Published on 1 February 2026

Australia: Employment

Australia has a well-developed employment system designed to provide flexibility and certainty to both employers and employees.

The central elements of this system include a set of national standards of employment for all Australian employees, occupational health and safety regulations, and superannuation (pension) payments. The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and Fair Work Commission (FWC) are the two key organisations in Australia's workplace relations system.

Employment law

The Fair Work Act 2009 is Australia's key piece of employment legislation and lays down the requirements applying to employment contracts.

The same employment terms and conditions apply to all workers in Australia, including migrants and visa holders, irrespective of the period of residence, type of visa, or nationality. Information on working in Australia is available on the country information webpage of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Work permit

Foreign nationals seeking employment in Australia must obtain an appropriate work visa. The choice of visa will depend on the type of work, duration of employment and other conditions, as set out on the Australian government website. The website also includes a skilled occupation list of jobs that are currently in demand.

It is also advisable to apply for a tax file number (TFN) which identifies individuals for tax and superannuation purposes. It is important to obtain information from the Australian embassy on the various types of visa available, which are all subject to different rules.

Finding a job

The Swiss-Australian Chamber of Commerce (SwissCham) enables businesses to network and prosper in Australia and Switzerland, with a particular emphasis on doing business in Australia and promoting bilateral trade.

Swiss citizens may also contact Switzerland Global Enterprise.

Recognition of educational qualifications

Information on the recognition of academic and professional qualifications is available on the enic-naric.net website. The addresses of national information centres (e.g. Swiss ENIC) are also provided.

The Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment assesses overseas qualifications upon request.

Self-employment and starting your own business

The government-funded business.gov.au website provides guidance on setting up a business. Swiss citizens can also contact Switzerland Global Enterprise or the chambers of commerce.

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