2020/21 Vacation Employment Program (VEP)

The Opportunity:

The PM&C Vacation Employment Program is a paid full-time internship for up to 12 weeks during the 2020-21 university summer holidays, beginning in December 2020. If you are an enthusiastic and motivated university student and would like to gain valuable and practical hands-on policy experience in the Australian Public Service then we want to hear from you!

Successful applicants will be placed in a Policy Adviser role within Domestic Policy Group. Using your skills, knowledge and experience, you will have the opportunity to work on a broad range of tasks, including developing policy advice and analysis for the Prime Minister and other Ministers. Successful applicants may be placed in one of the following areas:

• Economic Division: Provides advice to the Prime Minister on a range of domestic and international issues affecting Australia, including foreign investment and trade, the G20, the Federal Budget, tax, financial sector, employment, industrial relations, Commonwealth-State Relations and the impact of regulation.
• Office for Women: Provides advice to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women to advance gender equality, through policy and program advice to reduce violence against women, increase women's economic security, workforce participation and leadership choices.
• Social Policy Division: Provides advice to the Prime Minister on significant social policy issues that affect the Australian community, including early childhood and school education, health and ageing programs, arts, sport, veterans' affairs and immigration.
• Office of the National Data Commissioner: Provides expertise on public sector data policy, is responsible for reforming the sharing of public sector data, which includes developing a new legislation to enable streamlined data sharing underpinned by a modern risk management framework and establishing a new regulator to provide oversight.
• National Office for Child Safety: Supports the development and implementation of the Government's child safety policy including those building off the recommendations of the Child Abuse Royal Commission.
• Digital Technologies Taskforce: Is guiding Australia to be a leading digital economy by 2030, ensuring all Australians, businesses and society can benefit from digital technology and be protected against harms.

Our Ideal Candidates:

We are looking for enthusiastic, highly motivated, and self-starting university students who thrive in busy, dynamic, and collaborative environments, working independently, in small teams, and across the APS.

Applicants should in their penultimate or final year of study towards, or have graduated within one year at the time of applying with, a Bachelors-level or more advanced degree with at least a credit-average or higher. Studies may be in any discipline, including (but not limited to) Economics, Public Policy, or Commerce.

Successful candidates will have strong communication and interpersonal skills, and have demonstrated analytical and research abilities. They will be critical thinkers, be able to get across new material and issues quickly, and write clearly and concisely.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for these positions you must be an Australian Citizen by the application closing date.