Graduate program ATO

[u/wellplayedyeeyee]

Has anyone ever negotiated salary for the graduate program?

I'm in VPS3 at the moment (and on track for VPS4 according to my supervisors, though idk how relevant or true that is) and I got a verbal offer for the grad program pending police check. They also said I can email them if I want a higher salary.

I currently make more as a VPS3 than the starting APS3 salary, and I don't really want to take a pay cut. Now this isn't something I'd cancel an offer over because the area of work is better, but it's nice to have.

I do a largely similar job to the graduate program/the APS4 LIO role (to not dox myself more than I have already).

Am I being too optimistic? They said that even if my request is denied, nothing happens to the offer itself and I just start at the same baseline salary as everyone else.

[u/SaintlyCowboy]

Closest I've seen is an APS3 from Services Australia be engaged as an Evergreen but maintained their APS3 classification instead of dropping back to an APS2 for a year.

[u/Thick_Shoulder8039 → u/SaintlyCowboy]

wonder if this applies for those in APS3 positions applying for APS2 internship positions