Beginning a career in Australia could be the start of something special. Between its beautiful beaches and unspoiled outback, the country offers endless opportunities for rewarding work. Big companies in every imaginable industry have a base here, and all are always keen to find and develop new talent. If that sounds appealing, keep reading. We can point you in the right direction with our guide to the top employers in Australia.
Commonwealth Bank
In addition to being the largest of the country's Big Four banks, Commonwealth is one of Australia's top graduate employers. It places fourth on the national rankings compiled by careers service Prosple, in part thanks to its well-regarded graduate programmes. These gave a start to many of its 40,000 employees in Australia, who work on everything from retail banking to investment management.
While it may be especially attractive to finance and accounting graduates, CommBank seeks applicants with a broad range of educational backgrounds. Throughout its operations, it needs data scientists, digital marketers and software engineers. Even if you have never considered working for a bank, it could well be an option.
To take part in the Commonwealth Bank graduate programme, you must be a citizen of Australia or New Zealand, or a permanent resident of Australia. Alternatively, you could apply for a non-graduate role, or look at one of Australia's other major banks. The graduate scheme at ANZ is open to applicants with a graduate visa.
Canva
Since its beginning in 2013, Canva has simplified graphic design for more than 100 million people around the world. The user-friendly online platform is the backbone of everything from major social media channels to high school presentations. It is also known as a great place to work, with Prosple rating it as one of the 10 best graduate employers in Australia.
Here, tech expertise and visual creativity combine to powerful effect. Reflecting this, the Canva Launchpad Program offers a wide variety of graduate roles. Brand designer, machine learning engineer and creative technologist are just some of the titles you could take up at the company.
International graduates are welcomed on the programme, which runs for 12 months. While you may be based at Canva's headquarters in Sydney, you could also work at its office in Melbourne; its co-working spaces in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth; or even at home. At this forward-thinking tech business, flexibility is standard.
GHD
This engineering-focused consultancy was founded in Melbourne almost 100 years ago, and has grown to become a prime destination for graduates in a variety of fields. When a major project is undertaken in Australia, GHD are often involved. As such, they are always looking for people with a diversity of skills.
On the two-year GHD Graduate Development Program, you could get your start as a civil engineer, environmental scientist or communications expert. In each case, you will be part of some substantial projects. The company's work in Australia has recently included major ecology studies, sustainable energy infrastructure and the construction of everything from hospitals to bus stations.
Around 5,000 employees work at GHD nationwide, but it is far from the only business of its kind in the country. Other top graduate employers in Australia include its competitor Arup. This global consultancy has had a presence in the country ever since it helped build the Sydney Opera House in the 1960s.
Ramsay Health Care
This private healthcare provider runs hospitals and other facilities around the world, but was founded in Sydney. Almost 35,000 people work for Ramsay Health Care in Australia, and more than 90,000 people internationally. That makes it one of the biggest companies of its type.
In addition to its standard hiring process, it runs two separate graduate programmes: one for its corporate operations, and one for health specialists.
The former is known as the Global Graduate Programme, and is designed to appeal to those with an international mindset. Over a two-year period, it will send you on three eight-month placements. Two will be based in Australia – one in an office and another in a hospital – while the third will take place in one of Ramsay's other locations elsewhere in the world.
For health and medicine students, the Graduate Pathways Programme is a great way to put your learning into practice. Ramsay seeks nurses, midwives, pharmacists and more for this scheme.
Of course, it is far from your only option, as health-related roles are always among the most in-demand jobs in Australia. The country has one of the best public healthcare systems in the world, and that may be the place to look first.
Wesfarmers
With around 120,000 employees, Wesfarmers is one of Australia's biggest employers, offering an incredible array of opportunities to graduates from all fields of study. As a conglomerate, it operates in many different areas. Retail, chemical production and safety equipment are just some of its specialisms.
Accordingly, the business has many subdivisions, which all hire workers independently. Many of these have their own graduate schemes, offering many different routes into work. For anyone keen on a career in retail, there are programmes at Kmart and Bunnings, while STEM graduates may be interested in Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers.
Qantas
Australia's national airline is one of the oldest in the world – and one of the biggest. Founded in 1920, Qantas today employs more than 20,000 people in the country, and thousands more worldwide. This is a truly global company, which uniquely sends passengers to all seven continents, including Antarctica.
Its graduate programme consists of six specialist pathways, including engineering, finance and digital. A diversity of talent is therefore sought and encouraged to flourish. The two years you spend on the programme will be divided into four six-month periods placed in different parts of the business. These rotations will enable you to explore multiple organisational areas, and ultimately establish which suits you best.
Although the programme is only open to citizens and permanent residents of Australia, others can apply for non-graduate roles, or ones based in elsewhere in the world. As an alternative route into aviation, you could also look into roles at the country's next biggest airlines, Virgin and Rex.
Macquarie
Founded in Sydney in 1969, Macquarie has grown to become a world-leading financial services company, and one of Australia's top employers. It is the biggest infrastructure fund manager in the world, and a key player in global business. As such, its 8,000 Australia-based employees can be richly rewarded.
The company's graduate programme comprises several different streams. Although most of these focus directly on finance, there are also options in areas including human resources, marketing and cybersecurity. You can apply regardless of the subject you have studied, with up to two years of huge career development ahead if you are successful.
Although the Macquarie graduate scheme was previously open to international applicants, it is currently limited to citizens of Australia and New Zealand, and permanent residents of Australia. Until this changes again, you could explore other roles at the company, or look elsewhere. Big names such as JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and BNP Paribas all have a presence in the country.
Telstra
As the operator of a national phone network and internet service provider, Telstra is Australia's top telecommunications company. It employs around 25,000 people in the country in both technical and non-technical roles. Together, they are responsible for keeping Australia connected, and this takes skills and experience of all kinds.
The Telstra graduate programme is divided into eight different pathways, which each give new recruits 14 months of hands-on experience and close support. International students are eligible to apply for one of the technical routes, which include software engineering and data analytics. Providing that you have graduated in the past three years, this could be the first step of a very successful career.
If you feel motivated after meeting the top employers in Australia, you might like to look into how you could get to work with them. Start with our guide to the country's best universities. Then, we can help you explore the Australian job market, advise you on finding a graduate career, and show you how to apply for a post-study visa. Alternatively, you can look further afield with the top employers around the world.
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