Tips for working in Australia

Know your rights and responsibilities

According to the Australian Fair Work Act 2009, “Everyone working in Australia is entitled to basic rights and protections in the workplace” and that includes those who have come in from abroad.

There are ten National Employment Standards that most employers must adhere to (but there are fewer for casual workers) and these represent the minimum standard of what you should expect in the workplace.

They cover:

• Maximum weekly hours (38 ordinary hours in a week) and governance over how many hours can be worked in any one day.
• Flexible working – for example, if someone is a carer, has young children, or if they are experiencing challenges at home.
• Parental, maternity, and adoption leave.
• Annual leave – a minimum of 4 weeks, adjusted pro-rata for those who work part time.
• Carer’s and compassionate leave.
• Community service leave, although, with the exception of jury service, this is unpaid.
• Long service leave – rules for this are governed by the local state or territory.
• Public holidays – again, these vary depending on which state or territory you settle in but in New South Wales, for example, these are the days set aside as something special:
  • New Year’s Day – 1^st January
  • Australia Day – 26^th January
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Saturday
  • Easter Sunday
  • Easter Monday
  • Anzac Day – 25^th April
  • Queen’s birthday – June
  • August bank holiday
  • Labour Day – 1^st Monday of October
  • Christmas Day – 25^th December
  • Boxing Day – 26^th December
• Rules for termination of employment, notice, and redundancy pay.
• Fair work information statement — a document that must be given to a new employee outlining their rights under law and how to make a complaint if they don’t think they have been treated properly.

This is overseen by the Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman who is responsible for ensuring these minimum standards are met by employers and handles complaints when they are not. The website is also a good source of information about your rights and obligations about pay.

Workplace safety is taken very seriously with a whole raft of legislation in place to inform the employer and protect the worker. If you are injured at work or your health suffers because your employer has not discharged their responsibilities properly, you may be due payments under a compensation scheme overseen by the local state or territory.

The Fair Work Ombudsman website has a special section with advice for newcomers to the country on health and safety, and the Australian government website has an invaluable section on workplace rights.

Paying your taxes

Income tax is payable by Australian and foreign residents. The system is complicated but manageable, and there is more information on the Australian Taxation Office website if you need help. This includes details on taxable income, deductions, and offsets and rebates (for example, if you have taken out private health insurance).

When you have a work visa, and you have arrived in the country, you can apply for a tax file number (TFN) — this is not obligatory, but you will pay more tax if you don't have one. (Find a handy tool from the Australian Tax Office for working out what you’re likely to pay here.) The TFN will allow your employer to take tax at source from your pay check at the right rate, regardless of whether you are permanently or temporarily resident.

Note that if you become a permanent resident, and you have investments overseas, these will be taxable. This does not apply if you are there on a temporary basis. If you have money and property abroad, for example in your home country, it is recommended that you seek some professional help from an accountant to ensure you satisfy the demands of the Australian tax system.

Superannuation (also known as Super) is Australia’s equivalent of a retirement savings system, which your employer will be obliged to pay on your behalf if you are a temporary resident. Contributions will also be taken at source towards Medicare, Australia’s national health care scheme. Note that if you earn above a certain limit, you’ll be expected to have private health care insurance, otherwise a special levy will be taken. This is to encourage higher wage earners to fund their own care. Find a useful calculation tool here.

Sorting your tax affairs and working rights will ensure you enjoy your new job in Australia but think about how this would be affected if you were to fall ill or have an accident. Take the worry out of the unexpected by discussing your health care provision with one of our knowledgeable advisers as soon as you can.

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