Graduate Careers

The NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) is the largest child protection agency in Australia with approximately 4,000 employees and over 80 Community Services Centres across metropolitan and regional NSW from Tweed Heads to Albury and Broken Hill.

DoCS main objective is to promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and to build stronger families and communities. The Department provides parenting support and early intervention services, child protection services, foster care, adoption services and helps communities affected by disaster. These vital services are developed in line with international research and best practice.

Our requirements

We recruit graduates from a range of qualifications for caseworker roles.

If you have a degree qualification in social work, social science, welfare or a related discipline and possess good problem solving, decision making and communication skills, DoCS can offer you a challenging and rewarding career. Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse students are encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates will need to provide a copy of their birth certificate, proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency and a current NSW driver’s licence.

Your development

When you join DoCS you become a member of a group of skilled and dedicated professionals who work together to deliver and improve services to children and their families. Because we value our workforce we can offer you a wide variety of career prospects, professional development and support, as well as promotional opportunities and excellent conditions of employment. 

DoCS provides professional training and supervision to keep employees up-to-date. DoCS develop new programs and services in line with international research and best practice, setting a great direction for future career development. With an opportunity to work in a number of program areas - including early intervention, child protection and out-of-home care - or to work temporarily in another local office or in a rural location, you will be able to broaden your skills and experience.

Opportunities for advancement are available through our management development program and study assistance program.

Conditions and benefits

DoCS has attractive conditions of employment for new graduates including:

• competitive salaries
• promotional opportunities based on merit
• flexible work hours 
• generous leave arrangements, e.g. recreation and study
• temporary or permanent work in a city or rural location.

Application details

For further information on graduate opportunities and job vacancies with DoCS visit
www.community.nsw.gov.au/careers .