Community and social services graduate program

The Community and Social Services Graduate Program is your path to a wide range of jobs that matter. You will be supported through a structured 12-month graduate program, equipping you with skills, experience and support to find a rewarding role that’s right for you.

About the program

The Community and Social Services Graduate Program is open to:

Recent graduates

This includes people who have graduated within the last two years, or are about to graduate, from a course related to community and social services, whether it is a Diploma, Bachelor or Master level.

New employees in the community and social services sector

This includes people who started work in community and social services in the past 12 months and have an employer who is interested in participating in the Graduate Program.

All successful applicants in the Community and Social Services Graduate Program will participate in a graduate program, with guidance from experienced practitioners. This includes:

a cross-sector orientation to build your understanding of the service system in practice
evidence-based practices to provide a rich and well-supporting early career learning experience
enhanced professional supervision, and
peer networking with other graduates across community services.

For graduates who have not yet secured a job, you will also be connected with a role in the sector that is appropriate for recent graduates and fully paid in accordance with industry awards and conditions.

How to apply

Applications are closed.

Future graduates

The Community and Social Services Graduate Program will have more application rounds for graduates starting in 2025 and 2026.

The next round will open in April 2025. Details about how you can apply will be available on this page when applications open.

If you would like to be considered for future rounds and to stay up to date, register your interest via email at graduateresourcecentre@rmit.edu.au.

Eligibility requirements

To apply for the Community and Social Services Graduate Program, you must have graduated (within the last two years) or are about to graduate, from a qualification related to community and social services. This may be at a Diploma, Bachelor or Master level.

Relevant studies include but are not limited to:

Diploma of Community Services (AQF5)
Bachelor of Social Work (AQF7)
Graduate Diploma in Family Violence (AQF8)
Masters of Social Work (AQF9)

You must also:

Be one of the following:
- Australian or New Zealand citizen OR
- Australian permanent resident OR
- Temporary resident who holds a visa that gives them the right to work in Australia
- Not be on a temporary graduate visa.
Commit to a 12-month employment position.
Be willing to undergo required pre-employment safety screening checks, such as:
- Police record check
- Referee check
- Employment history
- Qualification check
- Working with children check
- Out-of-home care disqualified carer check and carer register
- Check against the Disability Worker Exclusion List

International qualifications are accepted if an assessing authority (Australian Association of Social Workers or Australian Community Workers Association) has confirmed recognition and equivalency of the qualification.

For applicants who already work in the community and social services sector, you must have been employed within the past 12 months and have an employer who is interested in participating in the Graduate Program.

For your employer to be accepted to participate, they must:

Agree to support your participation in the Graduate Program
Meet the employer eligibility requirements – detailed on the Community and social services graduate program - Information for employers page.
Complete the Community and Social Services Graduate Program employer registration (factsheet below)

Once your employer is notified of their eligibility to participate, your employer will be requested to provide the following details for your nomination in the program:

Your current role accountabilities
Your applicable award and conditions
Your qualification requirements
Location

Your employer can find more information on the Community and Social Services Graduate Program - Information for employers page.

Community and social services is one of Victoria’s fastest growing sectors. A career in the sector can take you to a wide variety of rewarding roles, which offer the opportunity to:

make a positive difference in the lives of Victorians
put your knowledge and training into practice in ways that really matter, and
be a part of Victoria’s social reforms in family violence, disability, children and families, homelessness, social housing and more.

To learn more about working in the community and social services sector, visit the Jobs that matter webpage.