AddressThe Australian Government Graduate Program (AGGP) – Economist Stream is a centrally coordinated process co-led by the Australian Public Service Commission and the Treasury. The Economist Stream allows you to submit one application and be considered for Economist Graduate roles across a number of departments and agencies in the Australian Public Service (APS).
About the Economist Stream
Applying for the Economist Stream will give you the opportunity to work with Australia’s leading government economic policy analysts and macroeconomic forecasters and contribute to informing decisions on policies for the good of the Australian people.
As an Economist Graduate you will contribute to informing decisions and advising on a range of government policy issues that cover:
- the functioning of markets - including financial markets, digital and competition policy
- taxation
- fiscal policy - including social, industry and environmental policy
- macroeconomic issues and forecasting changes in the economic environment, including impact of international policies and global climate shifts on the Australian economy
- international economic issues – including Australia’s participation in global economic forums.
If found suitable and selected for the AGGP Economist Stream you will undertake a Graduate Program in a department or agency that will provide you with targeted training and development to progress your skills, knowledge and confidence as a valued member of, and contributor to, the APS.
In your graduate work you may also contribute to government fiscal and monetary policies, budgetary policies, domestic and international economic situations (including industries, regions and socioeconomic groups) and forecasting changes in the economic environment.
What locations is the program running in?
While the majority of Economist graduate positions are available in Canberra, there may be opportunities to be placed in other locations including Sydney and Melbourne, depending on the agency you are matched to. Relocation assistance may be provided by some placement agencies as per their internal policies. Roles will be full-time and may have scope for flexible work arrangements as negotiated with your placement agency.
Recruitment Process
The Treasury will be leading the recruitment of the Economist Stream with the assistance of an outsourced provider and participating agency volunteers.
Stage 1 – Online application:
| 4 March 2024 – 15 April 2024 |
Stage 2 – Online assessment, virtual interview and reference checking | April - early May 2024 |
Stage 3 – Merit Pool | Mid-late May 2024 |
Stage 4 – Employment Offer | 31 May 2024 onwards |
FAQ
Can I apply for both the Treasury Graduate Program and the Economist Stream?
Yes. While both the Treasury Graduate Development Program and the AGGP - Economist Stream is managed in Treasury, they are run independently of each other. Your application needs to be submitted to each round independently to be considered for each program. The application process is not onerous and will not take you too much time to complete.
Participating Agencies
We recommend taking the time to visit each of the participating department and agencies websites to familiarise yourself with information such as their Graduate Program, employee entitlements, classification, salary and plenty more.
- Australian Communications and Media Authority
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Department of Defence
- Department of Education
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Finance
- Department of Health and Aged Care
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
- Department of Social Services
- The Treasury
Participating agencies may change during the selection process. More detailed information on the final participation list will be provided closer to the finalisation of the recruitment process.
Merit pool
Successful applicants will be placed in a merit pool that will be considered by the APS and Commonwealth entities. Please note that agencies and departments will offer different employment conditions and Graduate Program features.
NOTE - This is a highly competitive Graduate program and if you are not offered a position on the program, your skills and expertise may still be utilised elsewhere across the Australian Public Service at the APS 3 or APS 4 level. You may be offered an APS 3 or APS 4 role directly by a government department or agency, where you will have the opportunity to pursue learning, development and career progression at your own pace.
Eligibility
We welcome applications from those who meet the following requirements. To apply you:
- must be an Australian citizen at the time of application
- need to have completed an Australian-recognised Bachelor degree (Economics or Econometrics), have a Major in Economics or a degree (any discipline) with a major or minor in Economics, completed between 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2024
- have attained good academic outcomes to ensure that you are competitive in the selection process
- should be willing and able to relocate to Canberra (or other state based locations specified by participating agencies) for the duration of the Graduate Program, and
- will undergo any police, character, health or other required checks and may need to obtain and maintain a valid Australian Government security clearance prior to your commencement. Please visit the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) for more information on security clearances.
If your only qualifying degree is from an overseas university, you will need to provide us with a statement verifying the recognition of your qualifications from an Australian state or territory government overseas qualifications unit.
Unfortunately we are unable to consider your application without this supporting documentation.
How to Apply
Applying is easy! Your application must be submitted before 15 April 2025 to be considered for the 2025 graduate intake.
Your online application must include:
- your resume
- academic transcripts, and
- a response to the application question.
You will receive an email confirmation once you have lodged your application.
On completion of our recruitment process, successful applicants will be placed in a merit pool that will be considered by Australian Government departments and agencies. Please note that agencies and departments will offer different employment conditions and Graduate Program features.
RecruitAbility
RecruitAbility is a scheme that aims to attract applicants with disability. Applicants who opt in to the scheme and meet the minimum requirements of the role are advanced to a further stage in the selection process. Merit remains the basis for engagement and promotion.
If you identify as a person with a disability, you can ‘opt in’ for RecruitAbility on the application form.
Further information on RecruitAbility is available on the Australian Public Service Commission’s website.
Contact Information
For further information, please contact the Entry Levels Program Team via telephone (02) 6263 2222 (Option 3) or email EntryLevelPrograms@treasury.gov.au.
Start your application by clicking on the 'Apply Now' button.
