Work & Business

No. Working on a tourist visa (subclass 600) is illegal and can result in visa cancellation and a ban on future Australian visas. You must have a visa with work rights - including a Working Holiday Visa, student visa with relevant conditions, or a skilled/sponsored work visa.

Healthcare (especially nursing, allied health, and aged care), information technology (software development, cloud, cybersecurity), construction and engineering, education (teachers), and skilled trades (electricians, plumbers) consistently have high demand nationally. These occupations also appear on the priority skills lists that enable faster visa processing.

Employers must contribute 12% of your earnings to a superannuation fund (rate frozen at 12% since 1 July 2025). From 1 July 2026, 'Payday Super' takes effect - employers must pay super each pay cycle rather than quarterly. You can choose your Super fund or use your employer's default. When you leave Australia permanently on a temporary visa, you can claim a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) - but 65% tax is withheld. If you become a PR or citizen, your super grows tax-advantageously until retirement.

It's harder to land a job from overseas, but increasingly common post-COVID for senior and specialist roles. LinkedIn is heavily used in Australia. Networking (even virtually) matters a lot. For most roles, demonstrating your visa situation upfront is important - many employers are willing to sponsor but need reassurance about process and costs.

Penalty rates are higher pay for working weekends, public holidays, and early morning/late evening shifts. They are set by Modern Awards (legally binding pay frameworks) for most occupations. Management and highly-paid professionals are usually on individual employment contracts that may incorporate penalty rates differently.