Specialist training

Accounting and Finance and Economics graduates participate in additional learning and development activities which address specific technical and professional development needs.

Accounting and Finance specialist training
Economist specialist training

Accounting and Finance specialist training

Professional study

You are encouraged to do further study to assist your professional development and to help meet the business needs of your home department. The support you’ll be given includes:

• reimbursement of CPA and CA membership and enrolment fees during your GRAD year and following completion of the program
• study and exam leave while studying
• in-house CPA Segment Workshops (where enrolment numbers allow)
• help to establish graduate study groups and to source professional mentors.

Seminars

The Accounting and Finance seminar series provides graduates with:

• an introduction to a broad range of public sector financial management processes
• an understanding of upcoming financial management issues and technical accounting developments
• a forum to analyse and discuss issues
• the opportunity to hear from senior public sector leaders and accounting professionals.

Seminar content and structure will vary according to the topic. Over the course of the year, you’ll have a mix of lecture presentations, workshop sessions and panel discussions.

Executive mentoring

You may choose to be matched with a Department of Treasury and Finance mentor for the duration of the program. (You may choose not to participate if you are involved in the Graduate Recruitment and Development Scheme Executive Mentoring Program. You will generally meet with your mentor on a monthly basis.

Economist specialist training

Economics graduates are offered a Professional Graduate Economist Module co-ordinated by the Department of Treasury and Finance and designed to ensure you are equipped to develop your skills and experience, and to position you to contribute fully in policy units across the Victorian Public Service.

The Professional Graduate Economist Module (PGEM) will provide you with many opportunities, including:

• knowledge of contemporary economic policy issues facing the Victorian Government;
• additional skills and resources needed to develop as a professional economist in the Victorian Public Service;
• an opportunity to undertake an economics-related project which involves preparation of a research report or policy paper, and delivery of an associated presentation; and
• guidance on professional readiness to enter a permanent placement at the completion of your graduate year.

There are four components of the PGEM:

1. Contemporary Issues: Knowledge Building

• a standing invitation to attend DTF’s Professional Learning and Development Series on such issues as economic policy, taxation policy, regulatory reform and climate change economics; and
• encouragement to attend a minimum of five events.

2. Economist’s Toolkit: Skills Development
Participation in workshops* such as:

• the Victorian economy and its relationship to the national economy;
• best practice approaches to regulation;
• seminar by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on access to and analysis of economic statistics;
• introduction to the applications of the cost – benefit approach to economic evaluation of policy proposals; and
• the application of experimental economics and behavioural economics to problems of economic policy.

*Please note that actual workshops may vary year to year.

3. Research and development: Project Experience

• the opportunity to conduct a project in one of the three placements;
• project management under direction from an experienced supervisor; and
• preparation of a project report and communication through a presentation to work colleagues.

4. Professional Readiness: Professional Growth

• advice on the challenges and opportunities for graduate economists about moving from the graduate year to a permanent position; and
• encouragement to join the Economic Society of Australia (the foremost association for professional economists across Australia) and contribute to the Society’s activities.