Costa Group Graduate Program

We believe in investing in people within our regional communities who have an interest in the future of the agricultural industry. We have close relationships with a number of universities across Australia and offer a Graduate Program, designed to provide broad exposure and understanding across our business.

Costa also supports a number of university scholarships at the University of Queensland, University of Tasmania, University of New England, Central Queensland University and Charles Sturt University. Find out more.

Graduate Program Overview

The Graduate Program aims to develop leaders of the future by providing an intensive hands-on and educational experience across a multitude of key departments within the Costa Group over a 12 or 18-month period. 

Successful applicants will participate in three rotations across different regions and business categories which may include time in our nurseries, glasshouses, packing sheds, farms and agronomy teams. Graduates also gain an insight into what happens after our product leaves the farm through exposure to the sales and marketing functions based in our Melbourne head office. Hands-on training on our farms coupled with leadership and development training make this an opportunity not to be missed. Our fast paced program will accelerate your career giving you exposure to opportunities across different categories and regions with unprecedented access to senior leaders to mentor and guide your course work.  

Benefits

  • Successful applicants will receive a fixed term 12 or 18-month contract with competitive salary
  • Work phone, laptop and uniform will be supplied
  • Subsidised self-contained accommodation will be arranged prior to commencement
  • Professional leadership development workshops
  • Orientation meetings and business updates from senior management and the Board in Melbourne 
  • Opportunity to complete courses and gain relevant accreditation e.g. ChemCert   
  • If relocation is required, suitable financial help will be available. 
  • Expectation for permanent offer at the end of the program.

What we look for in our graduates

We look for graduates who demonstrate Costa’s core values of determination, accountability, passion, respect and sincerity. We also look for the future leaders of Costa. To qualify you must be in your final year or recently finished a Bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in: 

  • Agribusiness
  • Agriculture 
  • Horticulture
  • Business, with an interest in agriculture or horticulture 
  • Science, with an interest in agriculture 

Application timelines

Applications for the 2024 Graduate Program have now closed. The recruitment process for our next program intake is expected to commence in August 2024.

When I finished my science degree, I knew I wanted to work with plants, but I didn’t know exactly what that would look like. The graduate program was a great opportunity to see different sides of the business and get an idea of the different career pathways I could take. I was able to see so many jobs that I didn’t even know existed! Along the way I was supported by so many people, and I discovered a particular interest in farming berries. I didn’t quite finish my graduate program and instead chose to take a permanent role in the berries.

Eve Mallis
Graduate Horticulturist – FNQ Berries

I never really thought I would end up in the agribusiness industry but after completing this graduate program, I can say with certainty that there is no better field nor company to start one’s journey. Coming out of university, I didn’t really know what pathway to take, so being offered the opportunity to travel the country while learning and broadening my knowledge in different areas of the horticulture sector was irresistible. These 18 months have helped me develop a clearer idea of what I want to do and how I want to contribute to the industry, but ultimately, it’s the support from everyone I’ve met and their eagerness to share their wealth of expertise that has been truly rewarding.

Kimberley Tong
Technical Officer – Monarto Mushrooms

The graduate program gave me the opportunity to experience a range of crop types and business operation roles, to allow me to identify who I want to be with the horticultural industry. From this opportunity with Costa, I was able to experience and learn areas of agriculture that extended out of my agriculture degree and join a large network of likeminded individuals who want to push the industry forward for sustainable farming.

Declan Portman
Agronomy Support – Mernda Mushrooms