First Nations Employment Hub

We recognise the extraordinary contributions First Nations people make to all aspects of Australian life. We value the skills and perspectives of our First Nations employees and aim to continue to be an employer of choice for First Nations people.

Support for First Nations employees

Our employees can work from a range of locations across Australia. We offer flexible work arrangements and opportunities to network with other First Nations employees.

National locations and flexible work

We offer a range of flexible work arrangements to enable our employees to balance their work, care and community obligations. We have offices in most capital cities and offer flexible, part-time and remote work for our employees. See Applying to work with us to view opportunities available where you live.

Employee networks

The active and passionate Indigenous Employee Network (IEN) meets regularly and includes First Nations employees who come from, and have family and community connections to, many different parts of the country. It also includes their allies within the department.

The IEN supports its members and advises the department on workplace issues affecting First Nations staff. The IEN actively supports the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment, Retention and Professional Development Strategy.

Other active employee networks help foster our diverse and inclusive culture and create spaces for people to come together.

Our commitment to reconciliation

Our reconciliation vision is:

To work together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to build a just, secure and resilient Australia where all people have access to the rights and protections of the rule of law.

A new Reconciliation Action Plan is being developed by our RAP Working Group, led by our Indigenous champion, in partnership with members of our Indigenous Employee Network.

Read a copy of our current reconciliation action plan

Applying to work with us

We strongly encourage First Nations people to apply for any role they might be interested in. We also offer specific employment pathways for First Nations people, including Affirmative Measures and specific recruitment programs.

Find out more about our current vacancies.

Affirmative measures

During the year, we run recruitment processes open only to First Nations employees. Although these ‘Affirmative Measures - Indigenous’ rounds have a different recruitment process, the roles are the same. Roles are available at all levels and across all office locations.

To participate in an Affirmative Measures – Indigenous round, you need to provide some information about your heritage. There are also Affirmative Measures rounds for people with disability, and you may be eligible to apply for both.

You can set up a job alert on our vacancies page to be alerted when these roles open for applications.

Entry level employment programs

The following programs can help you start your career.

First Nations Law Clerk Program

  • This program is aimed at law students who would like to work and gain valuable experience in a Legal Practice environment on a casual basis while studying at university.
  • You can register your interest at AGS Law Clerks – Affirmative Measures Indigenous.

Summer internships

  • This program is delivered in partnership with the Australian National University and University of Canberra, and is aimed at providing an opportunity for university students to work and gain valuable experience working in a government environment.
  • Look out for information on how to express interest through your Indigenous studies centre.

Graduate Program

  • Graduates for the AGD and AGS Graduate Programs are selected through the APS Careers Pathways Australian Government Graduate Program.
  • There are two First Nations-specific Graduate Programs:
  • Applications open in March 2025 for our 2026 intake.
  • You can register to receive a reminder when graduate program applications open.

Indigenous Apprenticeships Program

  • We employ First Nations people for a 12-month program at the APS 3 classification to gain experience and receive a formal vocational level qualification. No prior experience or qualifications are required to apply.
  • Applications open in February 2025 for a July 2025 intake.

Get more information

Reach out to our HR Assist team and someone will be in touch to have a yarn about working at the department.

Email: HR.Assist@ag.gov.au