Career Prospects at Victorian Government

On a positive note, upon completion of the program an immediate pay rise is given. On the other hand, further promotions feel hard to achieve without having to move out of my original subject and interest area.

You would be surprised at how many VPS employees at varying levels began as graduates. It is a fantastic opportunity to join the public service and will be looked on favourably to other governmental entities. Some rotations offer their graduates continuing positions as promotions.

Mostly, I am satisfied with promotion prospects. I have been able to have discussions with my supervisors about progressing upon completion of the graduate year. However, I think the options for progression should be more candidly presented by VPSC (ie. the fact that you can negotiate salary upon return within a VPS level, based on merit), or the fact that certain people might want to move on to different roles etc.

I am yet to be promoted, so I cannot comment on this from experience.

Career progression is strictly defined in the same department. With switching departments offering a faster rate of progression. Alternatively moving from the public to private sector will enable even faster career progression at an early stage, if desired.

It takes applying for jobs to move up the ranks, or wait for your manager or coworker to leave and take their place. There is no real progression inside your job, except 0.0.1 bands. VPS 3.1 -> VPS 4.1 requires having the role reclassified as a higher role or applying for a different job. Generally things don't get reclassified except during job cuts or restructures, and it's usually to reclassify down so VPS 4 -> VPS 3. However, there are many job opportunities in different departments through the JSE (Jobs and Skills Exchange) website, so I've heard many stories of people getting higher roles pretty easily. Just have to be flexible in leaving your current team / department and moving to where the priority areas are.

If you are unlucky with rotations it makes it very hard to get roles in areas aligned with your background there are also large round of down sizing currently occurring

You might get a grade progression at the end of financial year but to get an actual promotion you will need to apply for a higher grade job

I think progression in the VPS and specifically in grad program is varied. In the grad program, you begin as a VPS2 and upon completion become a VPS3 (ongoing). This means we are not eligible for progression for a whole year after the program. While I recognise that the grad year is a learning and development year, I think that we should have the opportunity to become VPS4 at the end. This will incentivise people to stay in the program and stay in their teams. Otherwise, to progress we have to leave the program. I also think progression depends on the department. Some have plenty of resources and positions. Others are underfunded and have people who are overqualified for their role. I think progression within a team is difficult. In the VPS we can move up bands (with a slight pay increase) each year if we meet certain criteria. However, the ability to get a 'promotion' or move up multiple bands at once is difficult.

At the end of the program, graduates are guaranteed an ongoing VPS 3 position. There are several graduates who have left the program and moved into VPS 4 positions throughout the year. There are many job opportunities advertised internally.