By Aoife Sheehan I APS Academy
At G26 Grad Connect, graduates from across the APS compared notes from their first weeks in government, built new connections and began defining how they want to work together as a cohort.
Starting a new role in the APS can feel a bit like picking up a puzzle that’s already in progress. You can see parts of the picture, but you’re still working out how the pieces connect and where your role fits.
In early March, more than 250 graduates from 27 agencies came together in Canberra for the G26 Grad Connect to begin putting the pieces of the broader APS picture together. As the opening in-person event of the APS Graduate Development Program, this was the first opportunity for many to meet peers from across the service, compare early experiences and begin building networks that will support them throughout their graduate year and beyond.
Comparing notes across agencies
The day began with a simple idea: graduates comparing notes. In an activity called the ‘Unofficial First Few Weeks Handbook’, graduates shared insights from their early experiences in the APS, from decoding unfamiliar acronyms to understanding how decisions are really made.
Despite coming from very different organisations, many discovered their experiences were strikingly similar and they enjoyed stepping outside their own agency to hear how others were navigating the same challenges.
Learning from recent graduates
The morning also included an alumni panel featuring recent graduates. Having sat in the same place as the event participants in recent years, the panel reflected on what they had learnt, what they wished they had known earlier and how they navigated moments of uncertainty.
Their advice was practical and reassuring- ask questions earlier than you think you should and build relationships beyond your immediate team.
Building connection and defining the cohort
As the day progressed, graduates shifted their focus from sharing experiences to building connection and trust. They took part in short activities designed to build openness and understanding, taught each other small skills and shared personal reflections.
That sense of connection carried into the final session of the day, where graduates turned their attention to the year ahead. Working in small groups, they were asked to reflect on what they wanted the G26 cohort to stand for.
They explored how they hoped others would describe the cohort at the end of the program and translated those aspirations into visible behaviours, including how they ask questions, share information openly, take responsibility for their work and support each other when challenges arise.
The ideas gathered will inform the 2026 APS GDP Charter, shaping how the cohort will work together throughout the year.
By the end of the day, graduates had not only compared experiences and formed new connections but had also begun shaping the kind of cohort they want to be as they move through the APS Graduate Development Program and the broader APS together.
Secure seats at future graduate events
If you or your agency are interested in future graduate events that connect graduates with practical learning, cross‑APS networks, and contemporary public sector challenges, places are now available. With in-person events like the Graduate Hackathon and Innovation in the APS, and virtual events exploring current APS themes throughout the year, agencies are invited to register their interest to access upcoming opportunities for their graduates.
To learn more, please contact the team