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AGO STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Cadetship Careers

The AGO STEM Cadetship Program is an exciting entry-level employment pathway for high-performing undergraduate students currently studying a relevant STEM tertiary degree. In particular, we are seeking candidates with tertiary disciplines including:

  • space
  • software and systems engineering
  • data science and data analytics
  • geomatics
  • statistics
  • computer science
  • spatial and earth sciences
  • physics and astrophysics
  • geographic information systems
  • oceanography
  • coding, scripting and programming
  • data management.

STEM cadets will be based in the AGO Bendigo, Canberra and Wollongong offices.

STEM cadets will be employed as Australian Public Service employees and will be provided with real-world, practical and high-quality work in AGO. During the cadetship, they will be able to apply their discipline, academic knowledge and skills to contribute to AGO’s current projects. Similarly, they will be able to apply the practical skills and knowledge they learn in AGO back into their studies. The AGO STEM Cadetship Program is open to Australian undergraduate university students who:

  • are Australian citizens
  • are studying full-time at an Australian university
  • are currently enrolled in a relevant undergraduate STEM degree (including Honours/Masters) or are eligible and agree to undertake an Honours/Masters degree as part of the program
  • will have successfully completed a minimum of 12 months full-time tertiary study of a relevant STEM degree prior to commencing the program
  • will complete their tertiary studies (including Honours/Masters) between the end of Semester Two 2023 and the end of Semester Two 2025
  • have a minimum Credit average (GPA>5 on a 7-point scale)
  • have at least 12 months full-time tertiary study remaining at the time of program commencement.

What we offer

As a STEM cadet, you will receive:

  • ongoing part-time APS employment with the Department of Defence/AGO
  • minimum of 60 paid work placement days per cadetship year
  • minimum annual salary of $52,652 pro rata plus 15.4% superannuation – based on the completion of 60 work placement days, this equates to a minimum salary of $12,150 per annum
  • reimbursement of compulsory university fees (i.e. course fees) for the STEM degree, upon successful completion of the relevant STEM units each semester
  • reimbursement of the cost of books and resources required for the STEM degree up to a maximum of $111 (GST inclusive) per year
  • $3,000 bursary payment per year
  • progression to an ongoing full-time APS Level 4 position upon successful completion of the program.

Program deadlines

Applications for the 2024 program are now closed. Applications will re-open in February 2024.

Further information

For further information, visit Defence STEM Career Pathways.