact that the ACCC has a prominent public profile means you can work on high-profile matters! It was highly motivating to know that each task or matter you are assigned can contribute to better outcomes for Australian consumers, small businesses and the economy.
I rotated through 3 divisions and can confidently say the agency culture is excellent. It was fantastic to work in supportive and fun teams that encourage humour, appreciate diversity and celebrate collective and individual achievements.
The graduate network is a valuable part of the program. It’s reassuring to connect with peers who are also new to the agency. You can compare experiences, learn about other divisions that you haven’t rotated through, or just have a chat and share lunch. I should also mention, having a grad buddy was amazingly helpful!
Angelique D
The ACCC/AER graduate program is designed to give you a breadth of experience by exploring a mix of enforcement and advocacy type roles. Over the course of my 3 rotations, I helped to develop policy recommendations, investigate breaches of consumer law, draft media releases and present at meetings with international regulators.
Consumer protection is at the core of everything the ACCC does, and it’s so rewarding to know you have the capacity to make a real difference in people’s everyday lives. This became apparent to me when I was given the opportunity to visit regional childcare providers in Dubbo and speak to them about the cost pressures facing their business.
As a graduate at the ACCC, people are genuinely invested in your professional development and committed to making your experience a positive one. Throughout the program, I always felt supported and valued by members of my team. They encouraged me to express my ideas and take on meaningful tasks, including work on high-profile matters. Ultimately, it’s the sense of purpose and inclusive workplace culture that really sets the ACCC apart.
Sam H
The ACCC grad program is a great entry-point to one of the most interesting and rewarding agencies out there. The agency does such varied work that it’s hard to experience it all in one role, and that’s where the grad program comes in. Rotating through 3 to 4 different areas makes it much easier to get a feel for what work you’re interested in, and where you’d like your career to take you. For me, it revealed a wholly unexpected interest in telecommunications regulation, which sounds like the dullest possible thing to work on but turned out to be so fascinating that I voluntarily went back for rotation 4! You never know what area will become a nerdy obsession that you bore people with at parties, and a grad program like this one is the best way to find out.
Alex R
The ACCC graduate program is an excellent way to start your career within the agency. It has provided me with numerous opportunities to use and further develop the skills I learnt in university. My rotations across industries and function areas allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the wide variety of work the ACCC is involved in. It also highlighted how important and impactful our role is to the everyday Australian. The support throughout the project is exceptional, and those that I have worked with have been friendly, supportive, and motivated. This environment has meant that I have felt trusted and supported to work on meaningful work from day one, and throughout each of my graduate rotations.
2022 graduates
Anthony R
I have found the breadth of experience throughout the ACCC graduate program to be very beneficial for both development purposes and guiding my future career goals. The ACCC has also proven to be a great place to work in terms of meaningful work and flexibility offered by the organisation. The people I have worked with have all been passionate about supporting consumers while providing me with autonomy and support. You will be trusted and encouraged to voice your opinion, I feel this environment has allowed me to make meaningful contributions in each of my graduate rotations.
Anthony J
The ACCC/AER graduate program is unique among its contemporary programs, in that these agencies have such a wide mandate. This means that each rotation you’ll be doing something completely different, all the while knowing that at its core, you’re working towards the betterment of society and protecting the interests of everyday Australians. Last year I had the chance to grill big business about some sneaky acquisitions they’d made, work together with other agencies to limit the reach of an international conglomerate, re-centre consumer issues in our energy work at the midst of the gas crisis, investigate misleading advertising and bogus product representations, and work with international agencies to identify the biggest product safety risks to children that summer. Personally, I adore the variety and really appreciated being able to learn about a new industry frequently, but for those craving consistency and the chance to be a subject matter expert, the AER or the ACCC’s industry teams might be the perfect fit for you!