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Graduates

Working across a variety of roles, graduates at the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) are at the forefront of tackling serious and organised crime both in Australia and offshore. Our breadth of work means no 2 days are alike, we are constantly evolving our capabilities; working to collect, assess and share intelligence – getting it to where it needs to be.

Our graduates have the opportunity to be a part of Australia's National Intelligence Community and work alongside some of the country’s most innovative, passionate and intelligent people. As an ACIC graduate, your work will contribute directly to protect the Australian community from complex and evolving criminal threats.

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About the program

Our 12-month program provides you with a clear career pathway in providing unique, actionable and insightful intelligence to government, partners, the front line and communities. We offer a number of benefits including: 

  • ongoing full-time role starting at the APS 4 classification, with advancement to APS 5 on successful completion of the program
  • a placement in at least one different area of the agency, giving you exposure to a variety of capabilities
  • a comprehensive learning and development program, combining on-the-job experience with formal training to build your skills
  • targeted support, including a dedicated Entry Programs team
  • attractive employment conditions that support flexible work arrangements
  • a competitive remuneration package including relocation assistance (if moving from interstate).

All graduate positions are based in Canberra. For the 2027 Graduate Program, successful candidates will be engaged on a full-time permanent basis, commencing at the APS 4 classification with a starting salary of $79,877 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will advance to the APS 5 classification. You can find out more about working at the ACIC, including employment conditions and details of the ACIC Enterprise Agreement 2024–27 on the Working for us page. 

Who are we looking for?

Regardless of your work experience and background, there is a role in the ACIC for you. Whether it's in our Intelligence Group or our Chief Operating Officer Group, you will be part of a team that shares a strong and united vision. We are looking for graduates who are curious, motivated and committed to working in the national interest. You do not need a traditional ‘intelligence’ or ‘law enforcement’ background as we value a wide range of skills and perspectives.

Students who are due to complete an undergraduate degree by the end of 2026 or have completed an undergraduate degree within the last 3 years are eligible to apply. We are looking for graduates from diverse disciplines, including (but not limited to):

  • policy, international relations, national security, global studies, linguistics and social sciences
  • criminology, criminal justice and law
  • data science, data analytics, statistics and mathematics
  • cyber security, computer science, engineering, programming and other technical fields.

You will also need to meet our core eligibility requirements:

  • be an Australian citizen
  • obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 (NV1) security clearance
  • satisfy an Organisational Suitability Assessment – refer to our character standards for further information.

What to expect

Being a part of the ACIC’s graduate program has allowed me to gain experience from a range of teams and engage with extensively knowledgeable intelligence analysts. The ACIC offers an environment that allows you to discover your own interests, contribute in team discussions and interact with stakeholder partner agencies. The program allowed me to develop a greater understanding of the agency and its dealings with serious and organised crime, allowing me to further develop my long-term career goals. It’s fulfilling to now be a part of a team that caters to my interests and skill-set, as well as continuing to challenge and provide me with opportunities to learn from.

With the ACIC graduate program you can expect each day to bring new challenges, new insights and new opportunities to make a difference. Whether mapping criminal networks to disrupt organised crime, analysing data to identify emerging trends, or contributing to assessments that inform national security strategies, I was engaged in truly interesting and meaningful work from the beginning. Throughout the year I also benefitted from being mentored by a host of talented intelligence professionals, and invaluable formal training. For anyone looking for a career that is exciting, rewarding, and impactful, the ACIC graduate program is a brilliant place to start.

The 2025 ACIC graduate program has given me the skills and capabilities to begin an exciting career in intelligence. The program has allowed me to discover various areas of interest, before landing in a substantive team that is supportive, challenging and exciting. The opportunities throughout the program have allowed me to travel, engage in inter-agency partnerships, and most importantly, make lasting, working relationships and receive valuable mentoring. On top of this, the ability to be a part of something bigger than just yourself, and to make a real difference in the fight against transnational serious and organised crime, is one that makes you proud and fulfilled.

I was inspired to apply for graduate programs in intelligence and law enforcement agencies because I wanted to make a positive difference in society. I was particularly drawn to agencies that have biometrics capabilities. When I heard that the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission was recruiting, I jumped at the opportunity to work on their National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, as well as in biometric and forensic services. However, being assigned to different roles and rotations in the ACIC Graduate Program allowed me to develop a more holistic view of our agency and gain insights into how the work of each section can be aligned to achieve the organisational goals.

Upon completion of my studies, I had the goal of pursuing a career where I could make a significant difference in the community, while coming to work each day feeling proud. The 2024 ACIC Graduate Program allowed me to achieve this. The nature of work within an intelligence agency, while challenging at times, is extremely fulfilling. Knowing that our effort directly has an impact on transnational serious and organised crime is a rewarding feeling, and there’s nothing quite like it. Throughout the program, I was grateful for the opportunity to build working relationships and learn from experts in their respective fields, which was very inspiring and motivating.

The unique place the ACIC holds with its relationships to law enforcement and intelligence agencies means you will be working with a diverse and brilliant cohort that provide insights, support, and a breadth of experience in every possible way. As someone who learns best by doing, I really appreciated the opportunity to rotate between teams and engage with external partners. Commencing at a new workplace and city was made so much easier by being surrounded by other graduates with similar nerves and excitement.

When I applied to the graduate program, I was looking for something that was challenging and rewarding. The ACIC Graduate Program achieved this. The unique and dynamic world of criminal intelligence provided me with an opportunity to perform work in the national interest with tangible, real-world impacts. During my time, I have been fortunate enough to foster relationships with fellow graduates and receive invaluable mentoring and guidance from senior colleagues which will shape my career.

The ACIC has a unique role in protecting the Australian community as an intelligence agency. Prior to the graduate program, I never imagined I would be working on matters of national importance and contributing to the disruption of serious and organised crime in Australia. The ACIC has allowed me to prioritise personal development and maximise my exposure across multiple business areas. Importantly, my career is supported through the agency’s commitment to women in leadership and the development of future female leaders.

I’ve always been fascinated with how and why criminals circumvent the system to commit crimes, which has naturally led me to pursue a career related to law enforcement. I applied for a graduate position at the ACIC in particular because I want to be involved in an agency that makes a difference, offers unique and exciting career opportunities, and is dedicated to understanding and disrupting criminal activity that impacts the Australian community.

Meet us to learn more

Tertiary to Work 2026

Canberra: Wednesday 11 March 2026, Australian National University

The Big Meet 2026

Melbourne: Thursday 19 March 2026, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Brisbane: Monday 23 March 2026, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Sydney: Thursday 26 March 2026, International Convention Centre Sydney

Adelaide: Tuesday 31 March 2026, Adelaide Convention Centre

Perth: Wednesday 1 April 2026, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre 

How to apply

We know the application and assessment process is long – it is designed to help us find people who reflect the communities we protect and have long-term potential.

The following dates are a guide and subject to change:

Action

Dates

Expressions of interest open Open until 28 February 2026
Applications open March 2026
Applications close April 2026
Aptitude testing April 2026
Panel shortlisting May 2026
Assessment centres May to June 2026
Employment screening June to September 2026
Offers of employment October 2026
Commencement of program February 2027

Contact

For more information or assistance with your application, please contact our Entry Programs Team via Pathway.Programs@acic.gov.au.

You can also sign up to our QRTLY | INTEL newsletter to learn more about our agency.