Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

3.8
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Our two-year graduate program will kick-start your career in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), whether focusing on policy or corporate management roles. During the course of the program, you will undertake a tailored learning package delivered through DFAT's Diplomatic Academy. You will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the Government's foreign, trade and aid policy priorities and the department's financial and corporate context and service delivery to Australians overseas through our consular and passports services. You will also complete work placements, giving you first-hand experience of the department's diverse range of priorities, including:

  • bilateral economic and political relations
  • international trade negotiations, investment and economic analysis
  • humanitarian assistance
  • development and aid program management
  • international security
  • public diplomacy
  • commercial, administrative and international law
  • multilateral and global issues
  • financial, human and asset management, including security and property
  • project management
  • consular and passport services.

The aim of the Graduate Training Program is to equip graduates with the insight and skills to make a real contribution to many aspects of international life. The training program includes a two-week induction, a one week mid-term block of policy and tradecraft course and a six week International Graduate Program (IGP), where we invite junior diplomats from other countries to participate. The IGP is designed to give participants both an academic and a practical overview of subjects such as Australian Culture & Values, Development Policy & Practice, Diplomatic Tradecraft, Economic Literacy for Non-Economists, International Law, International Policy & Tradecraft, Presentation Skills, Promoting & Protecting Human Rights, and Trade Policy & Negotiations as well as diplomacy-focused professional skills training and a business travel program undertaken in other states and territories.

After you have completed the program, you will have an ongoing APS Level 4 position in Canberra. You will also be eligible to apply for positions in one of our overseas posts, although it can be a few years before graduates take up overseas positions. 
 

Qualifications & other requirements

You should have or be completing the following to apply for this opportunity.

Degree or Certificate
Qualification level
Qualification level
Bachelor or higher
Study field
Study field (any)
Engineering & Mathematics
  • Electrical & Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Air Traffic Control
  • Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
  • Aircraft Operation & Aviation
Business & Management (english)
  • Actuarial Studies
  • Human Resources
  • Business
  • Business Administration
  • Event Management
  • International Business
  • Management
  • Office Studies
  • Project Management
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Public Relations
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Public Relations
  • Business
  • Business Administration
  • Event Management
  • International Business
  • Management
  • Office Studies
  • Project Management
Medical & Health Sciences
  • Dentistry & Dental Science
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Optometry, Ophthalmology & Orthoptics
  • Pharmacy & Pharmacology
  • Exercise & Sports Science
  • Addiction Medicine
  • Anaesthesia
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • General Practice
  • Intensive Care Medicine
  • Medical Administration
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Occupational & Environmental Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Paediatrics & Child Health
  • Pain Medicine
  • Palliative Medicine
  • Pathology
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health Medicine
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Radiology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Sexual Health Medicine
  • Sport & Exercise Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Addiction Medicine
  • Anaesthesia
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • General Practice
  • Intensive Care Medicine
  • Medical Administration
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Occupational & Environmental Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Paediatrics & Child Health
  • Pain Medicine
  • Palliative Medicine
  • Pathology
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health Medicine
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Radiology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Sexual Health Medicine
  • Sport & Exercise Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Aged Care Nursing
  • Community Nursing
  • Critical Care Nursing
  • Family & Child Health Nursing
  • Mental Health Nursing
  • Midwifery
  • Nursing & Midwifery (all other)
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Promotion
  • Human Movement
  • Indigenous Health
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Public Health (all other)
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
  • Classics
  • Humanities (all other)
  • Philosophy
  • Social Science (all other)
  • Theology & Comparative Religion
  • Social Work & Sociology
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Modern Languages
  • Translating & Interpreting
  • Archaeology
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Modern Languages
  • Translating & Interpreting
  • Policy Studies
  • Political Science
  • Public Administration
  • Policy Studies
  • Political Science
  • Public Administration
  • Counselling
  • Psychology
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
  • Legal Studies
  • Commercial Law
  • Constitutional Law
  • Criminal Law
  • Family Law
  • International Law
  • Tax Law
Property & Built Environment
  • Property, Land & Real Estate
  • Architecture
  • Interior Design
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Building
  • Construction Management
Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Sciences
  • Earth Sciences
  • Physics & Astronomy
  • Sciences (all other)
  • Agribusiness
  • Agricultural Science
  • Aquaculture & Fisheries
  • Viticulture
Teaching & Education
  • General Education Studies

Hiring criteria

  • Experience requirementNo experience required
  • Study fields
    Engineering & Mathematics
  • Degree typesBachelor or higher
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About the employer

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade logo

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade AU

Rating

3.8

Number of employees

1,000 - 50,000 employees

Industries

Government & Public Service

Our two-year graduate programs will kick start your career in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). In 2020, DFAT will offer two graduate programs based in Canberra: policy and management.

Pros and cons of working at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade AU

Pros

  • Interesting subject matter and travel opportunities.

  • The small numbers of people working on big issues

  • Good culture, unmatched conditions in terms of work opportunities overseas

  • Opportunities to travel, diverse range of work, interesting insights into foreign policy

  • Working with excellent and inspirational people, working on a very interesting subject matter that is highly relevant to high-profile national and international issues.

Cons

    • Hierarchical, micromanagement, slow promotion, no posting opportunities, no language opportunities

    • Extremely hierarchical, very slow progression, areas protective of "good work", low levels of trust of graduates, too little work/responsibility allocated, hypercompetitive

    • Bureaucratic, organisation has limited engagement with or assistance for officers re achieving career goals, patronage

    • Work can be slow, travel and posting opportunities are diminishing by the year, opportunities for autonomy and innovation in work are minimal, work is largely reactive not strategic, most work is process-based, chronically under-resourced.

    • High degree of uncertainty about postings and career progression