Graduate Program 2025-2026 in Department for Health and Wellbeing

The Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW) is excited to share our Graduate Program and invite you to apply for the opportunity to turn your knowledge into a fulfilling heath career. The DHW Graduate Program offers opportunities in a variety of corporate divisions.

DHW offers a structured pipeline program which provides varied experience to build knowledge and skills, while undertaking professional development and providing support opportunities. Graduates will rotate through various teams, to help broaden skills and experiences.

DHW is setting the gold standard for not only offering Graduates a steppingstone to begin their career though a pathway in which they can obtain a wealth of hands-on experience and development in the dynamic world of healthcare.

What the program offers

The program offers:

• guidance and mentorship – graduates will be assigned a mentor who will work with them to enable growth.
  
• hands-on experience – graduates will engage in a combination of hands-on experience, and formal and informal training.
  
• contribute to the health care system – graduates will undertake enriching work which contributes to shaping the future of healthcare.
  
• flexible working – the DHW work environment offers flexible working arrangements which prioritise wellbeing and help ensure professional and personal success.
  
• collaboration – collaborate with diverse teams and work with a range stakeholders.
  
• industry partnerships – work with industry partners to further develop your career and professional network.

Join us in creating a healthier future for South Australia. The DHW Graduate Program is your gateway to a world of opportunities, growth, and impact.

Graduate streams available 

Graduate streams include:

• Commissioning and Performance
• Digital Health SA
  
• Infrastructure
• New Women’s and Childrens Hospital
• Procurement, Supply Chain and Finance
• Public Health
  
• Strategy and Governance
  
• Workforce Services

See below for more information on each of the workstreams. 

Workforce Services

Workforce Services (Human Resources) are responsible for the attraction, development and retention of talent to allow the department to deliver world class health care services. The division is dedicated to ensuring the right people are placed in the right roles at the right time and are making a positive impact on the healthcare system. As a graduate, you will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic and forward-thinking role that operates with a high degree of autonomy, and be at the forefront of delivering a diverse range of innovative workforce management services tailored to meet both current and future organisational needs. Joining Workforce Services means contributing to better healthcare outcomes for all South Australians.

See the Workforce Graduate Officer role description (PDF 191KB).

Infrastructure

Providing leadership on all matters relating to SA Health property and built assets, the Infrastructure team is at the forefront of enhancing the South Australian healthcare landscape. The division upholds public government values, supports delivery of capital projects, provide commercial property, leasing, and facilities management advice, and works to improve asset management across the system.

As a graduate, your contributions will be instrumental in ensuring Infrastructure’s continued ability to provide strategic, active, and expert role in the administration of its leased accommodation property and strategic land projects assets. Activities may include supporting the analysing and informing of business cases for new infrastructure, supporting market based commercial lease research, applying commercial acumen and financial analysis skills to ensure robust, cost effective terms, support tasks in relation to Crown Solicitor’s Office, applying broad asset management frameworks and information management for a large and complex state hospital critical infrastructure and clinical service/administration property portfolio to name a few.

See the Infrastructure Graduate role description (PDF 212KB).

Strategy and Governance

Join the Directorate of Strategy and Innovation, where your skills will contribute to shaping South Australia’s health future. As a graduate, you'll work across several dynamic branches, including Child Protection & Policy, Aboriginal Health, Governance Advisory, Strategy & Intergovernmental Relations, and Mental Health Strategy & Planning. Each branch plays a crucial role in driving key initiatives, from safeguarding children’s well-being to advancing Aboriginal health outcomes, ensuring effective governance, and leading health reforms. Be part of a team committed to innovation, collaboration, and excellence in health services for South Australians.

See the Graduate Project Officer, Strategy and Governance role description (PDF 193KB).

Commissioning and Performance

Commissioning and Performance drives community value through the effective commissioning of health services to meet community health needs as well as deliver system strategy and direction. Progressing an integrated approach to funding and purchasing, performance management and broader relationship management, it is the focal point for provider relationships between the Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW), all Local Health Networks (LHNs), SA Ambulance Service (SAAS), Statewide Clinical Support Services (SCSS) such as DonateLife SA and SA Pathology, and non-government organisations (NGOs).The division is responsible for performance monitoring, policy development, funding policy and financial analysis to ensure efficient service delivery. As a graduate, you will play a vital role by providing support for both daily operations and long-term strategic initiatives. This position entails delivering timely, accurate, and evidence-based advice, as well as contributing to data analysis, financial analysis, economic analysis, and statistical analysis on matters relevant to the Commissioning and Performance Division.

See the Graduate Project Officer, Commissioning and Performance role description (PDF 189KB).

New Women’s and Children's Hospital

The New Women's and Children's Hospital (New WCH) Project Office is responsible for the planning, design and management of a new, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of women, babies, children, young people and their families. As a graduate, you will play a vital role within the New WCH project team, gaining invaluable experience and mentorship from seasoned professionals, and developing essential skills in the areas of project management, procurement, financial management, contract management, risk management, governance, assurance, and stakeholder engagement.

See the Graduate Officer New WCH Project role description (PDF 212KB).

Procurement, Supply Chain and Finance

Are you ready to shape the future of strategic planning and financial governance? Join our dynamic team in Procurement, Supply Chain, and Finance (PSCF). As a Corporate System Support graduate, you will dive into the exciting world of corporate systems—working across procurement, project management, data analytics, engagement, and supply chain. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of optimising operations and driving impactful change across a diverse and complex portfolio.

As a finance graduate, you’ll play a crucial role in delivering high-quality support to Department of Health and Wellbeing (DHW), Local Health Networks (LHNs), and other stakeholders, ensuring they have timely and accurate financial information at their fingertips. Your work will empower decision-makers through insightful monitoring, analysis, and reporting of financial data, while also refining our financial systems and practices. Step into a role where your analytical skills and customer-focused approach can truly make a difference!

See the Graduate Finance Officer role description (PDF 194KB) and Graduate Corporate Systems Support Officer (PDF 200KB).

Public Health

Public Health is responsible for promoting healthy living and protecting South Australia's community from disease and health hazards, by using health protection, health promotion and preventive health approaches at a population level. Public Health supports the preparation and response to health emergencies, other public health challenges and manage blood supply and organ and tissue donation; control communicable and infectious diseases at a population level in South Australia; and are responsible for a wide range of health protection functions through policy development, legislation and provision of technical advice, delivery of health protection programs and the management of compliance with public health legislation. As a graduate, your role will involve preparing reports, briefing notes, and actively contributing to divisional business plan projects, providing timely, accurate, and evidence-based advice. You may also be invited to participate in operational activities, including emergency exercises, inspections or outbreak meetings.

See the Graduate Project Officer, Public Health role description (PDF 218KB).

Digital Health SA

Digital Health SA is the division of SA Health responsible for providing and maintaining the information and communications technology (ICT) that supports the state’s healthcare system. Digital Health SA delivers integrated technology solutions embedded into clinical practice. Co-design, collaboration and integration between technology and clinical teams continues to increase. As a graduate, your role will be instrumental in providing crucial support for technology and infrastructure services and projects. This entry-level position emphasises hands-on experience and skill development within the technology and infrastructure unit.

See the Technology Support Graduate role description (PDF 208KB).