Australian Energy Regulator (AER) 2026 Graduate Program (EA2025/127)

Put yourself at the heart of shaping Australia’s energy future. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is Australia’s independent electricity and gas markets regulator. The AER exists to make energy consumers better off, now and in the future. Join a team that is playing a pivotal role in ensuring a secure, reliable and affordable energy future for Australia as it transitions to net zero emissions. You will have the opportunity to work on innovative, future-focused initiatives like tariff reform, better energy bills, strategies to tackle consumer vulnerability in the energy market and our energy innovation toolkit.

If you have tertiary qualifications and are passionate about contributing to the greater good of Australia and Australian consumers, we encourage you to apply. We are seeking high-performing team players, creative-thinkers, problem-solvers and analytical minds. This could be from any discipline, for example:

Arts and design Business and commerce Government and public administration Communications, public-relations and media Mathematics, data analysis and statistics Economics Education and social work Finance and accounting IT, computer science and technology Law Engineering Medicine, health and psychology Science and humanities Diversity and inclusion leverages a range of experiences and perspectives that drive belonging, engagement, performance, innovation and productivity. We encourage applications from First Nations people, people with disability, people with cultural and linguistic diversity, LGBTIQ people and are committed to achieving gender equality.

We have a particular focus on supporting women and those from diverse backgrounds into senior leadership. To find out more about what it means to work with us, please click here. To apply, please complete the online application form.

Joining The AER As a Graduate, You Can Expect a starting salary of $74,233 per annum from 13 March 2025, agency salary increase from 12 March 2026 to $76,757, advancing to $83,385 per annum in November 2026 and $93,004 upon successful completion of the program in June 2027 to work on challenging projects that directly impact and influence the future of Australia’s energy system to work with and learn from leading experts in the energy sector, with regular opportunities to network, socialise, share experiences and develop relationships to work with exceptional supervisors who are invested in your success and continuous development challenging rotations across various Divisions career pathways beyond your graduate years flexible working arrangements such as flexible hours of work, and work from home options ability to work from our offices located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney an inclusive workplace culture that promotes diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity.

Want even more benefits?BenefitsIn addition to the benefits of the graduate program, as an ongoing employee of the AER you will also be eligible for: an attractive remuneration package, including a base salary + 15. 4% superannuation excellent leave benefits, including:

four weeks of annual leave and sick leave per year (pro-rated for part time employees) the opportunity to purchase additional annual leave degendered paid parental leave so all parents can access 18 weeks following birth, adoption or permanent fostering (by 26/27) First Nations cultural leave (1 day leave each year for NAIDOC, 6 days over 2 years for cultural and ceremonial purposes cultural leave of 3 days per year for essential religious or cultural obligations office shutdown between the Christmas and New Year period where employees are absent from work without having to use leave flexible working conditions, including access to our flex scheme ongoing career development, including chances to work in different locations, opportunities for advancement and mobility within the organisation, formal and on-the job training programs and possibilities to participate in secondments with other APS agencies.

How can you get involved?We thought you’d never ask! Applications for our 2026 Graduate Program are now open. To find out more information about the AER Graduate Program, our eligibility criteria and what we expect from our graduates, please download our candidate kit. The candidate kit also includes information about the recruitment and selection process. To apply, please complete the online application form. You will be asked to provide personal information, as well as details about your work history, qualifications, and academic transcript and upload a response to the work sample assessment attached. Applications close 11:

00 pm (AEST) Sunday 24 August 2025. Assessment centres will take place in October, with offers made to successful applicants from November 2025. Know someone who might be interested in a spot in our 2026 Graduate Program? Share this page with them – you never know, you might make their career!