Suncorp Group has commenced its 2025 Graduate Program, placing 63 successful candidates in various roles across its operations in Australia and New Zealand.
The program launch follows what the company says is its largest applicant pool to date, receiving close to 10,000 expressions of interest.
Graduate placements are underway in metropolitan centres including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Auckland.
This year’s intake reflects the insurer’s strategic focus on growing talent pipelines in technology and core insurance functions. According to Suncorp, 50% of the new hires have been placed in technology roles, with another 25% allocated to insurance divisions. The remainder will rotate through functions such as risk, finance, and people and culture.
Suncorp graduate talent lead Kelly Pfeffer said the program has been deliberately structured to adapt to both business requirements and evolving market trends.
“The success we have achieved this year has taken some time to put into motion, particularly in a market that can change quickly,” she said. “As a centralised team that designs and delivers every aspect of our intern and graduate programs, we have a unique advantage in being across everything from attraction through to promotion. Each phase informs the other and provides a holistic experience for our grads and interns.”
The two-year program includes rotations every six months, allowing participants to gain exposure to multiple areas of the business.
Suncorp has also prioritised its presence in graduate talent networks by sponsoring the Suncorp Technology Award at the Top 100 Future Leaders Awards.
Pfeffer said the partnership is part of a broader strategy to connect with emerging professionals.
“The sponsorship of this award is a great opportunity not only for us to meet some top talent, but also to stand out from our competitors in the market,” she said. “Within the technology teams, there is a focus on software engineering and cyber security degrees, but we still have opportunities for non-technical degrees as well for business analysis and project roles.”
Graduate Jessica Ao, part of the 2024 cohort and currently working in procurement systems in Brisbane, said the flexibility of the program stood out when she applied.
“The flexibility in being able to rotate throughout the graduate program every six months was a key component of why I applied. Coming straight from university, it has been great to explore what different opportunities are out there,” she said.
Leadership involvement is identified as a key component of the program’s delivery, with senior staff providing mentoring and day-to-day support throughout the graduate cycle.
Recruitment for the 2026 graduate and intern program is scheduled to begin in August 2025. Suncorp has opened expressions of interest online for prospective applicants.
In parallel with its talent development efforts, the insurer also recently announced a $400,000 funding initiative aimed at disaster-affected communities. Delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), the grant program is available to not-for-profits in rural and regional areas impacted by severe weather events between 2019 and 2024. The funding supports local projects designed to build resilience and strengthen disaster readiness.
