The Free State Health Department is recruiting 99 unemployed graduates for its 2026 Graduate Internship Programme. The 24-month internships pay a stipend of R98,087 per year and are spread across hospitals, district offices and health facilities throughout the province. If you hold a National Diploma or Degree and have never completed a government internship before, you have until 4 September 2026 to apply online.
About the Programme
The Free State Department of Health runs the province’s public hospitals, clinics and district health services, making it one of the largest employers in the Free State. Like other provincial departments, it uses the public service internship framework to give unemployed graduates a structured first step into government work.
This intake is unusually large at 99 posts and unusually broad. It is not only for health science graduates. Most of the positions are in support functions that keep the health system running: finance, supply chain, office management, information technology, human resources and the built environment. Interns spend 24 months inside a working department, receive structured training, and complete a funded Personal Mastery Course designed for public service graduate interns. For many past interns, this programme has been the bridge to permanent posts in provincial government.
Available Free State Health Internship Fields
- Office Management: 27 posts
- Finance Management: 23 posts
- Information Technology: 19 posts
- Supply Chain / Public Management / Financial Management: 10 posts
- Dental Assistant: 6 posts (HPCSA registration required)
- Supply Chain Management: 5 posts
- Quantity Surveying / Architecture / Building Construction: 5 posts
- Human Resource Management: 3 posts
- Data Analyst: 1 post
RELATED: PSG Graduate Programme 2026
Who Can Apply
- South African citizens
- Completed Grade 12
- An appropriate tertiary qualification relevant to the field you apply for: National Diploma (NQF Level 6) or Degree (NQF Level 7 or 8)
- Must not have completed a 24-month government internship programme before
- Dental Assistant applicants must be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
- Unemployed graduates; preference goes to individuals from historically disadvantaged backgrounds
Required Documents
- A detailed, up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (this is all that is required at the application stage)
- Certified copy of your ID, ready if requested at shortlisting
- Certified copy of your Matric certificate, ready if requested
- Certified copies of your tertiary qualifications and academic record, ready if requested
- HPCSA registration proof for Dental Assistant applicants
The department does not require certified copies upfront, which saves you certification costs, but shortlisted candidates must produce them quickly, so prepare them now.
How to Apply
- Update your CV with your qualification, NQF level and contact details.
- Go to the Free State provincial e-Recruitment portal and register a profile if you do not have one.
- Search the internship listings and select the field that matches your qualification.
- Use the correct reference number for your chosen field and facility.
- Complete the online form carefully and submit before 4 September 2026.
Apply online here: Apply at the Free State Department of Health e-Recruitment portal.
Closing Date
The closing date for the Free State Department of Health Graduate Internships 2026 is 4 September 2026. No late applications will be accepted.
Why It Matters
Thousands of Free State graduates finish their diplomas and degrees every year and then sit at home because employers want experience they have no way of getting. A 24-month public service internship solves exactly that problem. It gives you two full years of verifiable government work experience, a stipend of just over R8,100 a month to stand on, and exposure to the systems that provincial departments use every day, from BAS and PERSAL to supply chain processes.
Government internships are also one of the most common routes into permanent public service posts, because departments recruit from people who already know their systems. With 99 posts across nine fields, this is one of the biggest single internship intakes in the province this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need work experience to apply?
No. The programme is designed for unemployed graduates with no formal work experience. Your qualification is what counts.
How much is the stipend?
The stipend is R98,087 per annum, which works out to roughly R8,174 per month for the full 24-month programme.
I completed a 12-month internship before. Can I apply?
The rule excludes applicants who have already completed a 24-month internship programme. If your previous internship was shorter, check the specific advert conditions on the portal or confirm with the department before applying.
Where will I be placed?
Placements are at hospitals, district offices and health facilities across the Free State. Specific locations are listed per field on the e-Recruitment portal, and you apply against a specific reference number.
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