Work

There are plenty of opportunities to find work in Melbourne and around regional Victoria in a wide range of industries.

Australian Working Holiday Visas

An Australian Working Holiday Visa allows you to stay in Australia and work for up to 12 months. You can generally only work six months with one employer. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for visa details.

Work in Melbourne

Melbourne is home to numerous international sports and cultural events, and this means plenty of short-term employment opportunities, especially over the summer.

Finding a job

Register with a few agencies, check employment websites and look at the Saturday editions of Melbourne newspapers, or online sites jobs.vic.gov.au, adzuna.com.au, seek.com.au, backpackerjobboard.com.au and careerone.com.au to ensure you get a good spread of jobs on offer. Most recruitment firms ask for your resume or CV, so make sure it's up to date and includes your current contact details.

Due to the impact of Covid shutdowns, some sectors of the workforce are actively seeking to fill vacant positions. Check jobs.vic.gov.au and jobs.vic.gov.au/latest-updates for vacancies, as well as up-to-date employment information and support..

Getting started

Before you start work, you must open a bank account and obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office. Visit a post office for an application form.

Training courses

The majority of hospitality and construction jobs in Australia require the completion of a course prior to commencing work. Most courses are relatively short and inexpensive. Be sure to check with your employer and before you start a course, always make sure it's valid for the state in which you want to work. 

For more information on training courses available, visit the official Study Melbourne website: studymelbourne.vic.gov.au.

Employee rights and conditions

For information about employee rights, from employment conditions and leave entitlements, to hours of work and minimum pay, visit Fair Work online.