DEECA Science Graduate Program

Location: Bendigo / Horsham

Agriculture Victoria is seeking a proactive and enthusiastic science graduate with a passion for the Victorian grains industry. This role offers a unique opportunity to work across the department, gaining valuable skills and knowledge in farm business resilience and economics, grains industry extension, research and development, agricultural policy, and emergency preparedness.

This role offers growth in a dynamic environment, to support the development, delivery, and reporting of grains sector projects. You will be engaging across key grain growing regions of the state, applying adult learning principles to extension and service delivery, working directly with farmers and industry stakeholders.

You will develop technical skills and effective communication with project partners, stakeholders, and internal teams.

The first rotation will be in Bendigo, where you'll develop an understanding of working in government and gain experience in grains and mixed farming extension.

The second rotation will take place in Horsham, allowing you to work closely with grains researchers. The final rotation will return you to Bendigo, focusing on industry development and policy while working with economists. Relocation to these locations will be required for each rotation.

We're looking for candidates with a strong foundation in agriculture and/or agronomy, specifically those holding a Bachelor of Science with a major in Agricultural Science or Crop Agronomy, or a Bachelor of Agricultural

Location: Tatura / Mildura (Horticulture and Irrigation)

The Irrigated Horticulture Services Officer provides a unique opportunity for the successful candidate to establish a career that supports production horticulture and works with a team of technical experts to build lasting networks with key industry stakeholders.

It’s the perfect opportunity to quickly develop connections and grow your technical knowledge of irrigated horticulture in a supportive environment.

In this role you will be trained to work across the Irrigation and Horticulture programs within Agriculture Victoria to provide technical and industry advice that supports production horticultural growers to minimise the offsite impacts of irrigation, adapt to the impacts of climate change, build business resilience (including biosecurity preparedness and response) and support a thriving horticultural sector.

You will develop skills in project management, stakeholder engagement, and service delivery, including specific skills in horticulture production, irrigation technology, and salinity management.

You will hone your ability to present information to a range of diverse audiences using different mediums and develop the confidence to get out in the field and influence change at both farm and industry scales.

The successfully candidate will have a Bachelor of Science/Agriculture Science including, including: horticulture, environment/conservation, technology qualification and will be provided with the flexibility to develop skills and experience within areas of interest key to Irrigated Horticulture which may include Irrigation system selection and design, horticulture production, food safety, salinity management, environmental management, adapting to the impacts of climate change or biosecurity.

Location: Heywood/ Melbourne CBD/ Neg. Colac or Heywood, or Geelong

Rotation 1: Supporting the Far South West District planning team, this rotation will assist with developing tactical plans for the delivery of forest and fire management works. This rotation includes being trained, accredited and deployed as an operational firefighter.

Rotation 2: This rotation is with the Bushfire and Emergency Management branch, FFOD. The role provides systems and technology support for the predictive services program, including the implementation of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System. The position requires technical skills, including experience with data analysis, validation, interpretation and reporting, and the use of geospatial information systems.

Rotation 3: This rotation is in the Strategy, Risk, and Spatial Services Team. It will focus on using spatial data and tools to analyse bushfire risk and strategic fire planning. This role includes training in ArcGIS, Phoenix, and other tools for assessing bushfire behaviour and risk.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in science or a related field.

Location: All in Bairnsdale

Rotation 1: Working in Tambo District's Forest and Fire Planning team, this rotation will involve learning about and contributing to land stewardship activities within the District.

Specifically, contributing to tactical planning, assisting with operational feasibility assessments and undertaking training for field work. This rotation includes being trained, accredited and deployed as an operational firefighter.

Rotation 2: Working with the Strategy, Risk and Spatial Services Team in the Gippsland Region, focusing on the use of spatial data and tools to analyse bushfire risk. This role includes training in ArcGIS, Phoenix, and other software used to assess bushfire behaviour and risk.

Rotation 3: This rotation provides experience within the Regional Operational Fire Planning Team, building on knowledge gained from previous rotations to develop a more strategic understanding of fire planning, including links to cultural burning initiatives.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in science or a related field.

Location: Melbourne CBD / Powelltown

Rotation 1: Working with the Statewide Strategic Planning team, this rotation will primarily focus on development of strategic plans for forest and fire management activities. This will involve exposure to strategic planning frameworks

and engagement with multiple branches, divisions and regions across the Forest Fire Operations Division. This will require skills in project management, collaboration, communication and the ability to develop strong relationships with a wide range of people across FFOD.

Rotation 2: Supporting the Delivery and Implementation Team, this rotation will focus on business analysis as it relates to data and technology projects. The position will be exposed to techniques associated with requirements gathering to inform uplift in technology and data solutions.

Rotation 3: Taking place in the Yarra District Forest and Fire Planning Team, you'll learn about and contribute to land stewardship activities, including tactical planning, operational feasibility assessments, and training for fieldwork. This rotation includes training, accreditation, and deployment as an operational firefighter.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in science or a related field.

Location: Ballarat / Flexible

Rotation 1: Working in the regions’ Environmental Values Management team, this rotation will involve supporting forest and fire management works to meet statutory and strategic obligations.

This will involve a focus on landscape level risk analysis and modelling of environmental values to inform forest and fire planning. You will also assist the FFOD State planning team, contribute to the development of documentation of the assessment of works and their compliance with Victorian and federal environmental protections.

Rotation 2: This rotation will be working in the regions’ Operational Forest and Fire Planning team to contribute to the regional operational planning processes for forest and fire management works.

This will include supporting the delivery of the annual Joint Fuel Management Plan and Operational Forest Management Plan (Plans), within required timeframes and in line with planning directives.

You will also be assisting in establishing networks across State and Regional forest and fire business teams to link in local knowledge and district requirements into the prioritisation of works within operational plans. You will be helping to ensure that the plans comply with state and federal conservation legislation.

Rotation 3: Offers experience within the Strategic Operations and Intelligence Unit, supporting teams over three specialised operational areas.

You will be working with the Operations and Investigations team, Regulatory Intelligence team and Wildlife Liaison team to ensure the timely and effective delivery of crucial services that underpin the Conservation Regulator being an effective risk-based and intelligence led regulator.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in science or a related field.

Location: Flexible within Loddon Mallee / Bendigo / Melbourne CBD

Rotation 1: Based in Loddon Mallee, this rotation will work in the Regulatory Operations Unit supporting Forest and Wildlife Officers with administration, planning and execution of compliance work.

This position will include field work. The Regional Regulatory Operations Units undertake education, compliance and enforcement to support delivery of the Conservation Regulator’s priorities within the region.

The team is focused on preventing breaches of the law as well as taking compliance and enforcement action as required.

Rotation 2: Working with the Loddon Mallee Forest and Fire Planning unit, this rotation offers the opportunity to contribute to a range of projects aimed at developing strategies to improve bushfire management across public and private land tenures, including implementation and follow-up evaluation.

Rotation 3: This rotation will support the Policy and Planning Fire Risk and Applied Science team, and/or the Forest and Fire Ecosystem Science unit, helping to assess and advise on land management planning and delivery while building Victoria’s knowledge base for fire and forest management.

To be considered for this position, you must hold a degree in science, land management, ecology, or a related field.

Location: Melbourne CBD / Neg. Knoxfield, Woori Yallock or Powelltown / Flexible

Rotation 1: Working within the Office of Bushfire Risk Management’s Planning and Partnership team, this rotation will focus on delivering the Safer Together program’s cross-sector objectives.

Rotation 2: Gaining experience in the Port Phillip Regional Planning Team, this rotation will work across five key functions: Strategy and Risk, Environmental Values, Cultural Heritage, Engagement, and Operational Planning.

This rotation will develop your strategic and operational understanding of forest and fire planning.

Rotation 3: This rotation offers the opportunity to contribute to the Regulatory Strategy and Guidance team, which leads the provision of regulatory strategy, information, guidance, and strategic insights.

This team is responsible for developing and maintaining clear positions, statements and guidance on how the regulator interprets and intends to apply the law.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in science or a related field.

Location: Hume – flexible / Upper Murray – flexible within District / Melbourne CBD

Rotation 1: This rotation will support the Hume Forest and Fire Planning team by assisting the team with key forest and fire operational planning activities and projects.

Rotation 2: Working with the Upper Murray District Planning Team, this rotation will involve contributing to the development of tactical plans for the delivery of forest and fire management works. This rotation would include Fire Training components (General Fire fighter at a minimum).

Rotation 3: Gaining experience within the Forest Advisory Panels Team, this rotation will be supporting the

government’s response to recommendations on how to improve the way forests are managed in Victoria. You will work with staff across DEECA to find the best ways to implement these recommendations that meet regional needs and stakeholder expectations.

Location: Melbourne CBD / TBC Regional Location

The Graduate Policy Officer, Sustainable Transport supports a program of work that facilitates Victoria's transition to a zero-emissions vehicle future. As an Energy Policy Graduate, you will develop strong research, analytical and policy skills as you work on policy development that contributes to the state’s transition to net-zero emissions.

Rotation 1: With the Sustainable Transport and supports a program of work that facilitates the transition to a zero-emissions vehicle future for Victoria. Led by the Energy Strategy Division within DEECA, this work involves analysis and research and coordination with stakeholders.

The Policy Officer assists in the development of potential policies and strategies for government consideration to enable the zero-emission vehicle transition, with a focus on regulatory reforms to enable EV charging.

The role will also contribute to information collection and dissemination, and policy development through national working groups on EVs and consumer energy resources.

Rotation 2: To be confirmed once project delivery priorities are known. A project delivery role will be preferred in order to provide experience and understanding in the application of policy in the delivery of programs to benefit Victorians. The aim is to expand on existing skillsets from rotation 1 and enhance knowledge and relationships across the Energy Group.

Rotation 3: Within the Energy Group the work area will be determined by priority projects at the time and the interests and experiences of the graduate. This may include working in a regional location.

You will gain experience in critical government processes, developing energy policy in regulatory reform, stakeholder engagement and program delivery.

This role is well suited to someone who enjoys working in a collaborative team environment and who has strong problem solving, data literacy and analytical skills.

To be considered for this position, you must have a Bachelor of Science or Engineering including any of (or related): Energy, Environment, Chemistry, Climate Science, Physics, Transport or Planning.

Location: All Melbourne CBD

The Energy Group’s Innovation, Commercial and Investment Attraction (ICIA) Division leads the delivery of projects and programs across the energy portfolio to deliver the procurement and facilitation of large-scale energy projects and explores sector development opportunities.

As a Graduate Officer you will rotate through the three branches of the ICIA division, contributing to real-world projects that support Victoria’s transition to renewable energy. You’ll gain hands-on experience in areas such as:

Rotation 1: Strategic planning, industry partnerships, ministerial briefings, and energy event coordination

Rotation 2: Renewable hydrogen and sustainable fuels, decarbonisation technologies, circular economy solutions, policy development, and agile work practices

Rotation 3: Major contract management, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery on large-scale energy initiatives

This role is ideal for graduates with a background in science, engineering, economics, environmental science, business, or chemical engineering who want to build a career in sustainable energy and innovation.

Location: Melbourne CBD / TBC Regional Location

The Energy Policy Graduate will experience working in DEECA’s Energy Group and will support policy teams in their work to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

This role will contribute to the delivery of the Gas Substitution Roadmap work program, helping Victoria navigate the path to net-zero emissions while cutting energy bills and ensuring reliability.

The role will also contribute to building electrification and energy efficiency policy, which leads Victoria's minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties and collaborates with other jurisdictions on the National Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings and the energy efficiency provisions in the National Construction Code.

The Energy Policy Graduate will be able to determine the work area in Energy Group for their third rotation, guided by priority projects at the time.

The Energy Policy Graduate will gain experience in critical government processes, developing energy policy in regulatory reform, stakeholder engagement and program delivery.

This role is well suited to someone who enjoys working in a collaborative team environment and who has strong problem-solving, data literacy, and analytical skills.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in science, energy, Climate science, environment, Chemistry or Physics engineering.

Location: Melbourne CBD / Goulburn Murray Water, Tatura / Lower Murray Water, Mildura

As a water resource graduate, you will have the opportunity to be part of policy implementation in addition to being exposed to technical and operational matters relevant to water management in Victoria.

In this role you will have the opportunity to work across the Water Markets Operations and Compliance branch and two of our key rural water corporation stakeholders in regional Victoria.

Working within the Water Resource Strategy Division, the first rotation is designed to give you an insight into water resource management in regulated river systems, Victoria’s water entitlement framework and regulation of water use across the state.

The second and third rotations will be based at two of Victoria’s rural water corporations in northern Victoria – Goulburn-Murray Water and Lower Murray Water. Through both rotations you will gain experience in understanding river operations, resource management, stakeholder and customer needs of the rural water corporation and water use regulation.

To be considered for this position, you must have a qualification in Bachelor of Science, including the following majors: Environmental Science, Water Resource Management and/or Natural Resource Management or Planning.