Passionate about public policy? Keen on deep analysis of Australia’s major economic and social issues?

[Sentences alternate between Male and Female speakers - starts with male]

The Productivity Commission is an independent research and advisory agency for the Australian Government.

While the government largely determines our work program, our findings and recommendations are independent and based on our own analysis and judgment.

Not only do we look at economic issues, but social and environmental issues too.

Our research and policy advice can help governments improve or create better policies to benefit all Australians.

Our main role is to conduct public inquiries and studies into current issues.

For example our inquiry into disability support was used in creating the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Our projects provide opportunities for different points of view to be heard and considered.

Participation in our inquiries or Commissioned studies is encouraged and gives you the opportunity to have a say in Australia’s public policy formation.

You can participate by making a submission to us, it’s open to all. Submissions can be a short email or letter outlining your views or a much more substantial document.

Providing evidence such as documentation, data or research to support your viewpoint is always useful.

Often after we release a draft report, we hold hearings that are open to the public.

Anyone can participate whether it be elaborating on their submission or simply providing relevant information to the Commissioners.

Whether you want to speak at a hearing or just observe, you will be able to book a spot via our website.

The Commission also undertakes additional research. Some of this research supports our inquiries as well as helping outline future directions for reform.

You can find out more about us and our current projects by heading to our website, pc.gov.au

Michael Brennan, Chair, Productivity Commission

[Michael speaking] If you share a passion for good evidence-based public policy, then it could be that the Productivity Commission is the place for you.

We love to bring in a new group of graduates every year, with fresh energy and new ideas different perspectives, and here at the Commission we do work that's rigorous and independent but also influential.

We've been in the last 20 years at the forefront of the big economic policy debates of the day but also increasingly on the complex social policy issues like our report on mental health, our report on criminal justice, or the consumer right to repair.

The great thing about working at the Commission is you get to make a contribution from day one.

You're working alongside senior staff and Commissioners and you really get the time and the space to think hard about the issues, to sift through the evidence and to listen to the broad range of community views so we put forward well-researched thorough findings and recommendations for government, that we think will really make a difference.

So it's a serious business but we do have a lot of fun it's a friendly and welcoming environment, it's a good work-life balance.

We have positions both in Canberra and in Melbourne and we look for people who bring a strong intellect but also a curiosity about the world around them and a passion for good policy outcomes.

So if that sounds like you, we would love to hear from you, and have an application for our graduate program.

What is the best thing about working at the Productivity Commission?

People

Jeremy Kamil, Senior Research Economist, Melbourne

[Jeremy speaking] The best part about working here is the people.

They're smart, they're fun, and they love to engage in in good economic debate. We work together and we can turn some good ideas into great ideas.

Visits

Sally Harvey, Senior Research Economist, Melbourne

[Sally speaking] The most rewarding part of my job is the visits that we do with people over the course of an inquiry or a study, having people generously contribute their views and experiences and hearing how policy affects their lives.

Projects

Stephen Walters, Senior Policy Officer, Remote

[Stephen speaking] One of the best things about working at the Commission is I get to work on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander projects.

The best project I've worked on since being out, the Commission would be the three yearly review on Closing the Gap.

Going out listening to community, hearing what they're saying on the ground and how this directly feeds into the agreement.

Variety

Anna Law, Senior Research Economist, Canberra

[Anna speaking] I really enjoy the challenge of working out a new policy area every 12 to 18 months.

It's one of the only places that you get the time to be able to do in-depth research and analysis on the problem areas that are affecting the Australian economy and people.

[Smiling and laughing staff]

pc.gov.au/careers

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How do Productivity Commission reports come together?

Sara Collard, Inquiry/Research Manager, Melbourne

[Sara speaking] So there's a really diverse range of tasks that go into a project at the Commission.

At the start of the project, there'll be a lot of brainstorming and scoping and working together as a team to have a think about what are the key questions that we need to answer as a group to, to deliver a coherent set of findings and recommendations.

And then as we go on, there's a lot of analysis, so a lot of desktop research and gathering of evidence.

There's quantitative work, so there might be a modelling component depending on the type of questions that we're looking at and also a really big part of what we do at the Commission is Stakeholder engagements, talking to people, having meetings, roundtables, public hearings and and getting submissions from the public.

[Map of Australia with text appearing and disappearing] Stakeholders, meetings, roundtables, public hearings, submissions

[Sara continues] And then there's a big writing component because we deliver our findings and recommendations as a report to the government and to and to the public.

[Quick demonstration of someone clicking on a link on the Productivity Commission's website]

[Sara continues] So that's all part of our normal project work. But in addition to that, we have a lot of extracurricular activities in the office as well.

So we'll often have seminars where we bring in external speakers to talk about policy issues that are relevant to what we're looking at at the time.

And a lot of morning teas and lunches and happy hours and things like that, and also a lot of training and learning development opportunities.

[Smiling and laughing staff]

pc.gov.au/careers