Finding a job in Australia

For most British movers, the job comes first and the visa follows. An Australian employer sponsors you for a work visa, so finding one who will is the key step.

Where to look

• Job boards: Seek, LinkedIn and Indeed are widely used
• Government jobs: each state and the federal government has its own jobs site, for roles such as nursing, teaching and the public service
• Employers’ own career pages, especially hospitals, universities, councils and large companies
• Recruitment agencies, especially in IT, engineering, finance and construction
• Filter for employers who say they will sponsor a visa. Many ads say “must have full working rights”, which means they won’t

Which skills are in demand

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is the list of jobs an employer can sponsor you for on the main work visa. It is published by the Department of Home Affairs, on advice from Jobs and Skills Australia, and replaced the older skilled occupation lists on 7 December 2024. It has around 450 occupations, including:

A few dozen occupations have extra conditions, called caveats. For example, a general accountant can’t be sponsored by a business with a turnover of less than A$1 million. The list changes, so check your exact occupation before you apply.

How sponsorship works

1. The employer becomes an approved sponsor with the Department of Home Affairs (valid for 5 years)
2. The employer nominates your job. They must show it is a real role, usually that they tried to recruit locally, and that they will pay you at least what an Australian would get
3. You apply for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). You need at least 1 year’s relevant experience in the last 5 years, plus health and character checks
4. You can usually bring your partner and children, and stay up to 4 years
5. After 2 years with your sponsor, you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the employer nomination (subclass 186) visa

The salary counts only your guaranteed base pay. Super (the pension contribution your employer pays on top), a car or bonuses don’t count. British passport holders usually don’t have to take an English test. If your job ends, you have up to 180 days in a row (and no more than 365 days in total across the visa) to find a new sponsor or another visa, or leave. More detail in Visa routes to Australia and Understanding an Australian job offer.

What jobs pay

Many public-sector pay rates are published. These are Queensland Health’s rates; other states are broadly similar. Private-sector pay varies widely, so compare live job ads and the salary pages on job boards before you negotiate.

These are base salaries. Queensland Health’s tables use levels rather than job titles. Under the medical officers’ agreement, registrars are paid at levels L4 to L9, so the registrar row shows level L4. Shift penalties and overtime come on top. Your employer must also pay super (superannuation, the Australian workplace pension) of 12% of your earnings on top, unless your offer says the salary includes it.

Your CV

• Australians usually say “resume” rather than CV
• Lead with a short summary, then your experience, most recent first, with results rather than duties
• Leave out your photo, date of birth and marital status
• Say clearly what visa you need, or that you have one, near the top
• Give 2 referees, ideally recent managers, and warn them about the time difference
• Government jobs often ask you to address “selection criteria”: short written answers showing how you meet each requirement

Scouting trips

Many people visit before they move, to meet employers and look at areas. British citizens can apply for the free eVisitor visa (subclass 651), which allows stays of up to 3 months each time. A visitor visa doesn’t let you work. Some employers will interview by video and only meet you in person once you have a visa.