Moving to Australia from New Zealand?
Get all information you need to make a successful and stress-free move across the ditch.
If you are a New Zealand citizen, you are legally able to work in Australia. You may need to apply for a work visa if you are not a New Zealand or Australian citizen.
Hunting for jobs in Australia is very similar to looking for a job in New Zealand. The majority of jobs are advertised online, mostly by recruitment companies but also by individual employers.
On this page you will find the helpful information below:
In the past, it was quite hard to land a job in Australia from New Zealand, but since Covid-19, it has become more common for New Zealanders to get employed by an Australian company while still living in NZ.
You need to have a thorough CV and be realistic about your move to Australia.
So get to know Seek.com.au and regularly check back to view the latest listings in your industry.
You can gain a lot of knowledge from job listing websites, e.g. the size of your industry, opportunities, current wages, and the process of how to apply. Searching will give you a realistic view of the current Australian job market and can give you a lot of hope for what your future may look like.
Depending on your industry, it can be worth searching Google Australia companies in your industry and approaching them directly. New Zealanders have a great reputation in Australia and around the world as being hard workers. Combine that with the fact that we can’t fall back on government support; we are known as being very reliable.
A significant shortage of skilled labour across Australia is negatively impacting production, services, and supply chains. While the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, it has been an issue since the beginning of the pandemic and will continue to be one when the virus’s effects wane.
Some industries experiencing major shortages at the moment are hospitality, the health sector, engineers, trades, technicians, truck drivers, and digital. Australia has always relied upon skilled migrant workers, e.g., skilled migrants, international students, and backpackers, who haven’t been able to get into Australia due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The skilled worker shortage in Australia is likely to worsen before it gets better. In many of the industries affected, it takes, on average, three to four years to qualify, and that is before developing proficiency. You can read more on the skill shortage in Australia here.
As a result, I’ve heard from many more New Zealanders who have already secured jobs from New Zealand before moving to Australia.
This leaves a lot of opportunities for New Zealanders looking at moving to Australia!
If you want to know about your tax obligations in Australia, you should read our Australian Tax – what you need to know page. On this page, you can find out the current Australian tax rates and how to get a TFN.
You need to apply for a TFN number after you’ve arrived in Australia. You are not able to apply from New Zealand. Find out how to get a TFN here.
Don’t get caught out arriving in Australia without the documentation/paperwork you need. It will cause you a whole lot of stress, time and worry!
Especially when it comes to the competitive Australian job market. Be prepared and get a better-paid job in Australia.
Read more in my documentation needed when moving to Australia post.
These are the top Australian job listing websites:
For general information on employment in Australia, career advice, resume templates, salary surveys and more, visit http://www.employmentguide.com.au.
When it comes to moving overseas and finding work, many things will determine your success, but we think the greatest factor is preparation. Read the full post here.
Australian recruiters are astounded at how many mistakes job seekers make with their resumes. Here are the key things to avoid. Read the full post here.
Registering with an Australian recruitment agency is extremely worthwhile, especially if they specialise in your industry. They will help you find a new job and can even find you a job while you are still in New Zealand.
I recommend you search Google for recruitment agencies in Australia that specialise in your industry. Whether it be:
The below posts might interest you:
If you’ve read the above content and the answer to your question isn’t there, please write a comment below, and I’ll research the answer for you.
If you need advice on moving to Australia from New Zealand, I’ve created a helpful little questionnaire to point you in the right direction. It takes less than 30 seconds, so give it a go!
Hi… I’m JJ Smith.
I’m the creator and editor of Moving to Australia and have been for 15 years! I know everything there is to know about New Zealanders moving their families and life to Australia. Either from first hand experiences and research or through the questions from visitors to this website… and I’m here to help!
I love helping people via Moving to Australia.
Providing the answers to questions we all ask when deciding whether to make the move from New Zealand to Australia. Even giving individual specific advice where needed.
I have learned a lot over the last 15 years from personal experience and through interacting with visitors. This is my job, making sure the information here is comprehensive and up to date.
If you would like to help me, you can use one of my referral partners.
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Tracey Gordon
January 28, 2025 at 6:31 pmHi JJ,
I am the director of a long-standing business in Brisbane, Queensland, looking for a direct way to speak to potential employees. I am seeking two experienced motor mechanics to join our team at Comet Automotive in Albion, Brisbane. The package I can offer is HIGHLY competitive, with support to relocate for the right person, and it provides the best lifestyle living in a relaxed city only one hour from the Sunshine and Gold Coast beaches. Comet is still family-owned after 32 years, offering log book servicing to late-model European Vehicles.
Can you assist, please?
Donna
November 3, 2024 at 10:45 amHi there,
I am applying for jobs from NZ and in the industry I am in, they require a police check and sometimes a working with children check. Do you know if I can apply and get these certificates from nz so I can include in my applications??
And do you know what is the job market like over there? I am in the HR Management space.
Thanks in advance
Donna
JJ Smith
November 6, 2024 at 12:47 pmHi Donna,
Thank you for your comment.
I am hearing form a lot of visitors who have managed to find a job from NZ, so it’s definitely worth applying.
I recommend doing some research on https://www.seek.com.au/ and then calling the recruitment company who has the listing. This tends to get greater engagement and therefore results.
There is no such thing as a ‘police clearance certificate’ in New Zealand. If you are convicted of a crime, a criminal record is created and held in a database by the Ministry of Justice. If you are asked for a ‘police clearance certificate’, ‘police record’, ‘police file’, ‘police check’, or ‘criminal check’, a copy of your criminal record from the Ministry of Justice should meet the requirements. If you have no convictions, you will receive a letter stating that is the case.
You can now request your own criminal record check online: https://www.justice.govt.nz/criminal-records/get-your-own/.
Before you begin you must have the following documents ready:
– your valid identification (ID)
– your signed and dated Authority to Release Information Form [PDF, 643 KB]
When completing the authority to release information form please ensure:
– your ID contains a signature
– the signature on your ID matches your authority to release information Form and
– you have written the correct date of signing the proof of signature form.
The above documents will be uploaded as part of your online application and should be saved as either a .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, or .PDF file format. Documents must be no larger than 6MB for each document
To ensure compatibility, please use Adobe Acrobat when saving documents as a PDF. You can’t ask for your record over the phone or without the form. If you’re unable to apply online, you can still complete a paper form.
Requests for criminal record checks are managed in accordance with Schedule 4 of the Privacy Act 2020 (the Act). They endeavour to respond to all requests within 20 working days. Around 90% of requests are responded to in less than one week.
Hope the above helps.
Donna
November 6, 2024 at 1:35 pmThank you for your email and the link to get my police check. I don’t have any convictions but Aussie companies will hopefully accept this.
Cheers again for the info. I actually applied for 3 positions on the weekend and have a 1st interview tomorrow…. so that is exciting.
Love you newsletters and website btw. It has been enormously helpful.
Tan
October 9, 2024 at 5:33 pmHi JJ
I’m looking at potentially working for my current employer when I move to Australia. I haven’t been able to find any information online regarding the possibility of doing that and what I need to do to get set up in terms of paying taxes etc. Do you have any information on your website. Thank you
JJ Smith
October 21, 2024 at 6:21 pmHi Tan,
Thank you for your email. Sorry for the delay in replying, I’ve been on holiday with my family.
I’ve been asked this question a few times recently, so I’ve written a post about it ‘Working in Australia for a New Zealand company’: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/working-in-australia-for-a-new-zealand-company/.
The main obligation is tax, which differs greatly depending on if you are employed or contracting. And then, if you are a Australian resident for tax purposes or non-resident for tax purposes.
Please let me know if the above post doesn’t answer all your questions.
Thanks
Tan
October 4, 2024 at 5:16 pmHi JJ
I am planning a move to Australia and continue working for my current New Zealand employer. I’m having trouble finding whether or not this is in fact possible and what therequirements are.
JJ Smith
October 18, 2024 at 4:27 pmHi Tanya,
Thank you for your email. Sorry for the delay in replying, I’ve been on holiday with my family.
To answer your comment, what do you need to know about working for an NZ employer while living in Australia, the main obligation is tax, which differs greatly depending on if you are employed or contracting. And then, if you are a Australian resident for tax purposes or non-resident for tax purposes.
I’ve been asked similar questions a lot recently, so I’ve written this post, working in Australia for a New Zealand company (https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/working-in-australia-for-a-new-zealand-company/).
Hope it helps.
Dani G
September 5, 2024 at 12:18 pmHello, before I start i just want to say Thank you!! for being so transparent and sharing this information. I am wanting to go through a recruitment agency to land my first job in Australia and was wondering if you knew of a reputable one based in Melbourne? I’m a young professional (26) with plenty of administration/coordinator experience in the Health, Science and Research industry- though i am open to other industries. Thank you 🙂
JJ Smith
September 18, 2024 at 6:06 pmHi Dani G,
Thank you for your comment and sincerest apologies for the delay in replying.
Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with recruitment agencies in Melbourne and I’ve never been able to crack the recruitment industry and get a partner to help my visitors.
Therefore you are going to have to go through the process of searching https://www.seek.com.au/ and find job listings by recruitment companies in your industry and contact them directly.
However, I have done a Google search on ‘recruitment agencies in Melbourne specialising in Health, Science and Research industries’ and it is worth contacting the recruitment companies that came up: https://www.google.com/search?q=recruitment+agencies+in+melbourne+specialising+in+Health%2C+Science+and+Research+industries&client=firefox-b-e&sca_esv=8756ef8d6c466811&sca_upv=1&ei=NW3qZtbYC_yd0-kPkan3sAI&ved=0ahUKEwiWx4OH6cuIAxX8zjQHHZHUHSYQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=recruitment+agencies+in+melbourne+specialising+in+Health%2C+Science+and+Research+industries&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiWXJlY3J1aXRtZW50IGFnZW5jaWVzIGluIG1lbGJvdXJuZSBzcGVjaWFsaXNpbmcgaW4gSGVhbHRoLCBTY2llbmNlIGFuZCBSZXNlYXJjaCBpbmR1c3RyaWVzSABQAFgAcAB4AZABAJgBAKABAKoBALgBA8gBAPgBAZgCAKACAJgDAOIDBRIBMSBAkgcAoAcA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
Good luck with your move to Australia.
Ken
August 6, 2024 at 11:04 amHi I’ve never been overseas. I’m interested in moving to Australia & finding employment in Gold Coast and/or Brisbane. I am Maori & have a NZ Heavy Trade vehicle licence. & Various other driving entitlements on my NZ Drivers License. I’d Probably have to do a Driver training course etc in Australia. Would I be able to find van Driver work and/or other work in Gold Coast and/or Brisbane?.
JJ Smith
August 14, 2024 at 5:46 pmHi Ken,
Thanks for your comment and sorry for the delay in replying.
Good news is, your skills are in demand in Australia! Shortages of truck drivers, warehouse personnel and other transport and logistics workers make this sector a hot focus for recruitment. Vacancies are increasing as a result of the surge in home deliveries and an ageing workforce in which a high proportion of qualified drivers are coming up for retirement.
Here’s an interesting article by an Australian recruitment company: https://www.randstad.com.au/in-demand-jobs-logistics/.
Your NZ licences will be recognised in Australia for up to 3 months. Then you must transfer to a Queensland licence.
Since you will be applying for a Queensland heavy vehicle driver licence (class LR, MR, HR, HC or MC, and you hold, or have held within the last 5 years an equivalent heavy vehicle licence issued in New Zealand, you will need to pass a road rules test for heavy vehicles. You will not have to take the practical driving test. Source: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/driver-licensing/overseas/transfer/exempt-countries.
You can read more in my driving and licences in Australia post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/driving-and-licences-in-australia/.
Regarding finding driver work on the Gold Coast, I recommend you have a good search through https://www.seek.com.au/. I did a search for ‘heavy vehicle driver’ in all of Gold Coast and 100 jobs came up: https://www.seek.com.au/heavy-vehicle-driver-jobs/in-All-Gold-Coast-QLD. And send your CV directly to recruitment companies with listings that you find.
Other posts I recommend you read:
– https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/moving-to-australia-process/
– https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/documentation-needed-when-moving-to-australia/
– https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/australian-tax/
– https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/white-card-australia/
Hope the above helps.
Mark
July 1, 2024 at 9:35 amHi JJ,
My wife is an ECE teacher in NZ and she’s basically looking for someone to talk to in Aus who works in the industry to help answer some questions she has. We’re still in the early stages of thinking if we make the move, so not sure on which State we’d move to etc. She emailed a company off Seek.com.au but they were probably a recruitment agency and didn’t fully understand what she was after.
Is it possible to set something up via Teams/Zoom if you have contacts?
Thanks!
JJ Smith
July 4, 2024 at 4:25 pmHi Mark,
Thanks for your comment.
The Victoria government have been advertising on my website and I’ve gotten to know their ‘move from NZ to teach kindergarten’ initiative pretty well.
I haven’t heard about this sort of scheme happening anywhere else in Australia so it’s a good place to start. You can read more about it here: https://www.vic.gov.au/move-from-nz-teach-kinder.
If your wife fills in the form to register her interest, someone will contact her and she will be able to ask them any questions she has, without an obligation: https://v6.educationapps.vic.gov.au/em/forms/subscribe.php?db=748250&s=603100&a=100821&k=LE5aMC2ubQXLYWV69hOcrrpkubZYCPNfkFrIqQyf3ug.
Otherwise I can only recommend typing her questions into Google and see what she can find.
Hope the above helps.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.