The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) Reviews

There are lots of opportunities to act in higher roles and do internal secondments to help you upskill and gain experience for promotions.

DWER is big on diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. The HR team in particular are fair and transparent in the recruitment process and are more than happy to provide support to those who may be affected by adversity.

Overall the culture is positive. People are open minded and kind, generally willing to support and are open to new ideas.

The recruitment, retention and support of ethnic minorities, women and LGBT people are highly prioritised, fair and transparent. DWER actively promotes and empowers women in the workplace, and does not discriminate based on personal circumstances. We have an Aboriginal graduate program starting in 2024 to try and attract more First Nations people to join the department.

My job is highly satisfying because the work that I do on a daily basis yields a tangible result and a positive effect on the wider community of WA. Contributing to the protection of WA's endemic flora and fauna, and Indigenous Heritage is always a pleasure.

My Manager and supporting Managers are extremely friendly and helpful. Being a graduate, I am still learning the ropes of my role, and thus, it is nice to have a great support network from fellow colleagues and Managers. Feedback is constructive and constant, and communication is transparent, fair and inclusive.

The main office is located in Joondalup, with more offices out in the region. The building is brand new and has every facility you could want. The dress code is business to business-casual, with casual fridays.

I did appreciate that we didn't really have formal interviews. It took stress off the overall process considering we did the case studies as part of the process. The process did not include formal interviews. Instead, we were asked to undertake a case study and provide a written and recorded response. I liked this as it allowed me to demonstrate my skills and was less stressful than an interview. I was then asked to come in, not for an interview but just for a conversation to see which area I would fit best in the program. Review the department's website. This will enable you to become familiar with their roles and responsibilities. You will want to look at the values and goals to help you.

Compensation for graduates at DWER is equivalent to (and in some cases higher than) similar organisations in the private sector. Lots of morning teas, graduate run events, work from home, and lunch and learns.

Several types of training programs and support to undertake as required.

I work 7.5 hours per day. Very flexible in terms of working from home, in the office or a mixture.

We have a large focus on green initiatives as we are the department for the environment. As such, there are multiple initiatives in place to reduce our footprint.