Status: Applications for the 2026 graduate program are now open.
Graduates have the chance to join a collaborative, results focused, and diverse team to help grow Australia’s economy.
Our national graduate program is a tailored 12-month rotational program. It will include:
- rotations in our Trade and Investment division and other divisions.
- a dedicated in-house mentor to support you integrate into Austrade.
Why Austrade
Austrade helps grow Australia’s prosperity by delivering quality trade and investment services to businesses. We accelerate growth in Australia’s tourism sector and promotes Australia’s education to the world.
Our people, based in Australia and overseas:
- have local knowledge, commercial expertise and trusted relationships with decision-makers that make a difference
- can link Australian businesses to global export opportunities. We provide market and industry insights and make it easier for businesses to go global
- actively work to attract international investors. We help to drive local jobs and develop skills in the local economy
- lead policy and programs for Australian tourism and the visitor economy. We work with education providers to attract international students to study with Australia.
Find out more about Austrade.
Apply now
For more information, view the job details on our jobs portal.
Set a job alert for when the Graduate Program goes live by setting APS Classification Level to APS3 and selecting save.
For more information contact the Graduate Manager.
I was fortunate to work on a variety of interesting and exciting projects across the Government and Policy, Visitor Economy and Investment divisions. Projects included working on the UAE-Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Communications Plan Coordination, and organising an in-bound delegation from the US to explore Australia's quantum technology landscape.
Vishishta Ramanathan, Adviser and 2024 Austrade Graduate
About the program
Graduates will complete 3 placements during the 12-month graduate program.
You will gain first-hand, broad experience as part of a team delivering on the Australian Government’s and Austrade’s strategic priorities. This includes contributing to the economic prosperity of Australia. The graduate program will commence in early 2026.
Austrade roles are based on the lands of the:
- Adelaide, Kaurna people
- Brisbane, Jagera and Turrbal people
- Canberra, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people
- Melbourne, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Eastern Kulin
- Sydney, Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
Our graduate program offers:
- an entry-level position, starting at an APS 3 classification and advancing to an APS 4
- work as part of an organisation who are taking Australia to the world - an experience you won’t get anywhere else
- guidance from a graduate advisor and graduate mentor
- targeted training and development
- a supportive work environment
- extra benefits like flexible working and 15.4% superannuation
- access to a global, professional network
- generous leave provisions and paid time off between Christmas and New Year.
The stakeholders we work with can range from clients in the private sector, both domestically in the Trade Division and internationally in Investment Division, the Minister’s Office, Departments at all three levels of Government etc. – in my opinion this sets Austrade apart from other departments and makes it an exciting organisation to work for.
Jordan Lewis, Adviser and 2024 Austrade Graduate
Who we are looking for
At Austrade, we consider diversity and inclusion a top strategic priority. Read about diversity and inclusion at Austrade.
We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds, mature age people and people with a disability regardless of sex, sexuality or gender identity.
We recognise the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. We value the unique knowledge First Nations people bring to our workplace. We welcome and strongly encourage applications from First Nations people to our graduate program. As Austrade works with international business, we value cultural capability and non-English language proficiency.
We seek people who:
- have a genuine interest in working with Australia's international partners to tackle global challenges
- are passionate about increasing international trade and investment
- understand and can support clients
- are collaborative, outcomes-focused and high-performing
- are interested in making a difference to Australia’s economic prosperity by supporting our engagement with global markets
- enjoy building relationships
- have strong analytical and communication skills
- are interested in diverse business cultures.
We welcome applications from graduates with a wide range of academic backgrounds. These include:
- economics
- social sciences
- policy
- education
- business
- international studies
- commerce
- law
- arts and languages – particularly Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian and Arabic.
Eligibility requirements
You must meet Austrade’s general eligibility requirements to apply for the graduate program. You must:
- be an Australian citizen at the time of application
- have finished a bachelor’s degree between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2025.
Before starting the Austrade graduate program, successful candidates need to obtain an Australian national security clearance at Baseline level.
If your only qualification is from an overseas institution, you will need to provide Australian documentation recognising your qualification(s). For more information about recognition of overseas qualifications visit the Department of Education website.
Diversity intiatives
We value diversity and inclusion. Austrade takes part in the APS RecruitAbility scheme to support employment of people with disability. For more information, visit our disability and recruitment page.