School Leaver Program

We offer our School Leavers the opportunity to move from the life of a student to the life of a public servant in a supportive working environment. This includes a formal study program, extracurricular activities and job security throughout the School Leaver program and beyond.

About the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) exists to meet the Nation’s commitment to care for our veteran and defence service community—the men and women who have served Australia in times of war and conflict as well as peacetime. We do this through programs of care, compensation, commemoration, income support and Defence support services.  Our aim is to ensure enhanced self-sufficiency, quality of life, financial wellbeing and community recognition for those we support.

DVA is both a policy and service delivery agency and we have strong relationships with Australian ex-service organisations, the Department of Defence, the international veteran community and international veterans’ administrations.

We are dedicated and committed to attracting and recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and encourage applications from people with disability, people that identify as LGBTQIA+ and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. RecruitAbility applies to vacancies advertised in DVA. Read more about our diverse and inclusive workforce.

View more information on how we help the veteran community and our work.

You will find a copy of our latest annual report here. 

About the School Leaver program

• The School Leaver program is an entry level program for school leavers who have completed a year 12 certificate in the previous or current year.
• The program runs for 11 months, from February to December each year.
• Participants are engaged at the APS 1 level as ongoing full-time APS employees with the opportunity to advance to the APS 2 level upon completion of the program.
• The aim of the program is to build the skills and capabilities of young Australians. DVA values the diversity of thought and experience that you bring to ensure we have a workforce that can respond to future priorities across government.

What the School Leaver program includes 

The program includes a range of work placements, formal study and extracurricular activities.  Participants:

• undertake a work placement
• learn through people (peers, managers and program participants)
• access relevant resources to support your continuous learning
• complete a structured learning and development program with either a Certificate IV of Government or a Certificate IV in Human Resources
• are assigned a ‘buddy’ who will help you to transition into working life and navigate the department and working environment
• are given the opportunity to visit a frontline service delivery office. This will help you gain a holistic understanding of our business
• participate in client forums so you gain first-hand experience of our clients’ backgrounds and needs
• participate in and are given the opportunity to organise social club activities where appropriate.

In your work placement examples of typical tasks include:

• manage and maintain records and information
• work with stakeholders
• compile and prepare documents and letters
• help with data management and reporting
• book meetings
• use automated financial and HR systems
• use the parliamentary and corporate document management system (PDMS)
• respond to simple emails
• book travel.

Pay and Conditions

The DVA Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027 (EA) sets out the entitlements for DVA employees.  

DVA School Leavers will be engaged at the APS1 classification and paid at the first pay point of the APS1 classification. Once a School Leaver has successfully completed the School Leaver program, you will automatically be advanced and salary progressed to the first pay point of the APS2 classification. 

DVA offers its employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• flexible working hours and conditions to help you balance work and personal life
• generous superannuation provisions
• salary sacrifice arrangements
• ongoing development and training opportunities
• healthy lifestyle allowance
• four weeks' annual leave per year
  • School Leavers are able to take leave during the program year. Leave arrangements must be negotiated with your direct supervisor during each placement. However, it is recommended that you do not take long periods of leave as this may interfere with your ability to get the most out of the program.
• access to studies assistance program (after the School Leaver year).

For more information on pay and conditions, see the DVA Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027. 

Applying for the School Leaver program

A lead Australian Government agency manages the recruitment and training component of the program. This means you only have to go through the application and selection process once to be considered by a range of Australian Government agencies, including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. 

Applications usually open in early August and close in late August. 

DVA employs School Leavers in both the generalist stream and the HR stream. To find out more information about the program visit the Australian Government School Leaver Program site. This site tells you starting and closing dates for applications and other details of the program.

After the School Leaver program

Once you complete the program, we will offer you a permanent ongoing position with DVA. Further development opportunities include applying for:

• short-term opportunities
• promotions into other positions within DVA
• positions at any of the state or territory offices around Australia.