School Leaver Program

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The Australian Government School Leaver Program is an entry level program run in partnership with the Department of Finance and the Australian Taxation Office for potential candidates who have recently completed Year 12. As a School Leaver, you will gain full-time permanent employment with a competitive starting salary in the Australian Public Service.

About the program

• Full time position with a competitive starting salary starting at the APS 1 Level—$55,199 per year.
• Advancement opportunity to the APS 2 Level upon successful completion—salary increase to $62,677 per year.
• 15.4% superannuation and 4 weeks paid leave per year.
• Statement of Attainment of a Certificate IV in Government or Human Resources.
• Quarterly network events.
• Matched with a 'buddy' from the previous years' program.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the School Leaver Program, you must:

• Have completed your Year 12 certificate in 2023 or be completing one in 2024;
• Be an Australian citizen or have proof you will be granted Australian citizenship by November 2024; and
• Be able to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

For further details, please see the Department of Finance website.

Application requirements

The application process is a multi-stage assessment process that may include elements such as:

• A written application;
• An Online assessment; and
• A virtual assessment centre.

Key dates

*subject to change

If you have any questions, please email our Entry Level Programs Team

What do our former School Leavers have to say?

Some previous participants of the Program have shared their experiences.

Anna Ovari

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"I've really enjoyed my time as a 2022 Program participant. It has provided me the unique experience of a fulltime work environment where gradual learning is fully supported through achievable work expectations and resources. I find this aspect to be extremely valuable, as it alleviates the uncertainty and stress typically experienced when transitioning between school and a full-time job. The knowledge you can grow and build upon from this experience is infinite! The foundations of the APS you learn through the certificate in government, in addition to the skills you pick up on the job, are extremely transferable to any future career. I would recommend this program to everyone because of the connections, skills, and knowledge you gain."

Ella Grech

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"I've really enjoyed my time as a 2022 Career Starter Program participant. It has provided me the unique experience of a fulltime work environment where gradual learning is fully supported through achievable work expectations and resources. I find this aspect to be extremely valuable, as it alleviates the uncertainty and stress typically experienced when transitioning between school and a full-time job. The knowledge you can grow and build upon from this experience is infinite! The foundations of the APS you learn through the certificate in government, in addition to the skills you pick up on the job, are extremely transferable to any future career. I would recommend this program to everyone because of the connections, skills, and knowledge you gain."

Max Leonard

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"The Program enabled me to secure an exciting position in the public Service as soon as I left school! Because of the generous working conditions, salary, and great experiences, I recommend this program to everyone who is graduating high school. I have made numerous new friends, and have gained a massive amount of knowledge since I started. There are so many opportunities in the APS, and this program is a great opportunity to kickstart it all!"