Science Graduate Program – Positions for 2016
Positions within the Department of Environment, Land,
Water & Planning (DELWP) – Roles 1 to 6
Positions within the Department of Economic
Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources DEDJTR) –
Roles 7 to 11
Summary
1. Graduate Urban Planner - Planning Group
2. Graduate Urban Planner - Planning Group
3. Rural Water Programs Officer (Science Graduate) Water & Catchments
Group
4. Project Officer –EPA, Science Graduate
5. Natural Resource Management Officer
6. Natural Resource Management Officer
7. Emergency Management Policy Officer
8. Animal Health Officer
9. Graduate Research Agronomist Officer (18 month fixed term)
10. Graduate Research Agronomist Officer (18 month fixed term)
11. Graduate Research Agronomist Officer (18 month fixed term)
1 Graduate Urban Planner - Planning Group
The Graduate Urban Planner will work collaboratively across the Planning Group to assist with
planning policy and statutory responsibilities of the portfolio, together with delivery of priority
projects. During the first rotation, the Graduate Urban Planner will assist Planning Statutory
Services to exercise the statutory and strategic planning responsibilities of the Minister for
Planning by assessing requests for authorisation and approval of planning scheme amendments,
and planning applications where the Minister is the responsible authority. The role will involve
communicating state and regional land use policies to Councils and the community and
participation in the facilitation of acceptable resolutions for land use and planning issues for
Council, groups of Councils, the community and developers. The second rotation will provide
an opportunity to work within the Hume Region Office (Wangaratta) and to support the provision
of strategic and statutory planning advice and local intelligence to the Minister for Planning,
senior management and key stakeholders including Councils and other government departments
and agencies. This includes contributing to development approvals, planning system and policy
reforms, and environmental impact assessments in regional areas. The third rotation will
provide the opportunity to work collaboratively across the Planning Group to assist with planning
policy and key priority projects. It will provide the opportunity to develop a broad skill base and
gain exposure to the policy functions that drive and support Victoria’s Planning and Building
System. The Planning and Building system plays a key role in facilitating the growth of cities and
regions, including enhancing community resilience to the impact of hazards and natural events,
including bushfire and flooding
Locations:
Melbourne CBD/.Hume Region/ Melbourne CBD
2 Graduate Urban Planner - Planning Group
The Graduate Policy Officer will work collaboratively across the Planning Group to assist with
planning policy statutory responsibilities of the portfolio, together with delivery of priority projects.
During the first rotation, the Graduate Policy Officer will be provided with the opportunity to
develop a broad skill base and gain exposure to the policy functions that drive and support
Victoria’s Planning and Building System. The Planning and Building system plays a key role in
facilitating the growth of cities and regions, including enhancing community resilience to the
impact of hazards and natural events, including bushfire and flooding. During the second
rotation, the Graduate Policy Officer will assist Planning Statutory Services to exercise the
statutory and strategic planning responsibilities of the Minister for Planning by assessing requests
for authorisation and approval of planning scheme amendments, and planning applications where
the Minister is the responsible authority. The role will involve communicating state and regional
land use policies to Councils and the community and participation in the facilitation of acceptable
resolutions for land use and planning issues for Council, groups of Councils, the community and
developers. The third rotation will provide an opportunity to work within the Hume Region Office
(Wangaratta) and to support the provision of strategic and statutory planning advice and local
intelligence to the Minister for Planning, senior management and key stakeholders including
Councils and other government departments and agencies. This includes contributing to
development approvals, planning system and policy reforms, and environmental impact
assessments in regional areas.
Locations:
Melbourne CBD/ Melbourne CBD/ Hume Region
3 Rural Water Programs Officer (Science Graduate) Water &
Catchments Group
This position will join a friendly and dynamic group to work on a range of water management
projects that improve farm irrigation practices, reduce the impacts of irrigation on land and
water resources and support healthy waterways. Placements in Mildura, Melbourne and
Shepparton will give the successful candidate a unique perspective on catchment salinity
problems, water quality policy and irrigation policy, government investment processes and
local projects that achieve sustainable irrigation and waterway health.
The rural water sector is rapidly adapting to climate change, irrigation modernisation and
environmental watering. This makes for an unprecedented opportunity for you to play a role in
assisting farmers to adapt and reduce the environmental impacts of irrigated agriculture and in
maximising the benefits of environmental water through complementary waterway actions.
The State’s Water & Catchments Group engages rural communities to achieve a productive
sustainable irrigation industry and improve environmental condition of the waterways and
catchments.
The program invests in practice change and catchment monitoring, planning and works in
partnership with the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
(DEDJTR), Catchment Management Authorities Rural Water Authorities. The Group also
develops policy to capitalise on other programs such as the Australian Government6’s Water for
the Future program and the Murray Darling Basin Plan
Locations:
Mildura/ Melbourne CBD/ Shepparton
4 Project Officer –EPA, Science Graduate
The Applied Sciences Group in EPA Victoria generates accesses and delivers excellent and
responsive applied sciences knowledge, programs and solutions to enable the decisions of EPA
as a world class regulator.
Your first rotation will be within The Advisory and Modelling Unit. This Unit works with internal
and external clients to identify and assess their science and engineering knowledge needs,
provide expert scientific and engineering advice and insight, thinks ahead and acts as the
primary conduit for prioritising all EPA applied sciences requests and issues.
During your first rotation you will support the work of the Advisory and Intelligence Unit by
providing advice on the integration of environmental foresighting into broader business plans
and delivering high quality data analysis for the Unit’s clients. More specifically, the role delivers
regulatory intelligence to a broad range of clients based on mining and analysing complex and
diverse data sets, and supports the implementation of “regulatory intelligence” capability within
EPA. You will liaise with clients to understand their needs and translate them into concrete data
mining tasks; deliver to them high quality regulatory intelligence and analysis reports; develop
process and protocol that support the gathering and dissemination of regulatory intelligence;
Perform data cleaning and validation to ensure data integrity through data extraction, data
manipulation, data analysis and data integration; and initiate improvement to the existing data
analysis and visualisation process.
During your second rotation, you will be based in DELWP (location and role TBC)
On your return to EPA, for your third rotation, you will work as an Analyst within the
Environmental Solutions Unit. This Unit understands the environment and communicates
impacts on the five environmental outcomes of Air, Noise, Odour, Contaminated Environments
and Water.
You will learn how to analyse and interpret waste data, information and associated chemistry in
order to understand the impacts of waste on the environment. You will apply this knowledge to
inform and influence projects and policy development, and to provide technical advice to
pollution problems, including pollution prevention.
Waste is a carrier for contaminants and has the potential to impact the environment if the
waste is not managed properly. Through EPA’s Environmental Assessment and Research and
Development Programs, you will contribute to projects that will enable EPA’s further
understanding of the waste activities that contribute to air, land, water, and groundwater
contamination. You will develop a detailed practical knowledge of waste and its impacts on the
environment, including an understanding of its chemistry and pathways; a detailed practical
knowledge of current and emerging environmental and remediation technologies for waste
management and treatment; creative, analytical and problem solving skills to analyse issues
from a range of perspectives; and will contribute to a cohesive team, cooperating and working
well with others in the pursuit of goals, and building strong partnerships and networks.
On successful completion of this rotation, you will continue as a Sci A/VPS 3 Associate Analyst
on an ongoing contract working within the Environmental Solutions Unit.’
.
Locations:
Melbourne /TBA/Melbourne
5 Natural Resource Management Officer
The first rotation at Traralgon Office, Gippsland Region, is a review of Gippsland Apiary Strategy
including data collection and processing, stakeholder consultation and report writing. During
this rotation the graduate will gain experience in the following areas: GIS; stakeholder
consultation/negotiation; data collection and report writing. There will be an emphasis on
working within the team and assisting with other duties.
The second rotation is at the Geelong Office, Barwon South West Region, in business
management. The region is seeking a person that is a team player who can comfortably work
with a diverse and experienced team in assisting in alignment of customer and staff needs to
meet organisations goals. Using people skills, courage to be innovative with technology,
combined with business and financial knowledge, the graduate will be at the forefront of this
change management opportunity with DELWP. The successful applicant will work regularly
across DELWP locations within the BSW region, but also with other corporate functions across
DELWP that are centrally located. During this rotation the graduate will gain experience in:
financial, business and commercial acumen skills and knowledge and network development;
strategic, business and operational planning and seeking best practice customer experiences
through research and adapting for implementation.
The final rotation is at Traralgon Office, Gippsland Region, in business management. Business
management leads the way with quality governance, support/service, and bringing corporate
expertise to strategic issues through teamwork, collaboration, partnerships and relationships.
The graduate will gain experience in finding solutions and outcomes that engage clients and
balance risk, cost, consistency and flexibility. Good information technology skills and keenness
to improve and learn is essential. The role will also include the opportunity to find new and
innovative ways to increase quality in delivering outcomes across the region.
Locations:
Traralgon/ Geelong/ Traralgon
6 Natural Resource Management Officer
This position is based within the Grampians Region and focused on compliance. The first
rotation is based in the Ballarat Office in the area of environment and natural resources. The
position forms part of a dynamic and innovative team which focuses on the delivery of
compliance activities within the Grampians Region; with a particular emphasis on resource
protection and management. The position has the opportunity to be involved in field and
office based activities, providing for broad exposure to the environmental, social and
administrative components of compliance within DELWP. The graduate will gain experience
in: DELWP compliance activities; operational planning skills; project management skills;
community and stakeholder engagement and working in a multi-agency environment.
The second rotation is also based in the Ballarat Office in the area of land planning and
approvals (management of crown land). The position forms part of a dynamic and innovative
team which focuses on the delivery of compliance activities within the Grampians Region; with a
particular emphasis on public land law and property management. The position has the
opportunity to be involved in field and office based activities, providing for broad exposure to
the environmental, social and administrative components of compliance within DELWP. The
rotation will focus on an introduction to public land law and property management undertaken
by DELWP and problem solving and operational planning in relation to property management
matters
The location of the final rotation is not as yet determined; it will be one of the following
locations: Ballarat, Beaufort, Daylesford, Horsham or Sebastopol. The rotation forms part of a
dynamic and innovative team which focuses on the delivery of compliance activities within the
Grampians Region; with a particular emphasis on the work of the Fire and Land Branch. This
rotation will focus on: a detailed introduction to the Fire and Land Branch and more
specifically the compliance activities it undertakes; an introduction to relevant legislation for
Fire and Land; problem solving and operational planning in relation to compliance in the
following areas forestry, firewood, land and fire matters; the development of internal and
external relationships ; community and stakeholder engagement and the implementation of
policy and legislation.
Locations:
Ballarat/ Ballarat/ Grampians Region TBC
Positions within the Department of Economic
Development, Jobs, Transport & Resources (DEDJTR) –
for 2016
7 Emergency Management Policy Officer
The Emergency Management Policy Adviser will work as part of a dynamic multi-disciplinary
team responsible for coordination of the Department of Economic Development, Jobs,
Transport and Resources emergency management policy and delivery across its broad range of
portfolio responsibilities which include agriculture, earth resources, energy and transport.
The successful applicant will support the further development and implementation of
emergency management policy reform within Victoria, including the implementation of the
Victorian Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy and associated legislation for the
department’s relevant portfolio industry sectors.
Planned rotations will provide experience in emergency management in other Government
emergency management bodies, and further policy experience within the department in other
contexts
Rotation one will focus on:
 Coordination of emergency management responsibilities across the department
 The department’s role in whole-of-government emergency management policy
 Collaboration between government and industry on the building of industry resilience
 Risk management strategies for critical infrastructure resilience
The graduate will gain experience in:
 State emergency management policy and reform agenda
 Development and implementation of policy direction
 Support of senior committees and application of policy decisions
 Working with industry on critical infrastructure resilience initiatives and legislative
compliance
Rotation two will focus on:
 State emergency management policy
 Application of State command and control arrangements during the bushfire season
 Function of peak State committees
 Assurance of emergency management and critical infrastructure resilience delivery
The graduate will gain experience in:
 Development and application of State emergency management policy
 Delivery of State emergency management policy outcomes
 Operation of peak State committees
 State response and recovery arrangements
 Oversight of effectiveness of emergency management service delivery
Rotation three will focus on:
 Policy in a non-emergency management discipline
 Understanding the breadth of the department’s role and the importance of policy
leadership
The graduate will gain experience in:
 The process for delivering the Government’s policy objectives
Policy development in another area of discipline
Locations:
Melbourne CBD/.TBC/ TBC
8 Animal Health Officer
The primary focus of the Animal Health Officer (AFO) role is to promote compliance with
Victoria’s disease control, animal welfare and agricultural chemical legislation to mitigate the
economic and social effects of such incidents. This role will operate as part of a district and
regional team and report to the District Veterinary Officer.
AHOs will act as a DEDJTR Authorised Officer ensuring compliance with provisions of relevant
legislation, undertaking investigations and giving evidence in court as required, AHOs must
successfully complete the Authorised Officer Foundational Training to be granted full
authorisation.
Rotation one will be in Geelong (7 Months) and will focus on:
Conducting audits in saleyards, abattoirs, farms, stock feed manufactures and feed distributors
in accordance with the relevant Manuals and Procedures and the deliverables od the Barwon
South West Animal Health team work plan.
The graduate will develop an understanding of key industry risks from a biosecurity and market
access perspective. This will include to contributing to project work around disease surveillance,
emergency response and preparedness and animal welfare management across range of
locations and environments.
Rotation two will be in Ballarat (7 Months) and will focus on:
Animal welfare investigation in accordance with the relevant Manuals and Procedures and the
deliverables of the Grampian Animal Health team work plan. The graduate will gain experience
in developing their investigative knowledge and skills as a compliance officer to do with animal
welfare management and auditing across a range of locations and environments
Rotation three (TBA) (3 Months) and will focus on:
While this rotation is yet to be determined, it is anticipated that this rotation will focus on
examining the enforcement part of the compliance triangle by spending time with the Offence
Management Unit, the compliance group and the and having exposure to the courts.
The graduate will gain experience to refine their investigative knowledge and skills as they gain
insight into how the legal system works. They will build on their compliance knowledge and
skills through the review of legal matters and experience investigative procedures across other
regulatory fields to support the regulatory outcomes.
Rotation four will be at Attwood (7 Months) and will focus on:
The schedule of work for this rotation is yet to be determined however the graduate will work
closely with the Chief Veterinary Officer unit,
Locations:
Geelong/ Ballarat/ TBC/ Attwood
9 to 11 Graduate Research Agronomist Officers (note: 3 Roles all 18
month fixed term)
Within the Regional Research Agronomy Program, the Graduate Research Agronomist roles will
be working with and supporting grower groups, agronomy trials and disseminating research
outputs directly to farmers with an emphasis on collaborating with other service providers. This
is part of a broader partnership with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
to accelerate the development of new grains industry agronomists who can work across
industry networks to increase productivity in the sector.
The initial induction and introduction to grains industry and the DEDJTR Grains Research,
Development and Extension program will be at DEDJTR Regional office. The graduate will then
have the opportunity to work across two external placements to allow a working insight into a
large commercial farm advisory service and then with one of Victoria’s leading farmer driven
research and development groups.
At the conclusion of this program the graduate agronomist will have established extensive
networks across Victoria’s agronomy sector, as well as a deeper understanding of the key roles
and approaches used to deliver knowledge services to farmers across Victoria’s grain industry.
9 Graduate Research Agronomist Officer – Horsham
A Horsham this rotation will focus on:




Induction into DEDJTR and grains industry networking across the RD&E landscape
Supporting DEDJTR Research, Development & Evaluation associated with the Regional
Research Agronomy program at Horsham
Attending and participating in the planning and execution of extension events.
Working with DEDJTR researchers gaining field trial experience.
The graduate will gain experience in:

The operational context for DEDJTR and familiarisation with the RD&E activities
being delivered

Key focus areas for DEDJTR grains agronomy such as seasonal risk, nutrition and
pathology

DEDJTR project management approach and exposure to key RD&E grains
projects and programs

Supporting local DEDJTR grains industry trials, following a complete winter crop
season from sowing through to harvest

Utilisation of social media and e-communication techniques to ensure
knowledge transfer to target audiences

Design & delivery of projects which support and grow the capability of the grains
service sector – understanding DEDJTR’s wider role in the RD&E continuum
The second rotation (location TBA) will focus on:

Supporting a leading regional service provider, and an agronomist role to create client
farm plans and provide agronomy support to farmer clients and installing/maintaining
trials.
The graduate will gain experience in:

Understanding the operational context for a large commercial agriculture services
company

Supporting trials, demonstrations, field days and service delivery

Understanding the farming systems and enterprises typical of the medium rainfall zone

Service delivery approaches used by commercial agronomy sector
The last rotation at Birchip with the Birchip Cropping Group will focus on:

An external placement with rainfall leading farmer driven research & demonstration
group.
The graduate will gain experience in:

Design, establishment, analysis and reporting on a full season of grains agronomy trials
(from sowing through to harvest/reporting)

Experience working in a farmer driven research and demonstration group

Grains industry networks established with key RD&E experts

Understanding the operational context for a not for profit farming systems group,
driven by farmer membership

Operating within a participatory research group and network


Trial development and management and planning/delivery of large field day events
The grains agronomy and enterprise issues associated with Victoria’s high rainfall
cropping zone
Locations: Horsham/.TBC/ Birchip
10 Graduate Research Agronomist Officer – Bendigo
Commencing in Bendigo, this rotation will focus on:
 Induction into DEDJTR and grains industry networking across the RD&E landscape
 Supporting DEDJTR Seasonal Variability Agronomy staff with key projects such as
production of e-products including ‘The Break’ and soil moisture monitoring for
improved farmer decisions.
 Attending and participating in the planning and execution of extension events.
 Working with DEDJTR researchers gaining field trial experience.
The graduate will gain experience in:
 The operational context for DEDJTR and familiarisation with the RD&E activities being
delivered
 Key focus areas for DEDJTR grains agronomy such as seasonal risk, nutrition and
pathology
 DEDJTR project management approach and exposure to key RD&E grains projects and
programs
 Supporting local DEDJTR grains industry trials, following through a complete winter crop
season from sowing through to harvest
 Utilisation of social media and e-communication techniques to ensure knowledge
transfer to target segments
 Design & delivery of projects which support and grow the capability of the grains service
sector – understanding DEDJTR’s wider role in the RD&E continuum
The second rotation will be located in Shepparton and focus on:
 Supporting a leading regional service provider, IKCaldwell in an agronomist role to
create client farm plans and provide agronomy support to farmer clients and
installing/maintaining trials.
The graduate will gain experience in:
 Pest, weed and disease identification and crop protection options.
 Understanding the operational context for a large commercial agriculture services
company
 Supporting trials, demonstrations, field days and service delivery
 Understanding the farming systems and enterprises typical of the medium rainfall zone
 Service delivery approaches used by commercial agronomy sector
The last rotation will be in the Riverine Plains with FAR Australia and focus on:
Working with an external placement with Victoria’s medium/high rainfall farmer driven research
& demonstration group.
The graduate will gain experience in:
 Design, establishment, analysis and reporting on a full season of grain agronomy trials
(from sowing through to harvest/reporting)
 Experience working in a farmer driven research and demonstration group, with focus on
high rainfall cropping systems
 Grains industry networks established across key RD&E experts
 Understanding the operational context for a not for profit farming systems group,
driven by farmer membership
 Operating within a participatory research group and network
 Trial development and management and planning/delivery of large field day events
 The grains agronomy and enterprise issues associated with Victoria’s high rainfall
cropping zone
Locations: Bendigo/.Shepparton/ River Plains
11 Graduate Research Agronomist Officer – Hamilton
The first rotation in Hamilton, will focus on:

Induction into DEDJTR and grains industry networking across the RD&E landscape

Supporting DEDJTR R, D & E associated with the Regional Research Agronomy program
at Hamilton

Attending and participating in the planning and execution of extension events.
 Working with DEDJTR researchers gaining field trial experience.
The graduate will gain experience in:

The operational context for DEDJTR and familiarisation with the RD&E activities being
delivered

Key focus areas for DEDJTR grains agronomy such as seasonal risk, nutrition and
pathology

DEDJTR project management approach and exposure to key RD&E grains projects and
programs

Supporting local DEDJTR grains industry trials, following a complete winter crop season
from sowing through to harvest

Utilisation of social media and e-communication techniques to ensure knowledge
transfer to target audiences

Design & delivery of projects which support and grow the capability of the grains service
sector – understanding DEDJTR’s wider role in the RD&E continuum
The location for the second rotation is TBC however will focus on:

Supporting a leading regional service provider, and an agronomist role to create client
farm plans and provide agronomy support to farmer clients and installing/maintaining
trials.
The graduate will gain experience in:

Understanding the operational context for a large commercial agriculture services
company

Supporting trials, demonstrations, field days and service delivery

Understanding the farming systems and enterprises typical of the medium rainfall zone

Service delivery approaches used by commercial agronomy sector
The last rotation in Inverleigh/Geelong with Southern Farming Systems (SFS) will focus on:
An external placement with rainfall leading farmer driven research & demonstration group.
The graduate will gain experience in:

Design, establishment, analysis and reporting on a full season of grains agronomy trials
(from sowing through to harvest/reporting)

Experience working in a farmer driven research and demonstration group

Grains industry networks established with key RD&E experts

Understanding the operational context for a not for profit farming systems group,
driven by farmer membership

Operating within a participatory research group and network

Trial development and management and planning/delivery of large field day events
The grains agronomy and enterprise issues associated with Victoria’s high rainfall
cropping zone

Locations: Hamilton/.TBC/ Inverleigh or Geelong