About the program
The Indigenous Apprenticeships Program (IAP) is a key initiative by the Australian Government aimed at increasing Indigenous employment opportunities within the Australian Public Service (APS).
It provides individuals from diverse backgrounds including school leavers, recent graduates, and those seeking a career change with a pathway to a rewarding career.
The program empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make a meaningful impact in the lives of Australians.
Recruitment for the IAP is managed by Services Australia, and we proudly participate in this initiative.
Applications for the 2025 intake are now closed.
The program runs for 12 months, during which you will:
IAP Apprentice: Hold a secure, full-time APS3 position, with the potential to advance to an APS4 role upon successfully completing the program.
Study: Receive support to study and achieve a Diploma in Government.
We place our Indigenous apprentices in many different roles in various locations across Australia.
Regulation and compliance: Assess goods coming into the country to prevent damaging pests and diseases from crossing our border.
Corporate support: Specialist skills in IT, finance and human resources to support our department to thrive.
Administration: Manage records and information that we rely on to make decisions and deliver our frontline services.
Working at DAFF
Our vision is a more sustainable and prosperous Australia through biosecurity, agricultural production and trade.
We maintain and create agricultural export opportunities, to provide gains for Australian agriculture, fishing and forestry. We manage biosecurity risks to Australia to protect our multi-billion-dollar industries and our way of life. We engage with international counterparts to reinforce Australia’s role in shaping how the global agriculture and fibre sector addresses food security, productivity, trade, sustainability and the impacts of climate change.
We are looking for people who are passionate about growing their skills to keep our country safe, resilient and thriving. The work we do today, matters for tomorrow.
Your role
As an apprentice you will help us achieve our objectives, including:
Biosecurity: Strengthening our national biosecurity system to provide an appropriate level of protection to Australia’s people, our environment and economy from the biosecurity threats of today and tomorrow.
Resilience and sustainability: Increasing the contribution agriculture, forestry and fisheries make to a healthy, sustainable and low emissions environment.
Industry growth: Supporting industry to grow toward a $100 billion agriculture, fisheries and forestry industry by 2030 amid changing global market conditions.
Benefits
Benefits of the IAP program include:
Diverse Career Development: Gain hands on experience through varied workplace rotations. As your career grows, you’ll be able to apply for scholarships, awards and training. You’ll also be eligible for mainstream and Indigenous specific programs and awards.
Comprehensive Support and Networking: Gain access to a dedicated support team and connect with Entry Level and First Nations networks, alongside formal training through the Australian Public Service Commission Academy. This training fosters professional growth and promotes collaboration across agencies. Throughout the program, the Entry Programs team will provide ongoing support, and you’ll be paired with a First Nations mentor and buddy to guide you and ease your transition into your new role.
Competitive Benefits and Flexibility: Enjoy a competitive remuneration package, relocation assistance, and flexible work arrangements, ensuring a balanced and rewarding work-life experience.
For more information on the department's workplace conditions, refer to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Enterprise Agreement.
Download
DAFF Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 (PDF 1.74 MB)
DAFF Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 (DOCX 309 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Meet IAP participants
Hear from staff who started their journeys as apprentices, discover a variety of career paths, and get an inside look at the daily experiences of an IAP participant.
Our information pack
Discover how you can advance your career with DAFF. Explore our digital information pack designed for IAP candidates.
Location
Our IAP Program provides opportunities across various locations in Australia including:
- ACT: Canberra
- NSW: Sydney and Broken Hill
- QLD: Brisbane
- VIC: Melbourne
- SA: Adeliade
- NT: Darwin
- WA: Perth
Apply
Grow your career with us.
Applications for the 2025 Indigenous Apprenticeships Program have now closed. To start your career with us, be sure to nominate the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as your preferred agency.
Contact us
To talk to someone about our programs, email entryprograms@aff.gov.au.