Graduate Program 2026

Join to apply for the Graduate Program 2026 role at Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage

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Join to apply for the Graduate Program 2026 role at Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage

Launch your career and help shape the future of WA

Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage Graduate Program

This is a recruitment pool for permanent full-time and fixed term appointments.

Position Number : Grad Pool Ref 067 / 25

Level / Salary : Level 3 - starting salary from $86,439.00 pa

Location : Perth

Closing Date : Wednesday 30 July 2025 (AWST)

We’re searching for the best and brightest of tomorrow to join our 2026 Graduate Program !

About Us

At the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) we plan and manage land and protect our heritage for all Western Australians. Our workforce includes people with qualifications in urban and regional planning, Aboriginal studies, archaeology, anthropology, architecture, environmental science, public policy, property, surveying, valuations and many other disciplines.

We invite applications for our 2026 Graduate Program from recent or upcoming university graduates who are enthusiastic, proactive, and committed to ongoing experience-based learning during and beyond our 12-month Graduate Development Program.

The Department is an equal opportunity employer, and may utilise the following measures to achieve equality under sections 51, 66R and 66ZP of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people (24 years of age and under) and people with disability who meet the requirements of the position may be prioritised for appointment.

We’re focused on having a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the community we serve and encourage graduates from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds to apply.

Benefits of working with us

Successful candidates get to work in a supportive environment, which will enable you to grow professionally and personally while contributing to achieving the Department’s vision.

DPLH offers an innovative, diverse workplace with a flexible work environment. It includes healthy work / life balance options and access to professional learning and development opportunities. To foster a flexible and responsive workforce, the mobility and movement of staff to work across divisions is undertaken to meet organisational priorities and broaden professional experience and skills.

We are headquartered at 140 William Street, Perth, on Whadjuk Noongar land and have locations on country across the State.

For more information on what we do, our recruitment process, and why working at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is an attractive proposition, please visit the Department page on the DPLH website.

About the Program

Commencing in February 2026, up to six successful Graduate Officers will get access to an impressive range of formal and informal training and support, and other exciting opportunities to expand skills and knowledge. As you undertake rotations through core business areas of DPLH, you’ll gain invaluable exposure to projects that shape vibrant communities, respect culture and heritage, and build professional networks.

A glimpse into our innovative Graduate program can be found here.

The DPLH Graduate Program provides permanent employment (subject to successful completion of a 12-month probationary period). After successful completion of the 12-month graduate program, graduates will be placed in a suitable position within a division relevant to their degree area.

To better understand the diverse work we do at DPLH, please see below a list of some of our divisions where you may be placed after the program, along with the degree areas we are looking for :

Stream 1 Land Use Planning : Degrees in urban and regional planning and / or development (or approved equivalent).

Stream 2 Heritage and Property Services : Degrees in one of the following fields : commerce (property), architecture, humanities, or arts, with specialisations in museum studies, cultural studies, history, archaeology, art history, or anthropology.

Stream 3 Land Use Management : Degrees in environmental science, property law or management, or agricultural science or a similar equivalent degree.

Stream 4 Strategy and Engagement : Degrees in GIS, computer science, remote sensing, environmental science, cartography, geography, geology, or data science.

Stream 5 Office of Director General and / or Business Corporate Services : Degrees in business, project management, communications, media, graphic design, public relations, arts, human resources, computer science, cyber security and / or or a similar equivalent degree.

About you

We are seeking graduates with a variety of qualifications and backgrounds, with personal values that align with our values and the Public Sector’s Code of Ethics :

Our Values : Integrity – Respect – Collaboration – Professionalism – Innovation -Accountability

PS Code of Ethics : Personal Integrity – Relationships with others - Accountability

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Graduate Program you need to :

• Have recently completed a University Degree (2023-2025). This should be relevant to the above-mentioned disciplines in the 2023 and 2024 calendar year, or be currently studying and due to complete your degree by December 2025; and
• Be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status in Australia.
• You must be able to provide proof of residency prior to appointment.

How to Apply

Your response should include examples from your previous work, study, or extracurricular activities that showcase your alignment with these mindsets. It is recommended that you use the SAO (Situation, Action, Outcome) response method when writing your cover letter, as detailed in the Applicant Information Pack.

To help you with your response, review the Leadership Expectations in the context of Personal Leadership and understand what mastery looks like for the two mindsets you have been asked to address.

Please ensure you have saved your documents in MS Word or PDF format and have allowed plenty of time to submit your application. Late, emailed and proforma applications will not be accepted .

Your application is the first formal assessment used during the selection process. All instructions must be followed to be considered for an interview. The recruitment process may include psychometric, cognitive or other testing, job related tasks, video interviews and reference checks.

Further job-related information

If you’d like to learn more about the Graduate Program, please visit this page or contact our Youth Program Coordinator Caitlyn Saxton on 08 6551 8034 or Recruitment Team Lead Jasmine King on 08 6551 7944.

A comprehensive Applicant Information Pack is available, and provides information about the Department, our values, and practical guidance on the process for you.

Accessibility : If you have any communication or access needs that require adjustment to allow you to participate in this recruitment process, please contact our HR Services team on (08) 6551 9419 or email recruitment@dplh.wa.gov.au.

We can also be contacted via the National Relay Service on the below numbers :

Speak and Listen – 1300 555 727 or SMS relay – 0423 677 767.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants – For a confidential discussion about the recruitment process, please reach out to Barb Culbong from our Aboriginal Employment and Engagement team. You can contact Barb at 0408 895 002 or email us at aboriginalemployment@dplh.wa.gov.au.

If you experience technical issues when submitting your application contact ramshelpdesk@bigredsky.com.

Employment pool and subsequent vacancies

Suitable applicants from this recruitment process who are not chosen for the program will be placed in an employment pool that can be used to fill other permanent or fixed term vacancies that may arise within the Department or across the WA public sector for the next 12 months from the initial date of appointment. These positions will be at Level 3 (or the equivalent Specified Calling Level 1 when employed, subject to holding an approved qualification in a relevant occupation group).

Please note that appointment to the recruitment pool is not a guarantee of employment with the department.

Applications close at 9am on Wednesday 30 July 2025 (AWST)

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the link to Jobs WA to apply.

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General Business, Project Management, and Strategy / Planning

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