Aboriginal Graduate Program

Are you an Aboriginal person who has recently completed, or are about to complete, your university degree? Build your own career path with our Aboriginal Graduate Program.

As a graduate officer, you’ll gain valuable experience alongside supportive, future-focused professionals.

We will encourage you to take initiative and challenge your thinking. You’ll do this while contributing to solutions that benefit all South Australians.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply you must:

• be an Aboriginal person
• have completed a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in the specified or equivalent discipline within the last three years, or will complete your qualification before the employment start date
• not have previously completed a graduate program in, or hosted by, the South Australian public sector
• agree to a national police check and clearance to meet required entry standards
• meet all employment conditions – this includes the ability to make your own way to and from your workplace, training sites and other sites as required
• have completed the application process in full.

About the program

While completing our two or three year Graduate Program you will:

• access professional mentoring programs aligned to your career goals
• participate in professional development courses
• experience a range of roles relevant to your qualification and career pathways through regular rotations
• be able to request access to paid study leave to complete further study (law graduates can complete their Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice)
• get annual salary increases within your pay level, subject to satisfactory performance
• join our Graduate Community of Practice to build relations with fellow graduates
• participate in our Knowing Community Project to work on a project with your fellow graduates that will benefit the community.

As an Aboriginal graduate, you will also:

• be supported by consultants from our Aboriginal Employment team
• participate in Aboriginal career development programs
• expect cultural safety
• expect Aboriginal representation at all stages of recruitment and employment
• expect a safe and inclusive workplace
• be able to access cultural leave
• build connections and gain exposure to leadership at our Aboriginal staff summit and employee meetings.

Find more reasons why you should work with us.

Program details

Our Graduate Program is divided into two streams:

• engineering graduates
• corporate graduates, such as finance, legal, human resources, IT or construction management.

Each stream can expect to do at least three job rotations during the program.

Working hours

Graduate roles are offered as full-time positions. This means you will be expected to work 37.5 hours a week, made up of five 7.5 hour days.

We offer flexible working arrangements. You can discuss options that best suit you at the interview or employment offer stage.

Location

Graduate roles are usually offered in the Adelaide CBD and metropolitan area.

Rotations sometimes include regional locations. If a regional location will form part of the role you’re being considered for, we’ll discuss this with you at interview or employment offer stage.

Disciplines and rotations

As one of the largest government departments, we have 11 unique business areas. This means we can offer positions in a range of disciplines.

Our large portfolio also increases the breadth of our rotation opportunities.

Rotations allow you to explore the diverse career pathways related to your qualifications.

Who we’re looking for

We want to hear from bright and innovative team players who:

• are completing their bachelor's degree (or higher) this year
• graduated with a bachelor's degree (or higher) within the last three years.

You will be:

• excited by the opportunity to create a better future for South Australians
• a team player ready to embrace our values and commitment to safety
• great at organising, planning, prioritising and meeting deadlines
• an analytical problem-solver
• great at research
• driven, accountable and keen to use your initiative
• empathetic and culturally aware
• great with people and building relationships
• familiar with the Microsoft Office suite.

How to apply

Applications for the 2026 program are now open until 31 August 2025.

Apply now at I Work for SA

We may also advertise graduate roles throughout the year on I Work For SA. For enquiries, contact our Graduate Coordinator at DIT.EntryTalent@sa.gov.au.

OCPSE Aboriginal Employment Register

We encourage you to register on the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment (OCPSE)’s Aboriginal Employment Register.

Doing this means you’ll be considered for public sector job vacancies as they become available.

Regularly revisit your registration to keep your resume current.

Key dates

Start date

Our graduates typically start in February each year. However, your start date can be negotiated.

• Watch our videos

  See what to expect during our Graduate Program and hear from two of our Aboriginal staff members.

• Subscribe now

  Sign up to get updates on future entry-level employment opportunities.

Acknowledgement

The term “Aboriginal” is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Contact us

Entry Level Programs team

Email: DIT.EntryTalent@sa.gov.au

Aboriginal Employment team

Email: DIT.AboriginalEmployment@sa.gov.au

Call: 7133 1796

Related information

On this website

• Application assistance
• Entry Level Pathways
• Reconciliation Action Plan

Other websites

• I Work for SA Aboriginal Employment
• Our LinkedIn page