• Canberra based
• Ongoing
• Graduate Development Program

Be at the centre of our clean energy future

About the Graduate Development Program

The Clean Energy Regulator Graduate Development Program will provide graduates with the opportunity to develop a well-rounded knowledge of the work of the agency, gain experience in the public sector and foster an understanding of the economic and regulatory frameworks that support Australia’s transition to a clean energy future.

Participants of the 2027 Graduate Program will experience:

• 3 rotations over a 11-month program, commencing 1 February 2027.
• • the first rotation is chosen by the Graduate Coordinator prior to commencement.
  • the second and third rotations are determined through consultation with the graduates, depending on business needs, allowing you to shape your graduate experience.
• an intensive and engaging development program.
• • Our graduates participate in a “fireside chat” conversation series throughout the year, meeting with each senior executive as a cohort to learn more about their role, their career and more.
• a calendar of learning and development, networking events and activities through the Australian Public Service Commission Graduate Development Program.
• an assigned mentor to assist you throughout the program.
• a Graduate Coordinator providing one on one support throughout the Program.

Training and career development

During the Program you will be provided with the skills required to launch your public service career. Through participation in the Program, graduates will gain relevant knowledge and skills in government administration as well as the expertise required to be an effective technical specialist within the agency.

Organisational support

In addition to formal training, you will receive individual support from a mentor (an experienced agency employee) and the Graduate Coordinator.

As a graduate you will have the opportunity to be involved in events management as part of the agency’s social club.

About the rotations

During your graduate year, you will work across 3 areas of the agency. This rotation structure allows our graduates to gain a wide range of experience and knowledge in their graduate year. Graduates will develop an understanding of the agency’s work in the administration of climate change policies and regulation of carbon and renewable energy markets. There may also be an opportunity to undertake a mini rotation in a surge capacity within the graduate year depending on business requirements.

The divisions and branches you may have the opportunity to work across at the Clean Energy Regulator are outlined below.

Scheme Support Division

The Scheme Support Division supports the agency to resolve complex issues, advocate for legislative and policy change, screen and monitor client behaviour, address serious non-compliance and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Scheme Operations Division

Our Scheme Operations Division enables entry and participation in the schemes administered by the agency. Staff assess applications and make statutory decisions on client scheme entitlements. The division works collaboratively across the agency to ensure efficient and effective administration of all schemes.

Legal Services and Governance Branch

The Legal Services and Governance Branch supports the operations of the agency through the provision of in-house legal services and providing strategic legal advice around the formulation of legislative instruments and policy.

They also support the agency as the managers of the agency governance frameworks, assisting the Regulator Board and other governance committees, as well as delivering risk and audit assurance to provide confidence in the ability of the agency to deliver its objectives.

Corporate Branch

The Corporate Branch is responsible for delivering services that support the effective and efficient operation of the agency. It facilitates the agency’s compliance with legislation, policies and guidelines as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity.

The branch complements the scheme-focus of other agency divisions by facilitating strategic communications and client engagement through the agency’s website and contact centre. In addition, the branch supports efficient resource management and corporate accountability.

Consumer energy national technical regulatory scheme

The consumer energy national technical regulatory scheme is a new function within the agency, providing national leadership in the establishment, maintenance, and enforcement of technical requirements for Distributed Energy Resources (DER), also referred to as Consumer Energy Resources. This function will support a secure, efficient, and consumer-focused energy system by ensuring DER technologies are interoperable and effectively integrated into the electricity system. It will also enable innovation, reduce unnecessary regulatory burden, and promote equitable outcomes for consumers.

Please view our Organisational Chart to see the various sections contained within the divisions and branches.

Benefits of working for CER

• Generous remuneration package with 15.4% superannuation contributions on top of the listed salary.
• Four weeks annual leave per year, and twenty days personal and carers leave per year.
• Shut-down period between Christmas and New Year’s Day (no annual leave required).
• Assistance with relocating to Canberra (if required).
• Flexible working arrangements.
  • Throughout the graduate year flexible working arrangements will be determined on a rotation-by-rotation basis.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, you will need to:

• be an Australian citizen
• be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance to a minimum of Baseline level
• have completed an undergraduate degree or higher in the last three years (conferred from 2024 onwards) or be in your last year of study (to be completed by January 2027)
• have maintained a credit (or equivalent) average throughout your degree
• be willing to relocate to Canberra (relocation assistance will be offered to the successful applicants).

We are looking for high-caliber, motivated graduates with a wide range of qualifications and experiences, including, but not limited to:

• Business and Commerce
• Environmental Studies
• Mathematics / Statistics
• Data Science
• Economics
• Agriculture studies
• Politics / Public Policy
• HR
• Electrical Engineering
• Law / Combined Law
• Science
• Finance and Accounting

We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, people with a disability and mature-aged candidates. Applicants are encouraged to indicate this in their application.

Application Process

In your application you will be asked to provide:

• your resume/CV.
• copy of your most recent academic transcript which shows your Weighted Average Mark (WAM) or Grade Point Average (GPA).
• the details of two people we can contact for references.
• respond to each of the following questions in a maximum of 200 words per response.
  
  • Tell us about a time when something didn’t go to plan in your studies, work, or personal life, and you had to adapt your approach. What did you do, how did you feel at the time, and what would you do differently now?
  • You are already working on a task with a tight deadline when you are assigned a second task that is both urgent and high priority. You are unlikely to complete both to a high standard within the timeframes provided. How would you manage this?
  • Why did you choose your field of study and how do you see that benefiting the Australian Public Service?

Please ensure that your statement is written in your own words. Our expectation of candidates is that use of generative AI in the writing of your application will be responsible and focus on elements such as grammar checks, summarising information or structuring your response. We encourage you to emphasise your authenticity and personal reflections in your application.

For more detailed information about the program and the agency, please refer to the Candidate Information Pack.

Applications will close 11:30pm AEST 30 July 2026