The Mila Kaaditj employment program is a great opportunity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 and older who have completed at least one semester of their undergraduate degree.
This program offers Aboriginal undergraduates the opportunity to contribute to statewide projects and initiatives, leveraging your skills and knowledge to positively impact the Western Australian economy.
Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED), in partnership with Nudge, are giving First Nations People the opportunity to work part time while studying at university. Working with their passionate and experienced teams, you will develop your knowledge and skills across a diverse range of departments.
We acknowledge and thank current DEED Mila Kaaditj trainee, Dillon Chua – for the time taken to speak and share his experience of the Mila Kaaditj program, for others. Thank You Dillon.
Program Highlights
- Attractive salary that increases each year
- Reimbursement for up to half of your course fees for the last 2 years of your degree to a maximum of $20,000 (conditions apply)
- Opportunity to build a career and earn a permanent position at our dynamic and varied agency.
- Training, support and mentoring from a range of friendly staff.
- Gain a wide range of experience across multiple departments.
- Flexibility to choose number of working days to suit your university timetable.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Support – data, analysis, reporting.
- Document Preparation – letters, reports, memos.
- Policy & Procedure Support – assist with development and review.
- Stakeholder Engagement – build and maintain effective working relationships.
- Digital Practices – use organisational systems and digital tools.
- Project Support – assist in the coordination and delivery of project activities.
Departments of DEED:
Strategy, Performance and International Engagement
- Aligns strategy, policy and planning across DEED.
- Ensures effective delivery and resource use.
- Leads WA’s investment, trade and international engagement agenda.
- Oversees Invest and Trade Western Australia.
- Manages WA’s international office network.
- Drives economic diversification and decarbonisation focus areas.
- Strengthens WA’s global relationships and education links.
Science and Innovation, Industry and Corporate Capability
- Builds WA’s science, innovation and industry capability.
- Provides targeted support to strengthen the State’s future economy.
- Administers DEED’s financial assistance and equity programs.
- Oversees business support functions to ensure operational efficiency.
- Supports research, development and innovation investment across WA.
- Connects industry, researchers and government to drive innovation outcomes.
Energy Policy WA
- Delivers policy advice and initiatives that shape WA’s energy sector.
- Made up of two divisions ‘Market Development and Coordination’ & ‘Strategic and Consumer Policy’.
- Supports Government delivery of reliable, sustainable and affordable energy services.
- Oversees energy and decarbonisation policy, regulation and market frameworks.
- Leads system planning, energy programs and sector-wide initiatives.
- Manages energy emergency response and readiness.
Powering WA
- Delivers new energy infrastructure for WA’s future needs.
- Drives decarbonisation through modernised energy generation, storage and transmission.
- Strengthens system resilience across the State’s electricity network.
- Supports future growth by enabling reliable, cleaner energy supply.
State Development and Project Facilitation
- Delivers project‑ready land to support economic development.
- Facilitates major State development projects across WA.
- Manages State Agreements supporting large and strategic industry projects.
- Supports approval processes for major resource and infrastructure projects.
- Leads planning and development of Strategic Industrial Areas.
Attributes We Are Seeking
- Enthusiastic and eager to learn
- Strong team player with a collaborative spirit
- Curious and skilled problem solver
- Effective and clear communicator
- Resilient and innovative thinker
- Has a can-do attitude
- Analytically minded with strong research skills
