- Home
- Working & Employment
- Finding a Job Information, tips and links to help you find a job in Melbourne or regional Victoria.
- Occupations Career information for skilled migrants. Our job guide has industry overviews, what you'll earn, how to find a job, licensing and registration info and industry contacts.
- Starting a Job Before you start to work in Victoria learn about your rights and responsibilities as an Australian employee.
- Get Connected, Get a Job A wide range of industry associations and professional associations are available to help you find a job and meet other professionals in Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Industries Information on Victoria's industries, including the work industry in Melbourne. Profiles on industry size, job guides and industry contacts for finding work in Victoria.
- Visas & Immigrating
- Skilled Visas An overview of the migration visas available to skilled professionals and tradespeople interested in migrating to Australia.
- Business Visas An overview of the migration visas available to business professionals and owners interested in migrating to Australia.
- State Nomination The Victorian Government can provide visa nomination for skilled and business migrants interested in living in Victoria, Australia.
- Occupation Lists See the Victorian State Nomination Lists to find out if your occupation is in demand and eligible for state nomination by the Victorian Government.
- How to Migrate Find out about the process of how to migrate to Victoria, Australia. Victoria's Skilled and Business Migration Program offers assistance in a number of ways.
- SkillSelect Learn more about the Australian Government's online system for administering key visas in its skilled migration program.
- FAQs About Skilled Nomination & Visas Answers to migrant questions about skilled nominated visas offered by the Victorian Government in Australia.
- Living in Victoria
- Melbourne & Regional Victoria Information and interactive maps of Melbourne and the different regions of Victoria, Australia.
- Cost of Living Information on the cost of living in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Useful for people looking to live and work in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Housing & Property Information on accommodation, housing and property in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Transport & Driving Information on transportation in Victoria, including public transport, driving, car hire and car purchase.
- Education & Childcare Information on education in Victoria, including kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, universities and training.
- Health & Medical Information on the healthcare system in Victoria, Australia, including information on finding a doctor and paying for healthcare.
- About Victoria General information and facts about Victoria and Australia including the government, entertainment, sports, banking, media and communications.
- Relocation Checklist Relocation checklists to use for migrants who move to Victoria. Checklists for preparing for departure and arriving in Victoria.
- Running a Business
- Why Victoria? Reasons for starting and running a business in Victoria, Australia.
- Going into Business in Victoria Information about starting up a business in Victoria.
- Banking, Tax & Legal Requirements Information about banking and taxes for businesses in Victoria.
- Business Support & Networks Information about the support available to businesses in Victoria.
- Employing Overseas Talent
- Is Overseas Talent for You? Find out how skilled migration can be a viable solution for finding professionals and tradespeople with the skills and expertise needed to fill skill shortages.
- Options For Finding Overseas Talent Information on the different options available to source and recruit overseas skilled workers.
- Visa Pathways Information about the different types of visas available for skilled migrants and employers who wish to hire overseas skilled workers.
- Settle & Retain New Workers Guidance and information for employers to help settle and retain new employees.
- Sharing Employer Insights Bring expertise to the assessment of overseas skilled workers for Victoria's state visa nomination program and provide feedback about industry labour market needs.
- Migration Services Services, tools and resources available to help find and recruit skilled migrants.
- About Us
- Skilled and Business Migration Program Information about services offered to prospective skilled and business migrants, Victorian industry and employers, and migration agents.
- News & Events The latest news and events covering topics for skilled and business migrants, industry and employers, and migration agents.
- Publications Links to downloadable publications and forms about immigrating to Melbourne or regional Victoria.
- Contact Us Contact details for the Skilled and Business Migration Program including address, phone numbers and email addresses, and a general enquiry form.
Working Conditions in Australia
On this page:
Workplace rights
Employment contracts
When starting work, you should be given a contract of employment to sign. Employment contracts should include:
- salary and details of payment as well as any bonus scheme
- working hours and conditions
- periods of notice required to be given.
For more information on working conditions in Australia, including pay and awards and conditions of employment, see the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Leave entitlements
Under the National Employment Standards all permanent employees are entitled to:
- four weeks paid leave per year
- 10 days paid personal/carer's leave per year
- up to 12 months of unpaid parental leave (including maternity, paternity and adoption leave).
Find out more about your leave entitlements on the Fair Work Ombudsman website
Workplace health and safety
All Australian workers have the right to work in a safe and healthy workplace in Australia free from bullying, harassment and discrimination. WorkSafe Victoria is the manager of Victoria's workplace safety system and is responsible for:
- helping to avoid workplace injuries from occurring
- enforcing Victoria's occupational health and safety laws
- providing reasonably priced insurance for employers
- helping injured workers back into the workforce
- managing the workers' compensation scheme.
Workplace culture
The following video provides information about the Australian way of life and how people interact in the workplace in Australia.
Download the transcript for the Workplace Culture video (DOC, 29 KB)
These links provide information about workplace culture and Australian culture in general.
- Tribus Lingua's book G'day Boss! - Australian culture and the workplace
- Charles Stuart University's Guide to Australia
- Vicnet Culture Directory
- Wikipedia: Culture of Australia
Legal protection and privacy
The Federal Privacy Act covers the collection, use and disclosure, quality and security of personal information. It also gives you rights to access and correct personal information about yourself. The Act outlines how only some people and organisations can ask for your Tax File Number (TFN), and they must keep it secure and confidential. It is not an offence for you to decline to provide your TFN, however if you do not supply it you will be taxed at the highest rate plus the Medicare levy. You also have the right to make a complaint if you think your personal information has been mishandled.
Further information
- Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
Provides all the official information about tax and super for individuals and businesses - MoneyManager
An online magazine with factsheets about tax - Taxation Institute of Australia
Provides a search for tax professionals by specialisation and location - Fair Work Ombudsman
Salary, employment, government assistance, jobs, careers, training and working conditions - WorkSafe Victoria
Information, forms and contacts about all aspects of safety, legislation, injury and compensation in the workplace.