Information and support services for finding a job.
Getting a job isn’t as simple as walking up to a potential employer and presenting your resume. Even if you’re well qualified it can be a lengthy process, and you might hear ‘no’ a lot before you hear ‘yes.’ You’ll also find that looking for jobs, applying, and heading to interviews takes a lot of time and money. So to help, we’ve compiled some practical tips and information about who can help you.
Different types of work
Different types of work have different terms and conditions. Contracts can either be permanent with no end date, or temporary with a fixed end date. Workers can be employed to work full-time, part-time or on a casual basis with different rosters or shifts.
Some workers are paid piece rates. For example, people working from home sewing garments often are paid per completed item.
Other people work through on-demand platforms, like food delivery or personal service jobs booked through an online platform.
Some workers are employed by labour hire organisations which then organise work, often on a casual basis.
An increasing number of workers are self-employed, working for themselves.
Apprentices or trainees are people who are learning under supervision.
Each of these types of work have different pay and conditions, like paid leave or allowances.
📌 For more explanation of these types of work, see our income and employment basics page.
Working unpaid
Some employers want you to work without pay. For example for a trial period. This is often offered to people as a way into paid work but it is no guarantee of securing a paid position after you have completed the trial.
For more information on unpaid work, you might want to visit the Fair Work Commission Website page.
Help with get finding work
Whether you just need some nice clothes to wear to a job interview, help writing a resume, some coaching for an interview, or you’d like to know about services that will connect you to potential employers, we’ve compiled a list for you.
| Resource | What to expect |
| Programs by Brotherhood of St. Laurence and others | Assistance with getting a job |
| The ‘Ask Izzy’ resource | Find free support services near you, select ‘Finding work’ to get started |
| Finding employment | Salvation Army support for finding and applying for jobs |
| Ready Set | Melbourne-based support, including clothing, coaching, and connection to job vacancies |
| Fitted for Work | Helps women in Australia experiencing disadvantage to get and keep work |
| JobAccess | Australian Government hub for employment information and services for people with disability |
| Job hunting tools and services | Information on looking for work from Services Australia |
Job search support in your state or territory
| Australian Capital Territory | Jobs ACT |
| New South Wales | Employment |
| Northern Territory | Employment, money and taxes |
| Queensland | Employment and jobs |
| South Australia | Work and skills |
| Tasmania | Jobs Tasmania |
| Victoria | Jobs Victoria |
| Western Australia | Jobs and Skills WA |
Job-related education
Not only is it often a rewarding and enjoyable experience, but getting a qualification from an education institution is one of the main ways to improve your chances of getting a job. Many jobs require people to have specific qualifications. Generally speaking, people with post-secondary qualifications usually secure higher paying jobs.
That said, having a qualification doesn’t automatically get you a job, and while there are courses that are free or have no upfront costs, being a student can be costly in time and money.
Where to find information
Visit Course Seeker to search for courses
📌 For more information on paying for education and getting by as a student, see our post-secondary education page.
Centrelink payments
The Australian Government provides income support payments through Centrelink. You can use this tool to learn about your eligibility for payments, including the Jobseeker unemployment payment, or go to Services Australia to learn more about the services and support they offer.
Dealing with Centrelink
Many people find dealing with Centrelink difficult. Applying for payments can be confusing. Most payments are set too low and have overly strict requirements.
📌 See our dealing with Centrelink page.
This information was last updated on 5 June 2023.
The links and resources in this article have been compiled and reviewed by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence. We aren’t responsible for what you’ll find at the links, though we do hope you find the information useful. See our disclaimer if you’d like to know more.
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