Australia Employment Guide

Australia Employment Guide

Australia is in Oceania, bordering the Indian and Pacific Oceans to the south, mainly consisting of the Australian mainland and several islands. It has ~26 million people; English is official, Canberra is the capital, and major cities include Sydney and Melbourne. Its highly developed economy is service-led, with competitive finance, mining, IT and education globally. Agriculture and manufacturing also matter. Labor laws (per Fair Work Act) protect wages, hours, leave and social security. Standard workweek: 38 hours (overtime needs extra pay or time off). Salaries are usually weekly/biweekly (some monthly, avg. A$1,900/week pre-tax). Laws cover paid leave and encourage flexible work, balancing interests for a fair, sustainable labor market.

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Currency

Australian Dollar (AUD, $)

Capital

Canberra

Official language

English

Salary Cycle

Weekly, Biweekly

Our Employment Guide in Australia

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Paid Time Off Policy

Both full-time and part-time employees are entitled to 20 days of paid time off (PTO) annually. This entitlement accrues progressively at a rate of 1.67 days per month. Employees may submit leave requests once they have accumulated sufficient PTO balance.

Public Holiday Schedule

Australia observes seven national public holidays, supplemented by additional regional holidays depending on the employee's work location. The nationally recognized holidays include:

  1. New Year's Day
  2. Australia Day
  3. Good Friday
  4. Easter Monday
  5. ANZAC Day
  6. Christmas Day
  7. Boxing Day

Practical Implementation Considerations

For international companies like SailGlobal, managing Australian leave entitlements requires careful coordination. We recommend implementing a centralized HR system that automatically tracks accruals and regional variations. Many multinational corporations successfully handle these complexities by establishing clear communication channels between local managers and global HR teams.

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