Connecting with Australia’s Graduate Market Leaders

API at the 2025 AAGE Conference in Brisbane 

From 22 to 24 October, members of the Australian Power Institute (API) team attended the 2025 Australian Association of Graduate Employers (AAGE) National Conference in Brisbane — the country’s largest gathering of graduate recruitment and development professionals. 

The three-day event brought together hundreds of employers, universities, and service providers to explore trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the graduate market. For API, it was an opportunity to connect with Australia’s leading employers, share insights from our workforce development programs, and learn from best practice in graduate engagement and inclusion. 

Engaging with the Graduate Community 

Across the conference, API staff joined sessions on topics including early career development, diversity and inclusion strategies, and innovative approaches to attracting and retaining graduates. 

As a not-for-profit connecting universities, students, and employers across the Australian power sector, API plays a unique role in the graduate ecosystem. Our participation in the AAGE Conference helps ensure our programs — such as the Power Up Scholarship, Learning Journal, and Graduate Development Pathways — continue to align with national benchmarks and evolving employer needs. 

API was also proud to celebrate the success of our member organizations recognized at the event. 

 👏 Special congratulations to API member Powerlink Queensland, winner of the Award for Outstanding Diversity and Inclusion Initiative at the 2025 AGRIAs (Graduate Recruitment Industry Awards). 

This recognition reflects Powerlink’s leadership in creating inclusive workplaces and aligns closely with API’s own commitment to fostering diversity and equity across the power workforce. 

Sharing API’s Experience and Impact 

During the conference, the API team shared insights from our work connecting undergraduate and graduate engineers to industry, particularly through initiatives like: 

• The API Summer School and its early career retreats, which bridge the gap between study and professional life. 

• The Powerful Women Leadership Program, supporting gender balance across the energy sector. 

• The PowerUP Community, now connecting nearly 1,000 undergraduates nationwide. 

These programs demonstrate how collaborative, cross-sector initiatives can develop technically skilled and industry-ready graduates who thrive in the transition to a cleaner, smarter energy future. 

Building Stronger Partnerships 

Conferences like AAGE provide vital opportunities to strengthen partnerships with universities, employers, and industry bodies — ensuring that API’s programs continue to deliver tangible value to both graduates and member organisations

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API thanks the AAGE for hosting an inspiring and well-organised event and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with the graduate community to support Australia’s future power workforce. 

💬 Stay Connected 

If your organisation is interested in partnering with the API on graduate development, scholarships, or workforce initiatives, contact our team via api.edu.au/contact. 

Together, we can empower the next generation of power professionals to lead the energy transition.