How to become a policy analyst in Australia
Policy Analysts develop and analyse policies guiding the design, implementation and modification of government or commercial operations and programs.
Pay and growth are for the wider intelligence and policy analysts group, which is as fine as the data goes. The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the intelligence and policy analysts group are projected to grow 25.2% between May 2025 and May 2035, faster than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Liaises and consults with program administrators and other interested parties to identify policy needs.
- Reviews existing policies and legislation to identify anomalies and out-of-date provisions.
- Researches social, economic and industrial trends, and client expectations of programs and services provided.
- Formulates and analyses policy options, prepares briefing papers and recommendations for policy changes, and advises on preferred options.
- Assesses impacts, financial implications, interactions with other programs and political and administrative feasibility of policies.
How to get there
What it usually takes. A bachelor degree or higher. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the intelligence and policy analysts group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 86% a degree or higher, 5% a diploma, 3% a Certificate III or IV.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria45 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Politics, Philosophy and Economics · Monash, Clayton80.30 International Relations · Monash, Clayton75.35 International Studies · Deakin, Geelong Waterfront70.40 International Studies (International Relations major) · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood68.20 Arts (International Studies major) · La Trobe, Melbourne62.45 International Studies · RMIT, City61.80 Politics, Philosophy and Economics · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood61.25 Politics, Philosophy and Economics · La Trobe, Melbourne61.20Showing 8 of 45 matches. Search every course.
NSW and ACT60 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics · UNSW92.20 Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics · Sydney92.05 Bachelor of International Studies · Sydney90.10 Bachelor of Advanced Political Science and International Relations (Honours) · Griffith89.65 B Communication in Social and Political Sciences B Creative Intelligence and Innovation · UTS85.05 Bachelor of International Studies · Macquarie76.85 Bachelor of International Studies · Western Sydney73.65 Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations · Griffith73.60Diplomas and other ways in
Diploma of Arts, Social Science and Humanities/Bachelor of International Studies · Wollongong31.80 Diploma of Arts, Social Science & Humanities Fast Track/Bachelor of International Studies · Wollongong47.00Showing 11 of 60 matches. Search every course.
Queensland38 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Honours) · UQ, St Lucia94.10 Bachelor of International Studies · UQ, St Lucia82.00 Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations · Griffith, Online66.55Diplomas and other ways in
Showing 12 of 38 matches. Search every course.
Western Australia18 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics · UWA, Perth88.70 Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations) · ECU, Joondalup74.80 Bachelor of Arts in International Relations · Curtin, Perth66.10 Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education) - Humanities and Social Sciences Education in Politics and Law · Curtin, Perth63.20 Bachelor of Education in Secondary Teaching - Politics (HASS) · Murdoch, Perth60.20 Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Studies · Murdoch, Perth60.00 Bachelor of Global Security in Politics and International Studies · Murdoch, Perth60.00 Bachelor of International Relations · UWA, Perth58.70Showing 8 of 18 matches. Search every course.
Matched on course names, 161 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Graduate outcomes, national
Undergraduates surveyed about four to six months after finishing, in 2025, across all providers. Full-time work is among those available for it. All graduates: 75.4% and $77,000. These are national figures for the study area, not for this course or uni, and a first-year salary says little about later pay. Source: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Investigative, Artistic, Enterprising.
From O*NET ratings for "Political Scientists", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a acceptable match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
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Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Graduate outcomes: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025, National Report Tables (Social Research Centre, for the Australian Government).
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.