Scaling Graduate Programs from the Ground Up: Lessons from AustralianSuper

In this episode of the VMJPod Graduate Recruitment Series, hosts David Macciocca and Steven Nield speak with Stuart Clark, Early & Diverse Careers Manager at AustralianSuper. This is a deep dive into what it really takes to launch a graduate program from the ground up, embed inclusive practices, and scale across borders.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to refine an existing strategy, Stuart’s story is packed with lessons for talent professionals working in the graduate space. 

From Zero to Global: Building a Graduate Program from the Ground Up

When Stuart Clark joined AustralianSuper in 2022, there was no formal graduate or intern program in place. What there was, however, was a clear mandate: design and deliver a scalable, future-ready early careers strategy that could grow with the fund—both locally and internationally.

“The remit was to build our early and diverse careers programs,” Stuart explains. “That included everything—from strategy and design, to bringing in the right partners and getting stakeholder buy-in.”

Stuart started with research, piloted a small intake, and built on early success to grow a structured, impactful program. Today, AustralianSuper has a recognised graduate and intern pipeline that is now being localised for international markets like the UK.

More Than a Job Title: Why ‘Diverse Careers’ Matters

Unlike traditional early talent roles, Stuart’s title signals something broader: Early and Diverse Careers. This isn’t just a name, it’s a philosophy baked into how AustralianSuper attracts, assesses, and supports young talent.

“We’ve embedded diversity into the DNA of our program—not just as a value, but as a design principle. That includes how we market, assess, onboard and develop graduates.”

By collaborating with organisations such as CareerTrackers, and regularly reviewing processes for inclusion and fairness, the program actively broadens access to careers in superannuation.

Making Superannuation Attractive to Graduates

Let’s be honest—superannuation doesn’t always top the list of exciting industries for Gen Z. Stuart and his team had to shift perceptions.

“We knew we had to work harder to show the ‘why’—why super matters, and why it’s actually a great place to build a meaningful career.”

By focusing on purpose, scale, and long-term impact, they repositioned AustralianSuper as a place where grads could contribute to something bigger. Telling real stories through video content and social channels played a key role in changing minds.

Going Global Without Losing the Local Touch

As AustralianSuper expanded its operations internationally, particularly in the UK, the early careers team faced a new challenge: how to retain program integrity while adapting to a new cultural and recruitment landscape.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all. What works in Australia might not land in London. You have to listen, adapt, and collaborate with local teams.”

The approach? Local co-design. Instead of exporting an Australian model, Stuart’s team is building region-specific iterations that align with local expectations while staying true to the fund’s values.

Advice for Building a Graduate Program from Scratch

For anyone at the beginning of the journey, Stuart shares advice grounded in experience:

“Start with purpose. What kind of talent do you want to grow, and why? Then build your program around that—not the other way around.”

He also emphasises early engagement with stakeholders—from executives to hiring managers and past grads—to create champions for the program internally.

Access the Full Episode

Stuart’s insights on program design, scaling with intention, and embedding diversity at every level are not to be missed.

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