DVA Graduate Program: What It Is and How to Apply

What the DVA Graduate Program Offers

The DVA Graduate Development Program (GDP) is a structured 10-month program run by the Department of Veterans' Affairs each year. Graduates rotate through multiple teams and take on real policy, program, coordination, and strategy work from day one.

Program Structure and Duration

According to the DVA Graduate Development Program overview, the program runs from February to December, giving you exposure to the full breadth of DVA's work. You will move through multiple placements, take part in formal learning and development, and work on projects that affect veterans and their families directly.

The rotations are designed to build both technical skills and a broader understanding of how the department operates. Many graduates describe the program as a fast way to build a solid foundation in the Australian Public Service.

Classification and Salary

DVA graduates are engaged at the APS4/Graduate APS classification and paid at the first pay point of the APS4 classification during the program. The DVA Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027 sets out the pay rates and conditions that apply. On successful completion, pay and classification progression are governed by the enterprise agreement and program structure.

For reference, comparable 2027 APS graduate programs advertise starting salaries of around $79,747 plus 15.4% superannuation at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, which gives a useful benchmark for what APS graduates can expect.

Where Graduates Are Based

Graduate positions are offered in all major capital cities during the graduate year, provided minimum participant numbers are met. After that first year, some positions may open up in other capital cities depending on business needs. Information from the DVA careers team confirms this, along with relocation support for graduates who need to move.

Eligibility for the DVA Graduate Program

Eligibility rules are set out on the DVA careers website, and they mirror the wider APS Graduate Program. You need to meet academic, citizenship, and security clearance criteria before you can apply.

Academic Qualifications

You must have completed at least an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 7 qualification, which is a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, by the end of the year before your program starts. Full eligibility details are published by DVA each year. If your degree is from an overseas university, you will usually need a statement from an Australian state or territory government overseas qualifications unit to confirm it is recognised.

Recency of Your Degree

Your eligible qualification must have been completed between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2026 for the current 2027 intake. This keeps the program focused on early-career graduates who can benefit most from the structured rotations and development.

Citizenship and Security Clearance

You must be an Australian citizen at the time of application. You also need to be able to obtain and maintain a valid Australian Government security clearance once accepted onto the program, where the role requires it.

Age and Background

There are no age restrictions on the program. Graduates come from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and life stages. That is worth knowing if you finished your degree later in life, perhaps after a period of service in the ADF or after raising a family.

Streams Available Inside the Program

DVA participates in several streams of the Australian Government Graduate Program, including the Generalist, Digital, Data, Legal, Human Resource, Indigenous Graduate Pathway, and Accounting and Financial Management streams. A single application through the relevant lead agency can put you in front of multiple departments, including DVA, which makes the process more efficient than applying to each department separately.

Generalist Stream

The Generalist Stream is open to graduates from any discipline. It is the most common entry point and covers:

• Policy
• Program delivery
• Coordination
• Strategy works across the APS

Digital, Data, and Legal Streams

DVA also recruits through the following streams of the Australian Government Graduate Program:

• Digital
• Data
• Legal
• Human Resource
• Indigenous Graduate Pathway
• Accounting and Financial Management

Each stream is managed by a lead agency that runs a single recruitment process on behalf of all participating departments. You apply once and can be considered for roles across multiple agencies.

If you have a specialist background, these streams are usually the best fit. For broader roles, the Generalist Stream is the standard pathway.

How to Apply for the DVA Graduate Program

Applications are managed through the relevant lead agency for each stream. Timing shifts slightly from year to year, so it pays to check the APS Graduate Portal directly before you submit.

Timing and the Application Window

Applications for each year's program typically open in the first half of the year before the program starts. For example, the 2027 intake opens in March 2026 for most participating agencies. Deadlines are firm, so set a reminder once dates are confirmed.

The Selection Process

The selection process depends on the stream, but it may include a written application, online assessments, a written pitch or video interview, an assessment centre, and interviews. After the assessment process, successful candidates are matched to DVA or another participating agency based on preferences, skills, and department needs.

After You Apply

If you have questions about the process, check the contact details on the relevant graduate stream page or the DVA careers page. That can help if you plan to apply again or look at other APS roles.

Benefits and Support During the Program

DVA builds in practical support to help you settle in and succeed, especially if you are moving to Canberra for the role.

Relocation Assistance

If you need to relocate, DVA provides reasonable financial assistance, which may include:

• Travel for you and your dependants
• Temporary accommodation
• Removal of belongings

Arrangements are made on an individual basis between you and the Graduate Manager.

Learning and Development

You will complete a formal study program alongside your work rotations. The program includes formal and informal learning and development opportunities throughout the graduate year. After the graduate year, you may also access a study assistance program to keep building your qualifications.

Flexible Working Conditions

Graduates can take leave during the year, though it is recommended you avoid long periods away that would interfere with your rotations. Flexible working hours and conditions are available to help balance work and personal life.

DVA Graduate Program vs VetPaths for Veterans

If you have served in the ADF, there is a second pathway designed specifically with veterans in mind. VetPaths sits alongside the graduate program rather than replacing it, and the two are structured very differently.

What the Graduate Program Is Designed For

The graduate program is built for recent university graduates, regardless of service background. It focuses on: 

• Degree completion
• Early-career progression
• Exposure to the APS through rotations

Veterans can apply through the graduate program if they meet the eligibility criteria, and many do.

What VetPaths Offers Veterans

VetPaths, the APS Veteran Employment Pathway, is a six-month support pathway for veterans who are new to the APS. It is coordinated by DVA on behalf of the APS, with participating agencies varying by intake.

The pathway is built around three pillars: 

• Development
• Connection
• Wellness

Participants receive formal learning and development, career mentoring, and wellbeing support to help them move from a military background into an APS career.

Which Pathway Fits Your Situation

If you are a veteran who meets the graduate program eligibility criteria and are new to the APS, both the graduate program and VetPaths may be relevant to your situation. VetPaths offers structured transition support built around military-to-civilian career change. If you do not meet the graduate program eligibility criteria, VetPaths may still be relevant if you are new to the APS and applying through a participating agency.

For context on your broader options as a veteran moving back into the workforce, our guide to transitioning from military to civilian life covers the wider picture, and our employment support for veterans resource lists the main programs available to you.

Career Opportunities After the Graduate Program

Completing the program opens doors across the APS, not only at DVA. Here is what usually happens next.

Progression Inside DVA

On successful completion, graduates may be considered for ongoing APS4 roles, with future progression depending on role availability, performance and business needs. Career progression depends on performance, role availability, and your own goals, but the structured entry gives you a clear foundation to build from.

Moving Across the APS

APS experience is portable. Skills developed at DVA are recognised across the federal public sector, and lateral movement into other agencies is common. Many graduates use the program as a launchpath into specialist policy, data, or digital roles in departments that align with their longer-term interests.

A Note for Veterans Considering Both Pathways

If you are a veteran moving into DVA or another APS agency, the employment pathway is only one part of your transition. Career counselling services are available through DVA, and our career counselling for veterans guide covers what is on offer. For a broader view of what is available once you leave the ADF, our ADF discharge entitlements page sets out the full picture.

Your Next Chapter Starts Here

The DVA Graduate Program can be a strong way into the Australian Public Service, while VetPaths may suit veterans who are new to APS roles and want added transition support. Contact Veterans First Consulting to discuss your DVA entitlements and the support available to you, with guidance focused on your health, wellbeing, and long-term transition.