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 week period to complete an online form and provide your resume and academic transcript into our recruitment system.
April: First round of assessments. This usually includes an online cognitive, behavioural and job focused assessment.
May: Second phase of assessment. This includes a written task to assess your ability to analyse, structure and communicate information.
June: Final phase of assessment. This is a Virtual Assessment Centre that includes interview and group activity.
July: Offers are made. You may be offered a place in the PM&C Graduate program or potentially offered an APS3 role within the department.
August to December: Networking commences to connect you with your peers.
December to January: Relocation. For those moving to Canberra, we will support you in the relocation process from start to finish. You will receive regular updates prior to your commencement.
February: Welcome, induction and 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 Graduates are offered permanent ongoing role in the APS with attractive salary and benefits, including access to flexible work, leave and generous superannuation.
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 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.