Digital Graduate Program eligibility and applying
Applications closed
The 2026 Digital Graduate Program applications have now closed.
Applications for the 2027 program will open mid-2026.
The Digital Graduate Program has an easy-to-use graduate recruitment process, with no need for assessment centres or cognitive testing.
You may want to apply for more than one Queensland Government graduate program. If you have registered on the Graduate Portal, you may be notified when applications open for other graduate programs.
Applications are open for roles located across Queensland Government. Most positions are based in Brisbane, regional offers may be available during the 2027 intake when applications open mid-year.
Interstate applicants are encouraged to apply, however, it is up to the successful graduate to arrange relocation and cover any moving costs involved. It is not the responsibility of the program, nor the home agency to arrange or fund a graduate's relocation.
The Queensland Government prides itself on embracing diversity. We value people from all walks of life and are committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse workplace.
We encourage applications from:
- women
- people with disability
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- members of the LGBTIQA+ community
- people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- mature-age Queenslanders.
We also welcome international students who meet unrestricted working rights in Australia.
Support and reasonable adjustments can be provided to applicants throughout the selection process as required. Email our graduate manager at ictgradprog@qld.gov.au to discuss further.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Digital Graduate Program, you must:
- Have completed (or will complete) a Bachelor’s, Graduate Certificate, or Master’s degree between January-2023 and December 2026. If you have an overseas qualification, it must be recognised in Australia prior to applying. Learn more about the Qualifications Recognition process.
- Hold a degree in one of these fields:
- Information Technology and related fields: Information technology, cloud computing, cyber security, computer science, data analytics, robotics, information management, mathematics, software or systems engineering.
- Emerging Technologies and AI: Artificial intelligence or automation development.
- Strategic Management and Business: Business, marketing, or project management.
- Design and Creative Industries: Web and multimedia design, user experience (UX) or interactive design.
- International students currently residing in Australia must also have:
- Unrestricted working rights in Australia until at least February 2029. This includes:
- Permanent Residency, citizenship, or work-related visas (e.g., Temporary Graduate 485 Visa) that permit full-time, unrestricted work.
- Evidence of transitioning to unrestricted working rights (if on a bridging visa).
- Unrestricted working rights in Australia until at least February 2029. This includes:
Successful applicants
If you are successful you must:
- relocate to Brisbane (or other Queensland locations) at your own expense.
- be ready to start by February 2027. Earlier start dates may be accommodated based on agency-specific needs.
The recruitment process
The recruitment process is conducted in 4 stages.
Detail for how to apply for the 2027 Digital Graduate Program will be available before applications open mid-2026.
How to apply
- Register your details on GradSift.
- Program code will be available when applications open mid-2026.
- Create your applicant profile.
- Add your resume, 2 referees, and academic transcripts under My Documents.
- See application and interview advice for tips on writing your resume.
- International graduates and students only: Under My Documents, upload a copy of your current visa, showing the expiry date. You may also need to upload the following, if they apply to you:
- If you need to apply for a new visa (e.g. change from Student Visa to Graduate 485 Visa): Upload a separate, brief statement of the visa you will be applying for and the expected approval and expiry dates.
- Unrestricted working visa must be open to February 2029: Upload as a separate document.
- Include a video:
- Record a short video to promote yourself to potential employers.
- For example, tell us about yourself, what are your passions? Why do you want to work for the Queensland Government? This is your elevator pitch.
- Upload your video to YouTube.
- Save as 'Unlisted' to keep the video private. Only Queensland Government hiring managers will be able to view your video through the recruitment platform.
- Include the YouTube link in your GradSift profile under My Programs.
- Record a short video to promote yourself to potential employers.
- Select 3 role preferences under My Programs that best match your qualifications and interests. Roles are listed under 'Who we are looking for' based on intake requirements for the year. Learn more about the graduate roles on offer.
Note: Do not use your university email address, as it will no longer work after you've graduated.
International students
Important: Below is general guidance and should not be considered legal or immigration advice.
Check and prepare your visa documents early
While you must wait to complete your course to get the letter of completion and/or graduation to apply for the visa, all other support documents (e.g. identity, location, Federal police checks) can be prepared beforehand.
- You may be able to ask for a letter of completion from your university after your course grades are released. This can happen up to 2 weeks before your graduation date (and release of your qualification).
- For supporting documents, please refer to: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) Post-Study Work stream or the relevant full working rights visa. Make sure you choose the correct visa stream.
University visa advisory services
Make use of your university visa advisory services. Do this at least 6 months before you graduate. You can then prepare your documents in time and with guidance.
Once you've completed your GradSift profile and applications have closed, applicant lists will be forwarded to the agencies seeking those roles.
Each agency is responsible for their own recruitment processes, including shortlisting and contacting applicants for interview (face to face or via MS Teams).
Each agency will contact prospective applicants directly for an interview. As we are a whole of Queensland Government graduate program, you may be selected by several agencies for interview.
Please note: Registering on GradSift to apply for the program, does not guarantee you will be shortlisted for interview by any of the participating agencies.
Interviews will be held in various locations in Brisbane, but mainly in the central business district. Microsoft Teams interviews can be made available to those candidates that are outside the Brisbane region. Most interviews run for approximately 30 minutes.
Information for any regional opportunities will be advised when applications open in June.
Familiarise yourself with behavioural interview questions and the STAR response framework. The STAR method may be a helpful format when considering examples that demonstrate your experience.
Review our tips for job interviews.
If you're successful, a representative from the interviewing agency will phone you to offer you a place on the program.
We encourage agencies to contact successful graduates with a phone call, followed by email/SMS/text. If you accept, you will receive a letter of offer once you submit the necessary paperwork and it's approved. This may include a criminal history consent form, proof of identification, evidence of the working visa with unrestricted working rights (if applicable) and referee checks.
Note: This process can take weeks to several months to complete. You can ask the interview panel when they expect to advise the outcome of the process. If you do not hear from the agency within this time frame, you can contact the Panel chair to seek updated information.
If you are unsuccessful, ask for feedback on how you can improve your next application and interview.
Application and interview advice
Applying for your first job can be overwhelming. We have put together some tips to help you with our application process.
A good resume is vital for gaining an interview. Your resume lay-out should be clear and simple.
Here are a few tips for a good resume:
- List your full name, postal and email address and contact phone number (ensure your contact details are correct, or you may miss out on a job). It's a good idea to:
- have a professional voicemail recording and email address (e.g. not hottie99@email.com)
- not use a university email address—once you graduate it will no longer be valid.
- Include a statement about you and your work interests. (e.g. where your passion lies and what you really want to achieve at work).
- List your education, training qualifications, professional certifications and any professional memberships.
- Outline your knowledge and experience using hardware, software, programming languages, databases, etc. This is the first thing employers will look for when filling a technical role.
- Include your professional work history and any other relevant work experience, whether paid or unpaid.
- Ensure you list 2 contactable referees, including their name, job title and company (if relevant), email address, contact phone number and relationship to you. Remember to ask referees' permission before listing them on your resume.
- It's not typical to include a photo of yourself, but you may choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile.
For more information see how to write a resume and cover letter.
Preparing for an interview can improve your chances of making a good impression and securing the job.
Review our tips for job interviews.