Finance Graduate Program - Affirmative Measures Disability (Feb 2026)

About the Graduate Program

As a Graduate at the Department of Finance, you will be part of a supportive and challenging work environment where you will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful work and develop knowledge, skills and experience through tailored learning and development and on the job coaching. At Finance we are committed to providing an inclusive work environment and provide the opportunity for graduates with diverse career pathways to broaden experience and develop public service and professional skills.  

At Finance you’ll join a cohort of graduates from various disciplines, from around Australia and undertake a 12-month development program. You will be supported through two 6-month work placements. Placements are informed by our high priority work and where the skills and capabilities of our graduates will be best utilised and developed. To ensure you’ll get exposed to different work and undertake different roles, each placement will be in a different area of the business. 

You will join Finance as an ongoing employee at the APS 3 level. During the program your knowledge will grow, your skills will develop, and your capabilities will increase. You will have the opportunity to apply for advancement to the APS 4 and APS 5 classifications throughout your graduate year. 

At Finance, Graduates have the opportunity to participate in project management, undertake analysis and research assignments and contribute to the development and implementation of policy advice and/or programs.  As a Graduate you will have the opportunity to complete administrative tasks preparing briefing material, submissions, reports or ministerial correspondence, and you will have the opportunity to engage in both team and departmental activities including meetings, training programs and information sessions.    

At Finance, you could also be providing input and offering advice on: 

• the financial impacts, risks and merits of new policy proposals from across all government portfolios
• the government's financial framework
• managing the government’s shareholding in its assets
• delivering a range of tools and services to assist the work of parliamentarians and their staff
• the government’s engagement with Government Business Enterprises such as the NBN and Snowy Hydro
• modernising the public sector through better services to citizens and businesses
• whole-of-government procurement
• risk management
• general insurance services to other government agencies.

When you work with us, be prepared to make an impact - with the way you work, the solutions you offer and the unique skillset you bring. 

Affirmative Measures – Disability Applicant

The Disability affirmative measure lets Australian Public Service (APS) agencies advertise particular jobs as open only to people with Disability, or a particular type of Disability. 

The department aims to attract, retain and support staff from all groups in our community. We are of the firm belief that to ensure a productive and innovative department, we need to utilise the capabilities, skills and experience of people from diverse backgrounds.

The aim is to improve representation of people with Disability in the APS by:

• promoting the right to equality and non-discrimination in employment for people with Disability
• acknowledging that everyone has the right to employment, while recognising it’s sometimes necessary to provide extra support to some groups for them to enjoy their right to employment on an equal basis

To demonstrate eligibility for employment under this Affirmative Measure, applicants are required to provide evidence that they are a person with Disability.  

Applicants will not be required to provide evidence of Disability unless they are found suitable and prior to being made a formal offer of employment. This means that you will not be required to provide evidence unnecessarily. 

Candidates who apply under the affirmative measure will need to meet minimum benchmarks to progress through the assessment stages.  

Eligibility of applicants  

Subsection 27(2) of the Commissioners Directions provides that the agency head—or delegate—must ensure that for a vacancy under this affirmative measure, only persons with Disability or a particular type of Disability are eligible.  

Definition of Disability 

The definition of Disability for the purposes of the affirmative measure is outlined here.  

Evidence of Disability  

As provided in subsection 27(2) of the Directions, agencies will need to ensure that applicants are persons with Disability. Evidence of Disability is not to include information about the type of Disability, unless the vacancy itself has been restricted to persons with a particular type of Disability. Suitable evidence of a Disability would be a certificate or letter from a registered medical practitioner.  

The following documents would also be acceptable:  

• letter from a Disability Employment Service or Workforce Australia provider; and
• letter from a secondary or tertiary institution Disability services unit in relation to a recent student.

For further information on affirmative measures for recruiting people with Disability, visit the Australian Public Service Commission’s website. 

For more information of the types of acceptance evidence, please refer to the APSC website.

Important Note: 

There is no obligation for a candidate who meets eligibility under Affirmative Measures categories to apply under these options. Selection of consideration under Affirmative Measures is voluntary.