Graduate Opportunities

Since joining DIO in 2009 following the graduate program, with an Honours Degree in History, I have put my academic studies into practice and found that a straight Arts degree is not a direct route to burger-flipping like the endless jokes I heard at uni would have had me believe. In my time at DIO I have benefited from the organisation’s supportive working environment and have been able to further develop and refine my writing, research and analysis skills through additional training and day-to-day experience.

I’ve never been bored at DIO, and my time with the organisation has been defined by a fast-paced work environment, a wide variety of tasks and a chance to engage with individuals across the whole of government. Following my initial three-month placement as a graduate, I worked in DIO’s South-East Asia team, during which time I regularly briefed Defence senior officers, including CDF, on emerging regional issues. I then moved to the East Timor section, during which time I deployed to Dili for four months to support the work of the International Stabilisation Force. Being given the opportunity to perform as an analyst while living and working on a military base remains one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had both personally and professionally.

DIO provides a supportive and challenging work environment that is enhanced by the wide variety of experience and expertise amongst its staff. For anyone with an intellectual curiosity and a hunger to know more about world affairs, it’s the perfect place to work; it might even be the only place where you won’t feel compelled to apologise for your Arts degree.

I joined DIO in 2009, with a Masters in International Studies and undergraduate degree in Journalism. Following my placement there as a graduate, I remained in the DIO Afghanistan team until 2011. I really enjoyed the supportive learning environment, fast pace, variety of tasks and the chance to contribute to Australia’s most prominent overseas operation. A highlight was deploying to Afghanistan for a month. This was an invaluable experience where I lived on a military base and worked with a variety of foreign counterparts to write products and brief senior military officials.

In 2011, I joined the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) on a 12‑month DIO secondment. During this time, I worked on people smuggling and irregular immigration. In a high-pressure, politically-sensitive environment, I regularly briefed whole‑of‑government meetings and senior public servants. I facilitated liaison between DIO and ACBPS and was able to build a number of useful relationships for DIO. I returned to DIO in late 2012 and I am currently working in DIO’s editing cell, where I have further developed my writing and analytical skills.

In three years at DIO I have put my academic studies into practice, developed a wide range of skills and built a number of lasting friendships that eased the transition from Adelaide to Canberra. I highly recommend DIO to anyone who is interested in world affairs and wants to complement their university studies with extensive practical experience.

When I mention I am a civilian working for the Department of Defence, people don’t look very excited. But as an intelligence analyst working for DIO, I have never enjoyed work more. Working at DIO is so many things: challenging, fascinating, and, most of all, exhilarating.

As a graduate with a generalist degree, I wondered what I could possibly contribute to such an organisation. It is an organisation that understands that harnessing diversity makes it stronger – an enquiring mind and logical, analytical thinking are encouraged and valued.

One of the strengths of an organisation that really values people is the flexibility it offers, for example, I work a four-day week so I can spend time with my young child. Other colleagues study part-time, work non-standard hours, or in other ways balance their lives.