Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment About
In February 2020, the Department of Agriculture and Department of the Environment and Energy (Environment
Portfolio) merged to form the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
The Department is responsible for the following matters:
- Environment protection and conservation of biodiversity - Air quality
- National fuel quality standards - Land contamination - Meteorology
- Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory, and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands - Natural, built and cultural heritage
- Environmental information and research
- Co-ordination of sustainable communities policy - Urban environment
- Environmental water use and resources relating to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
What kind of work?
The Department employs people in a wide range of roles including:
- Policy development
- International engagement - Programs management - Science and research - Legal
- Economics - Finance
- Human resources - Regulatory
- Communications
Location
Canberra
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Graduate Opportunities
The Department offers a graduate program with six career streams to choose from: - Generalist
- Veterinary Science
- Finance and Accounting - Legal
- Human Resources
- Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Entry Level Professional Program
The legal stream program is based in Canberra and lasts for 16 months. The program develops graduates
to become trusted advisors across the full range of the Department's business responsibilities. You can find more information here:
https://www.awe.gov.au/about/jobs/graduates The Department also maintains a Temporary Employment Register. You can find more information here:
https://www.environment.gov.au/about-us/ employment/temporary-employment-register
Fun Fact / Recent Project
Threatened Species Strategy
In September 2020, the Federal Government announced a
10-year strategy to protect Australia's threatened species
that will draw heavily on research following this year’s bushfires and which is expected to include a significant focus on the catastrophic threats from feral pests and predators. Consultation will commence in October 2020.
