Social Work Graduate (Feb 2028)

HTU; Coffs Harbour; Hybrid; AUD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary from day one

Permanent role on completion

Buddy and mentor support

Networking events

Job summary

NSW Government is offering a Graduate Program – Social Work stream, with placement supporting children, families and carers to achieve safety and wellbeing. You’ll learn how child protection operates across systems while completing tailored development training.

The program promises a clear pathway to becoming a case worker, with permanent employment upon completion and a competitive salary from day one. Roles are available across Regional NSW and Sydney Metro, with buddy and mentor support.

Qualifications

• Eligibility: undergraduate/postgraduate degree between 1 June 2025 and 31 December 2027, including work placements
• Visa status: valid visa to work full-time in Australia for 18-month duration (to August 2029)
• Start date: full-time work from February 2028

Responsibilities

• Transform the lives of vulnerable children and families through the Social Work stream
• Learn how child protection works across systems, policies and practice
• Contribute to community outcomes and support meaningful projects

Job description

NSW Government Graduate Program Social Work Stream

• Join an employer of over 400,000
• Contribute to community outcomes
• Permanent role on successful program completion
• Work experience not needed

Start your social work career with NSW's biggest employer

Are you interested in working with children, young people and their families and carers to bring about support, protection, and safety?

In the NSW Government Graduate Program Social Work stream, you’ll play a part in transforming the lives of vulnerable children. You’ll apply your knowledge and skills to improve the lives of children, adults, families, and communities who often experience disadvantage and live in varied and challenging circumstances. In the Social Work stream, you’ll learn about how child protection works across systems, policies and practice.

What's in it for you?

• Pathway to becoming a case worker
• Complete tailored case worker development training
• Competitive salary from day one
• Opportunity to work on meaningful projects
• Support – buddy and mentor
• Networking events with your graduate cohort
• Work life balance
• Roles available in Regional NSW and Sydney Metro
• Gain ongoing (permanent) employment once you finish

Join a diverse workforce

We welcome and strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We’re committed to providing opportunities for and welcoming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability or neurodivergence. Our graduate cohorts reflect the diversity of the community we serve.

We are a Disability Confident Recruiter accredited by the Australian Disability Network. Our recruitment practices have been assessed to ensure we are adhering to best-practice inclusive recruitment. We invite people with disability or neurodivergence to contact us about adjustments to support you at any stage of the recruitment process.

Eligibility

To apply for the 2028 graduate program, you must:

• hold a current visa or be in the process of obtaining a visa permitting you to work full-time in Australia for the 18-month duration of the program until August 2029
• complete your undergraduate or postgraduate degree between 1 June 2025 and 31 December 2027, including any work placements
• be available to start full-time work on February 2028.

Visit our website for more information about the eligibility requirements.