The Australian government currently employs over 2 million people across the country, and new career opportunities are constantly being added.
Working in the public sector in Australia presents lots of opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the country’s citizens, whether you’re part of a local council or are working in IT for a government agency.
Australian government jobs also come with great benefits and can serve as an important stepping stone in a person’s career. Having a public sector job on your resume is a great way to distinguish yourself from other applicants and increase your chances of getting hired for other jobs in the future.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about government jobs in Australia, from the pros and cons to current public service job openings available throughout the country.
When it comes to public service jobs in Australia, there are plenty of pros but also a few noteworthy cons to keep in mind. If you’re on the fence about choosing a career in public service over working in the private sector or working as an entrepreneur or freelancer, consider these pros and cons.
Pro: Better Work-Life Balance
In most cases, the public sector offers a better sense of work-life balance compared to the private sector. There are always exceptions, of course, but most public sector employees have more balanced work schedules and more time to spend with their families and loved ones. In many cases, they also get more holidays off than private-sector employees.
According to a survey from Gradaustralia, public service workers work an average of 30-40 hours per week, whereas private-sector workers work an average of 60 hours per week. If you’re looking for a job that still gives you the freedom to pursue other activities and interests, the public sector is likely the way to go.
Pro: More Flexibility
In addition to offering more work-life balance, many government jobs in Australia also offer more flexibility.
This isn’t to say that there’s no flexibility within the private sector (each company sets its own guidelines and policies, after all, and some make a concentrated effort to be extra-flexible). However, government departments follow a series of centralized policies regarding flexible work practices, which means that nearly all public service jobs offer a consistent level of flexibility.
For example, government jobs have specific policies around work-from-home arrangements, scheduling, and more.
Government jobs also offer flex leave, which allows workers to earn a significant amount of extra leave each year in exchange for working beyond their set hours. This is a benefit that a lot of private sector companies simply aren’t able to compete with.
Pro: More Job Security
Often, government jobs are considered to be more stable and to offer a higher level of job security compared to private-sector jobs.
The private sector can be fickle, and it isn’t growing as rapidly as the public sector. This means there aren’t as many opportunities to rise through the ranks, and there may be greater potential for layoffs or company closures within the private sector.
Pro: Better Benefits
Generally speaking, the public sector offers better benefits than the private sector.
Both private and public sector jobs are required to offer certain benefits to their employees. This includes things like compulsory leave and pay and superannuation entitlements.
However, the public sector tends to offer more comprehensive benefits beyond these guaranteed ones, such as the more generous leave policies mentioned above. Government benefits are more standardized, too, whereas private sector benefits are left up to the individual business to set and regulate.
Pro: Room for Growth
Within the public sector, there are plenty of opportunities to gain valuable experience and expand one’s career, especially as new jobs continue to be added to various departments. Of course, some types of government jobs offer more room for growth than others.
For example, those who want to work in a field like education, science, healthcare, or community development can typically get a good leg up by working in the public sector first.
For those who want to work in a field like investment banking or software engineering, though, there may be more (and higher-paying) opportunities in the private sector.
Con: Lower Salaries
In general, many government jobs in Australia tend to offer lower-than-average salaries compared to private-sector jobs.
This is a turn-off for some applicants. At the same time, though, others are willing to take a pay cut in exchange for better benefits, more flexible hours, etc.
Ultimately, it’s up to the individual to decide whether they value a high starting salary or a better benefits package when applying for jobs.
Con: Limited Training Opportunities
Government jobs typically come with smaller training budgets compared to a lot of private-sector jobs (especially jobs at major corporations).
This doesn’t mean that you won’t be well-trained if you take the public sector route. However, you might not have as many big or flashy opportunities as you would in the private sector, especially if you want to work in a fast-evolving field like IT or marketing.
You likely won’t be getting flown overseas to attend a big conference, for example, but you’ll still receive the necessary training to do your job well. If that’s a deal-breaker for you, the public sector might not be the right choice.
Con: Stricter Rules and Guidelines
In most cases, government jobs in Australia have to abide by stricter rules and guidelines than private-sector jobs.
Because the government is so expansive, more standardization and regulation are needed to keep everyone on the same page and prevent mistakes that could have serious consequences for government employees and the Australian people.
Due to the increased rules and regulations, progress can seem slower than average when you work in the public sector compared to the private sector. If you want to be part of a fast-moving team that gets things done quickly, working for the government may not be an ideal fit.
Pros and Cons Summary
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Better Work-Life Balance |
Lower Salaries |
|
More Flexibility |
Limited Training Opportunities |
|
More Job Security |
Stricter Rules and Guidelines |
|
Better Benefits |
|
|
Room for Growth (in some fields) |
What Types of Australian Government Jobs Are There?
As far as public service jobs in Australia go, there are a few different types that job applicants can consider. Government jobs in this country can be broken down into 3 main categories:
Local
Local jobs typically involve working on local councils. These positions span across all of Australia’s metropolitan and regional areas, so there are lots of opportunities available for workers of all kinds.
State
This includes jobs for both state and territory governments, such as the ACT, NSW, QLD, NT, SA, TAS, WA, and VIC. These jobs are based in a variety of hubs throughout the state.
Federal
Federal government jobs in Australia are often Canberra-based. However, many can also be found throughout other parts of Australia for workers in a wide range of fields, from healthcare to IT.
How to Get an Entry-Level Government Job in Australia?
Entry-level jobs are generally geared toward recent graduates in a specific field. They don’t require previous experience, but they do typically come with on-the-job training opportunities and requirements.
In Australia, the average entry-level job salary is around $49,256 per year (that works out to $25.26 per hour). There’s often a lot of room to grow in entry-level government jobs in Australia, especially for those who are willing to “pay their dues,” so to speak, and demonstrate their commitment and work ethic.
If someone is interested in applying for an entry-level job and wants to increase their chances of getting hired, here are a few strategies they may want to implement:
Check Job Listings Regularly
Review Selection Criteria Carefully
When you’re applying for any job, you need to review the selection criteria before submitting your CV. When you’re applying for government jobs in Australia, though, you need to be even more particular when it comes to reviewing these criteria.
If you don’t possess specific hard or soft skills, your application likely won’t be considered. Make sure you can check all the necessary boxes before you invest time and energy in filling out an application for certain positions.
Work with a Recruitment Consultant
Sometimes, partnering with a recruitment consultant can make it easier (and more efficient) for you to find job openings that are a good fit for your skills, education, personality, etc.
Recruitment consultants do some of the heavy liftings for you during your job search. They also ensure you’re not applying for jobs that you aren’t likely to qualify for.
Be Patient
Finally, be patient.
There are millions of employees working for the Australian government. There are also millions more who want to be part of the team and are applying for the same jobs as you.
Because of this, it may take a while after you’ve filled out and submitted an application to hear back with an offer for an interview. Don’t get discouraged or give up hope just because you don’t hear anything immediately.
What Are the Most Common Areas Hiring for Government Jobs in Australia?
There are plenty of government jobs available in Australia, but certain areas tend to have higher-than-average hiring demands, including the following:
1. Healthcare
What They Do
Healthcare workers in the public sector play a key role in keeping the Australian people safe and healthy. People who work in these positions spend a lot of time creating and executing public health initiatives, educating Australian citizens, and more. These workers have been very busy over the last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but even during non-public health crisis times, they have plenty to do.
Current Job Openings
- HSE Officer
- Salary: AU$45 per hour
- Contract: Temporary (2-3 month contract with possibility of an extension)
- WHS Advisor
- Salary: AU$83,193 – AU$103,992
- Contract: Temporary (with potential for permanent hire)
2. Education
What They Do
Public sector workers who specialise in education carry out a variety of roles related to teaching and advising people of all ages.
There are opportunities for teachers, of course, but there are also plenty of options for administrators and those who want to improve the education field in other ways. For example, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority needs help from all kinds of professionals to keep the lights on and serve Australia’s children, from IT specialists to CRM developers.
Current Job Openings
- Senior Communications Officer
- Salary: AU$90,000 – AU$110,000
- Contract: Temporary
- Casual/Temporary Classroom Teachers
- Salary: AU$73,246 – AU$109,641
- Contract: Temporary
3. Legal
What They Do
Australian public sector employees who specialize in the legal field must work together to create new laws, uphold existing laws, keep the country safe, and help everything to run as smoothly as possible. Those who work in this area of the public sector have a passion for the law and a strong commitment to their communities.
Current Job Openings
- Legislative Drafter, Assistant Parliamentary Counsel
- Salary: AU$68,810 – AU$138,585
- Contract: Full-time permanent
- Director, Reintegration
- Salary: AU$131,773 – AU$148,344
- Contract: Full-time temporary (with the possibility of permanency)
4. Human Resources
What They Do
Those who work in the human resources field are responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing administrative functions of various organizations. Every office within the public sector needs human resources workers who can keep things running efficiently, ensure everyone is being treated fairly, and help employees perform to the best of their abilities.
Current Job Openings
- Learning Designer
- Salary: AU$85,000 – AU$95,000
- Contract: Full-time permanent
- HR Officer
- Salary: AU$72,794 – AU$93,593
- Contract: Temporary
5. Admin
What They Do
Administrative public sector employees are similar to HR employees in the sense that they help to keep organizations running smoothly. Administrative employees often work as assistants, receptionists, and in other support-type roles, but they can also serve as advisors or consultants for various parts of the Australian government.
Current Job Openings
- Contracts Administrator – Commercial Construction
- Salary: AU$120,000 – AU$140,000
- Contract: Full-time permanent
- Warehouse/Logistics Administrator
- Salary: AU$55,000 – AU$65,000
- Contract: Full-time permanent
6. Accounting and Finance
What They Do
Government workers who work in accounting and finance are responsible for managing funds, overseeing investments, and keeping various arms of the government on track when it comes to spending and budgeting. Those who seek out accounting and finance jobs should, at a minimum, be good with numbers and have an interest in financial management.
Current Job Openings
- Business Analyst
- Salary: AU$96,000 – AU$104,000
- Contract: Full-time permanent
- Revenue Accountant
- Salary: AU$80,000 – AU$89,000
- Contract: Temporary
7. Marketing
What They Do
Marketing professionals who work in the public sector help to spread the word about various government initiatives. They promote the work that government employees are doing and aim to get people excited about it. Those who work in marketing may also handle PR-related matters, such as writing press releases or statements about various projects.
Current Job Openings
- Digital Marketing Advisor
- Salary: AU$45 – AU$48 per hour
- Contract: Temporary
- Senior Manager Performance Marketing
- Salary: AU$140,000 – AU$150,000
- Contract: Temporary (5-year fixed-term contract)
8. Information Technology
What They Do
Information technology workers are responsible for keeping things running smoothly from a technical perspective. This includes making sure websites function as they’re supposed to, monitoring and preventing security issues that could compromise government information, and more.
Information technology workers have lots of opportunities across all areas of the Australian government, especially as various branches work to transition fully into the digital age.
Current Job Openings
- IT Category Manager
- Salary: AU$900 – AU$1,000 per day
- Contract: Temporary
- Service Desk Officer
- Salary: AU$65,000 – AU$70,000
- Contract: Full-time permanent
Get Hired for Government Jobs in Australia Today
Now that you know what it takes to land government jobs in Australia, are you interested in having a job in the public sector be a part of your career path? If so, be sure to keep the information outlined above in mind, especially when it comes to the most common areas that are hiring throughout the country.
If you need more help landing government jobs in Australia (or other types of jobs), GrabJobs has lots of articles and courses available, including guides on writing a CV or nailing a job interview. Check out the Career Resources section of our website today to learn more
