Within the exact office I am in I have the option for one promotion to move up one rank, which is not ideal for future prospects. However, I do have the option to go on secondment to other teams which will assist me in building my skills and looking for promotion options elsewhere.
There is the opportunity to move up a pay grade/level at the end of the program when transitioning to an ongoing role, however it is not made easy and most people finish with an ongoing role at the same level which they have been for the past 18 months of the program. This seems to be largely reflective of the current financial environment in the government, as jobs are being cut. There are still many career opportunities, and I have heard people which come from the grad program tend to move up the ranks faster as the program is highly regarded within the government.
As a graduate, it is difficult to be promoted as you will only be able to do so if you are offered a role and leave the program. Career progression is dependent on what team you are in, as managers and directors drive your experience depending on what you want to get out of the graduate program. It is possible to be given more responsibility in a graduate role but this is generally not met with a higher pay. However, in general, the NSW Government does offer a lot of opportunities for career progression and to fulfil your career aspirations. Internal employees are able to apply for EOIs in other teams or even apply for secondments to different departments.