We are the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, or PM&C for short. Our role is to provide fresh thinking and sound advice to government.
What PM&C does: Our focus is to find new ways to improve the lives of all Australians.
The conditions under which Government operate are constantly changing in response to a variety of national and global challenges. No day is the same.
It’s our responsibility to stay informed on these issues. This lets us provide considered advice to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, Portfolio Ministers and Assistant Ministers.
PM&C plays three key roles to help ensure the Australian Government functions at its best.
To learn more about our current initiatives, please visit our website.
PM&C is a modern, collaborative and responsive organisation that drives excellence across the Australian Public Service (APS). We are at the heart of government, delivering quality outcomes for the Australian public. We offer a broad range of opportunities for you to sink your teeth into, and the privilege of collaborating with line agencies to achieve government objectives on a daily basis. This means your experience isn’t narrowed to any one section of government, allowing you to leave no stone unturned in your journey.
To learn more about our program, please visit our website.
At PM&C, we maintain a strong commitment to individual and organisational excellence.
We enjoy robust debate. We value people who have unique ideas and are not afraid to argue their position.
At the same time, collaboration is key. We promote a culture that respects the opinions of others and we encourage team members to achieve results with humility.
Of course, integrity is also important. PM&C expects and rewards excellence in everything we do.
The Department is committed to what’s best for Australia. Our roles come with great responsibility—we have the daily opportunity to make a difference and we take this opportunity seriously.
While politicians talk about improving the lives of Australians, it's public servants, especially those in PM&C, who have the challenging task of turning those aspirational visions into reality. As a PM&C staffer, you’ll be suggesting and helping implement policies that will have a positive impact on the lives of the Australian people.
Key dates
March to April: Applications open in early March and you will have a 4 to 5 week period to complete an online form and provide your resume and academic transcript into our recruitment system
May: First round of assessments. This usually includes online cognitive and behavioural testing, and a one-way video interview. You will have 4 weeks to complete the assessment in any order and location that suits you.
These assessments are designed to capture your deductive, numerical and verbal reasoning skills as well your work preferences, memory, motivation, ability to problem solve and plan. Results are assessed holistically so we can ensure we have captured the whole person. Our online assessments will provide you with an instant report that allows you to further understand your strengths and development areas for use in future recruitment processes.
July: Assessment Centre. Held virtually to give everyone the best possible chance at participating. This process includes a written assessment, speed interview and group activity.
These assessments are designed to understand your ability to analyse and structure information, work collaboratively within a team and commitment to diversity. Equally important, we are looking at your potential. This can include your potential for effective stakeholder management, ability to prioritise, use your judgement and ongoing commitment to learning. Just like the first round of assessment, results are assessed holistically, giving us the whole version of you. We will provide you with feedback following the assessment centre so you can understand where you excelled and areas for future consideration.
August: Offers. First round offers for the graduate program are made in early to mid-August. If you have been found suitable and placed in the merit pool, you may also be offered a place in the graduate program or an APS 3 role within the department.
December to January: Relocation. For those moving to Canberra to take up the role in the program, we will support you in the process from start to finish.
February: Program commencement.
As a PM&C graduate, you will have the opportunity to undertake foundational professional development. Though our development opportunities are ever evolving, our program includes fundamental skills such as policy writing, social intelligence, economics for non-economists and problem-solving.
The 70:20:10 Approach
At PM&C we believe that the journey is more important than the destination. Our program empowers graduates to discover, learn and grow through diverse opportunities.
The opportunity to work at PM&C will allow you to keep all of your options open, rotating through our areas of focus to explore your potential career path while having the comfort of knowing you have job security.
PM&C gives you incredible insight into how the public service works and how decision-making works at the highest level - its like a mini public service rolled into one department. And as a graduate, you are working on meaningful work from day one, with the unparalleled opportunity to do that across a range of policy areas as you rotate around the department.
Unlike other government graduate programs, the PM&C program allows you to choose your own rotations, leaving your next adventure up to you. The program will support you to connect and network with different business area, however ultimately the responsibility is yours.
What we offer
PM&C is a flexible, diverse and inclusive workplace with attractive remuneration packages, including generous employer superannuation contributions. Our graduates start as full-time, permanent employees at the APS3 level. After 6 months, you may be eligible to advance to the APS4 level. On successful completion of the program, you will be assessed for advancement to the APS5 or APS6 level.
Relocation assistance
We know that starting a new job, let alone starting in a new city, can be daunting, challenging and exciting. We'll take care of the logistics, so you can focus on the rest. We offer relocation assistance to successful candidates to ensure a seamless introduction to living in Canberra. This includes (if applicable) relocation assistance for dependants and, in some cases, your pets.