Student Guide
Created by local experts, find out more about the city and how to enjoy your time studying and living in Canberra.
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the ACT, the Ngunnawal people and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region.
Graduates in Canberra enjoy strong employment outcomes.
In fact, Canberra has Australia’s highest employment rate and the highest average income.
Applying for a Graduate Program with Canberra’s biggest employers – the Australian Government and ACT Government – can be a great way to kick start your career. You’ll be exposed to multiple aspects of government business and work on different projects that can potentially impact the local community or the entire nation. Working in the public sector can offer a rewarding career but is usually limited to Australian citizens or permanent residents. Speak to the recruitment officer to find out more.
Canberra has a thriving private sector where you can experience working for all the smallest of grassroot organisations to the biggest multinationals. More than 60% of Canberra’s jobs, across more than 25,000 businesses, are in the private sector. Our key growth industries are hiring, with big opportunities in renewable energy, space science, information technology and cyber security, agricultural technology, and environmental sciences to name a few.
Reaching out to professionals through past interning experiences, networking events and faculty connections can help you get your foot in the door and identify opportunities. Using online websites like seek.com or registering with recruitment agencies are other great ways to test the employment market.
The arrival of COVID-19 saw a rise in remote and flexible working arrangements, and in many cases, employers continue to offer these benefits. Don’t want to leave Canberra’s great lifestyle? Check out what remote opportunities are available in your field.
Finished off your honours or masters and still itching to learn some more? Check out what paid Post Doctorate opportunities are available. This can be a great way to continue learning and earn an income.
Perhaps you don’t want a job at all. Canberra welcomes new ideas and is the ideal choice to start or grow a business. Support for start-ups is available through a range of services, such as the Government-funded Canberra Innovation Network which empowers entrepreneurs to make an impact through accelerator programs, workshops, coaching and funding.