This guide curates paid internships and vacation schemes across consulting, finance, tech, engineering, government, and research. Details can vary by team/location each year — always confirm dates and requirements on the official program page before applying.

How this list works

• Duration windows: most programs run 8–12 weeks across November–February; some are 3–8 weeks.
• Eligibility: typically penultimate-year (undergrad or postgrad). Some accept wider cohorts; a few require specific work rights (e.g., citizenship for certain roles/locations).
• Conversion: strong performance can lead to early graduate offers.

Recruitment timeline (typical)

1. Adverts open: usually July–August (some open earlier in Feb/Mar).
2. Assessments: online tests → video/job simulation → interview/assessment day.
3. Offers: rolling; many close early when volumes are high. Apply early.

Quick picks by field

Program profiles (what to expect)

Consulting & Assurance

• PwC Vacationer: ~7 weeks paid; penultimate-year; real client work; strong performers often considered for grads.
• KPMG Vacationer: ~3–8 weeks paid; penultimate-year; pathway to Graduate Program.
• Deloitte Vacationer: about 4–8 weeks paid; multiple business areas; November or January starts by team.
• EY Vacationer: penultimate-year; paid client exposure; grad offer possible based on performance.

Banking & Markets

• Commonwealth Bank (CBA) Summer Intern: ~10 weeks paid (late Nov–late Jan), with holiday break.
• ANZ Summer Intern: ~8 weeks paid; November cohort; exposure across business areas.
• NAB Summer Intern: ~8 weeks paid, with a Christmas shutdown break noted in some streams.
• Westpac Summer Intern: typically starts late Nov/early Dec; multiple streams; Sydney + other states.

Technology

• Atlassian Summer Internship (Sydney): ~12 weeks full-time (late Nov–late Feb schedules appear in listings).
• Canva Internship (Sydney): ~12 weeks over summer; product, engineering, data, design, more.
• Telstra Career Start (Summer): full-time for a few weeks over summer, then part-time during semester; tech pathways open to eligible international students.

Engineering, Energy & Infrastructure

• BHP Internship: ~10–12 weeks paid over summer; second-year to penultimate students across disciplines.
• Woodside Summer Vacation: commonly ≈12 weeks paid (sometimes listed as 6–12); Perth HQ; grad pathway.
• Arup Summer Vacation (AUS/NZ): ~12 weeks paid; project-based work; grad consideration post-placement.
• Aurecon Intern Programme: ~12 weeks paid; hands-on engineering/design projects with mentoring.

Government & Research

• CSIRO Vacation Studentships: ~8–12 weeks (Nov start), paid stipend; across science, tech and related areas.
• APS internships (various): e.g., ATO University Paid Internship; also university placements (~3 months) and 4–6 week paid options in some agencies.
• DSTG Summer Vacation: ~12 weeks working with Defence scientists/engineers (selected streams).

How to apply (simple playbook)

1. Pick 1–2 streams per company (avoid shotgun applications). Align coursework + one impact story.
2. Results CV (2 pages): outcome lines with metrics (“built dashboard used by 3 teams”; “cut report time by 40%”).
3. Short responses (120–180 words): “Why us? Why this team?” + one concrete proof-point.
4. Apply early: many roles close before the deadline when volumes are high.
5. Prep for assessments: practice game-based tests/video prompts; have 5 STAR stories (teamwork, learning fast, client focus, problem-solving, resilience).

Eligibility & work rights

• Year level: most prefer penultimate-year; some accept earlier years or final-year.
• Citizenship/PR: some roles (e.g., certain government or Canberra-based positions) require Australian citizenship.
• International students: several employers consider international students (check role notes carefully).

Stand out during the internship

• Own one measurable improvement: automate a task, improve accuracy, reduce cycle time — capture the before/after.
• Weekly loop: set goals Monday → share progress mid-week → show outcomes Friday.
• Relationships: coffee chats with buddy/coach; ask for specific feedback and act on it.

FAQs

Are these paid? Yes, programs here are paid; exact rates vary by employer and location.

How long? Most run 8–12 weeks (some 3–8 weeks).

When do they run? Primarily over the Australian summer (Nov–Feb) with a holiday break at some banks.

What about conversion? Many programs consider high performers for early Graduate Program offers.

• Always confirm specifics on the employer’s official page (dates, eligibility, locations) before applying.