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!
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Tiffany
June 25, 2024 at 4:09 pmHi JJ,
Thank you for this awesome website!
My husband and I are considering moving to Australia at the end of this year with our 1 year old. We are finding it hard to figure out which state to move to. I am a primary school teacher and my husband currently works at the bank. I was wondering is there any particular state that pays better for teachers? We will also be looking to buy a house so wondering where to look. We don’t really like the hot weather (my sister-in-law lives in Brisbane and we found this too hot). Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Tiffany
JJ Smith
July 3, 2024 at 6:12 pmHi Tiffany,
Thanks for your comment and compliment. Sorry for the delay in replying.
I’ve done a search ‘where do you earn the most teaching in Australia’ and found out the below:
Location Average salary
New South Wales $100,000
Northern Territory $100,000
South Australia $100,000
Tasmania $97,649
Western Australia $97,500
Victoria $95,919
Queensland $95,834
Australian Capital Territory $94,999
Source: Seek Australia Teacher salary post (https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/teacher/salary).
On the above post you can find the average salaries by cities and regions and links to job listings.
I recommend you search Seek for job listings in banks too, so your husband can get an idea of the market.
Regarding the weather, you do acclimatize when you are living there, but you should probably be looking at either Sydney and more so Melbourne to stay away from the extreme heat. Melbourne has quite similar weather to NZ.
Hope the above helps.
Micky
May 9, 2024 at 12:27 amHi JJ,
We are ready to move to Oz for good. We just had a little baby. So my partner is full time mom. I work as GM category manager, I am not too sure if my experience in FMCG in NZ for last 15 years will meet the OZ recruiters.
So I am happy to start from Junior Category Msnager if needed.
So my question is, I had a look at lots of jobs. Haven’t applied any as can’t find the right one. Which recruitment agency would you recommend for FMCG or the role I have experience in. I actually would love to try different industry and explore my potential.
Also need help in deciding the city. My friend is moving to Perth this month and they have family there, after hearing about Perth- we really liked it. However when we looked the job options. FMCG had no National roles.
So we thought of Brisbane as we love hotter climate. Not confusion is. We have nobody there and people we know are in Melbourne.
And they all recommend that my field will have better roles in Melbourne. We are too confused.
We planning to move next month. But no job offer yet and city to decide.
I am sorry if it’s too broad of any opinion. I read your replies and all of them are so nicely replied and informative.
Thanks in advance. =)
JJ Smith
May 10, 2024 at 1:04 pmHi Micky,
Thank you for your comment.
Yours is quite a hard enquiry to answer, because it relies so much on your individual circumstances, so I hope the below helps.
If I was you, I would definitely approach recruitment agencies direct. You will need to have a CV that will stand out, so make sure you have that up to date with great employment and personal references.
When you search ‘FMCG recruitment agencies Australia’, there are a number of recruitment companies to look into: https://www.google.com/search?q=fmcg+recruitment+agencies+australia&client=firefox-b-e&sca_esv=4219658475e40e9f&ei=aGQ9ZrGgNuydseMPlZyHmAM&ved=0ahUKEwix9IWr5IGGAxXsTmwGHRXOATMQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=fmcg+recruitment+agencies+australia&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiI2ZtY2cgcmVjcnVpdG1lbnQgYWdlbmNpZXMgYXVzdHJhbGlhMgYQABgWGB4yCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCBAAGIAEGKIEMggQABiABBiiBDIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGIAEGKIESK49UNANWP87cAF4AZABAJgBpAOgAYYXqgEJMC45LjQuMC4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIPoALLF8ICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAg0QABiABBiwAxhDGIoFwgIOEAAYsAMY5AIY1gTYAQHCAhkQLhiABBiwAxjRAxhDGMcBGMgDGIoF2AECwgIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBcICDRAAGIAEGLEDGEMYigXCAgUQABiABMICCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFwgIIEAAYFhgeGA-YAwCIBgGQBhO6BgYIARABGAm6BgYIAhABGAiSBwkxLjguNS4wLjGgB7ZU&sclient=gws-wiz-serp.
As you are unsure of which city you want to move to, this will give you good insight into what opportunities are where, as each website will have their jobs available listed and most have branches in the main Australian cities – Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
However, if you love the idea of Perth, why not start there: https://www.google.com/search?q=fmcg+recruitment+agencies+perth&client=firefox-b-e&sca_esv=4219658475e40e9f&ei=lWk9ZsmjFYmUseMP9eCswAo&ved=0ahUKEwiJwsyi6YGGAxUJSmwGHXUwC6gQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=fmcg+recruitment+agencies+perth&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiH2ZtY2cgcmVjcnVpdG1lbnQgYWdlbmNpZXMgcGVydGgyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRifBUiDBlCDBFiDBHABeAGQAQCYAewBoAHsAaoBAzItMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCAqAC-QHCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcFMS4wLjGgB4AG&sclient=gws-wiz-serp.
I’ve had a quick look at job listings and agree with your friend that Melbourne has a lot of positions advertised. However, it’s going to take a lot of research to decide if this is the best city for your particular skills and job experience. A recruitment company with multiple branches should be able to guide you.
Living in Melbourne is quite different to the other main Australian cities and you need to decided on what lifestyle you and your family want to live. Melbourne is more similar to NZ in terms of weather and if you want to live in the sunshine, then I would be looking at Sydney, Brisbane or Perth.
New Zealanders have a great reputation in Australia for being hard workers and reliable. So put your best foot forward and make a good first impression. 15 years experience is valuable. Good luck!
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
RWR
April 3, 2024 at 12:37 pmHi JJ and other readers,
I am an IT Project Manager and have in Sydney since the middle of Feb’24 looking for a role.
The market is incredibly tight and lots of candidates looking for work.
If what linkedin show is accurate, almost all the roles that I applied for have had over a 100 applicants.
My job hunt carries on.
Thanks
RWR
JM
March 13, 2024 at 8:28 pmHi JJ,
I am moving to AU end of May and looking at transferring with my current employer to the AU business. The NZ and AU businesses essentially work as two different businesses (AU business and NZ business) despite being the same company. The AU business wants me to start earlier in April – before my official arrival in May. For me to sign the contract, I’m assuming I will need to have the right to work for an AU business, and that will require me to already have the subclass 444 visa. I am thinking that I will fly to AU in early April to set up a bank account and tax number and go into the office for a week or so. Entering into AU, I will receive my subclass visa. I am thinking I will stay for two weeks and return to NZ until we officially move in May and continue to work for the AU business remotely. My concern is that I will leave AU and the visa will no longer stand and technically I will not have the right to keep working for an AU business. Do you have any guidance on my situation? Cheers
JJ Smith
March 14, 2024 at 2:09 pmHi JM,
You can work for a Australian company from NZ. It is not dependent on your visa.
You are doing the right thing by going to Australia to sign the contract and you may as well set up a bank account and TFN while you are there.
The only thing to be aware of is when you do your tax returns, as you will need to make sure you aren’t taxed twice for the period you are working from NZ. You can read more on the Inland Revenue website on Double tax agreements (DTAs), or speak to your accountant. Here is the link to IRD: https://www.ird.govt.nz/international-tax/double-tax-agreements.
Hope the above helps.
Ryan
February 10, 2024 at 10:29 amKia Ora JJ
Thanks for the incredible resources you’ve pulled together on this website!
My partner has just been accepted and started with the Queensland Police Service after 9 years policing in NZ. I’m looking to make the move over shortly after her as I have to get my property ready to be rented out. I still need to secure a job as well. I have ten years experience in the NZ Public Service/Sector, mostly in Senior Advisor roles. Do you have any advice for looking for roles in Brisbane?
– Would the Queensland public service been a good option?
– Is going through recruitment agencies the best approach to weed through all the listings to find the ones that best match my skills and experience?
I’ve always found looking for a new role somewhat overwhelming
Huge thanks!
Ryan
JJ Smith
February 14, 2024 at 11:54 amHi Ryan,
Thanks for your comment.
That’s awesome that your partner has been employed by the Queensland Police. They were offering a good recruitment package.
Here are two sites to check out for a job in the Queensland public service sector:
– Queensland Government Smart Jobs – https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobtools/jncustomsearch.jobsearch?in_organid=14904
– Seek.com.au – these are the results searching public sector, but you will be able to narrow this down more and re-search with better keywords – https://www.seek.com.au/public-sector-jobs/in-brisbane
When looking through the results on Seek you can see what recruitment company are recruiting for a particular position. I recommend you make list and contact them directly with your CV.
Hope the above helps.
Michael
February 1, 2024 at 12:44 amHello, just wanted to know if there is entry level jobs in Australia where accommodation is what is offered as part of moving over there. I am looking for entry level jobs in the trades or any type of hands on work, I would even be interested in driving and transporting goods or freight, as I do have experience driving and do have the licences, if you could point me in the right direction that will be much appreciated. Thanks
JJ Smith
February 2, 2024 at 6:07 pmHi Michael,
Thanks for your comment.
In Seek.com.au you can search “accommodation provided jobs”: https://www.seek.com.au/accommodation-provided-jobs.
A lot of them include relocation too, not sure if that will cover flights, but I’m sure they will still help you out.
Make sure you get your CV tip top, as it does really make a difference, and get all your documentation sorted: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/documentation-needed-when-moving-to-australia/.
Hope the above helps.
Parma
October 16, 2023 at 1:38 amI am planning to move to Australia in near future as the next phase of my career. I have got a PhD in Artificial Intelligence a am looking fora role in Data Science. I am happy to work in any part of Australia.
JJ Smith
October 16, 2023 at 1:56 pmHi Parma,
This article will be of interest to you: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/artificial-intelligence-reshaping-the-jobs-market-in-australia-s-biggest-cities-20230712-p5dno2.html.
If I was you, I would start job hunting from NZ. There has been a massive increase in New Zealanders gaining employment before making the move.
Seek.com.au has 3,196 jobs listed for the keyword ‘Data Science’ throughout Australia: https://www.seek.com.au/Data-Science-jobs.
Hope the above helps.
Ali Ubed
October 14, 2023 at 4:13 amHi JJ I’m a Truckee in NewZealand and was wondering which is better to move to Adelaide; Melbourne or Sydney and how hard is it to land a job in Australia
JJ Smith
October 16, 2023 at 1:42 pmHi Ali,
I recommend you search the Australia job hunting websites and see for yourself.
I did a quick search on Seek.com.au for ‘truck driver’ keyword, in ‘Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics’ category, ‘Road Transport’ sub category in Adelaide SA that 169 jobs came up. Same search in Melbourne – 370 jobs and 372 jobs came up in Sydney.
There are obviously a lot of different licenses and you will need to see what is applicable to you.
When you have a search you will see sign on bonus’s and immediate starts, so I don’t think it will be hard for you to find a job as a truck driver in Australia.
Truck drivers are listed as having shortages in the industry in all states (https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/skills-priority-list?code=733111). This means employers are unable to fill or have considerable difficulty filling vacancies.
I recommend you get your CV up to date and start applying.
Hope the above helps.
Caitlin Nicol
September 17, 2023 at 6:04 pmHi JJ
What a great website you have!
I’m considering moving to Sydney temporarily (up to 18 months) to make some extra money.
My background is in customer service. Is it difficult to try to find a job from New Zealand? I would want to secure this before I considered moving.
I currently live in Hamilton and don’t pay for accommodation as I live with my mother. I’ve heard the living costs in Australia are higher than here. The tax system is different too. Would I still be better off financially taking this into consideration?
As a New Zealand citizen born in Sydney am I eligible for citizenship or do I need to wait 4 years like other New Zealanders?
Sorry, I know I’ve asked a lot of questions!
If you can help or direct me to where I could find more information, I would really appreciate it.
Thank you!
Caitlin Nicol
JJ Smith
September 19, 2023 at 2:00 pmHi Caitlin,
Thanks for your comment.
There is a lot of cross-Tasman recruitment happening at the moment, so you have a good chance of securing a job before you leave NZ.
You would need around NZ$11,045.5 in Sydney to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with NZ$7,200.0 in Hamilton (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare the cost of living and assume net earnings (after income tax). Source: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=New+Zealand&city1=Hamilton&country2=Australia&city2=Sydney.
You have chosen an expensive city to move to, but you should also earn a lot more.
The above link compares Hamilton to Sydney costs of living really well, with price differences for restaurants, markets, transportation, utilities, sports and leisure, rent, etc. Here is another good comparison website that compares the cost of living in NZ to Australia, but unfortunately does not include Hamilton: https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/interactives/costofliving/compare/auckland-vs-sydney/.
However, as you do not currently pay rent, you will need to be earning a lot more money in Australia to make it financially worth it. This could be the case with the average monthly net salary (after tax) being NZ$3,893.95 in Hamilton and NZ$6,334.72 in Sydney (+62.7%).
Therefore I recommend you do some research on SEEK to see how much you would possibly earn and then work out your monthly expenses. The numbers will speak for themselves.
Here is a good post to read to find out how much accommodation will cost you in Sydney depending on how to where you chose to live: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/renting-and-accommodation-in-australia/.
Regarding citizenship, you may be able to apply for Australian citizenship by birth, if one of your parents was an Australian citizen: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/new-zealand-citizens/your-family. Otherwise you will need to be living in Australia for four years immediately before the day you apply.
Hope the above helps.
Tyler King
July 6, 2022 at 11:57 amHi, I am a qualified realestate agent from Auckland, I am moving to Queensland, where do I go to be ab le to transfer my licence over to a Queensland one?
JJ Smith
July 7, 2022 at 10:52 amHi Tyler,
Thank you for your comment. First time I’ve been asked this.
You need to apply to have the licence you gained in NZ recognised in Queensland. By completing a Mutual Recognition Form which can be found on the Office of Fair Trading website Queensland, and paying the fee, you are legally allowed to work from that point on.
Have a read of this post, which includes the links you need: https://www.completepropertytraining.com.au/2016/03/22/applying-for-mutual-recognition-of-your-real-estate-licence/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Justine
June 20, 2022 at 1:33 pmHi JJ,
I came across your website about moving to Australia, it was very helpful and informative. However, I have some questions and need some advice before making the move. I am Justine, I am a Registered Nurse, my current visa is Permanent Resident of NZ. Are there any chances of employers being willing to support and provide a work visa for me? And also, this is my important question, are NZ, PR Visa and AU Work Visa holders eligible for free delivery? In case in the future I gave birth while on that visa? Thank you so much, hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Justine
JJ Smith
July 1, 2022 at 12:38 pmHi Justine,
Thank you for your email and sorry for the delay in replying.
If you’re registered for my newsletter you would have seen that nurses are in high demand in Australia currently: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-front-page-lure-of-australia-could-worsen-nzs-nursing-crisis/HLFQSZTU5B7K45BSYH6P3H2L3A/.
There are a number of recruitment companies that will help you find a job in Australia with sponsorship. Unfortunately, I haven’t got any experience with them so can’t recommend which companies to approach.
Here is a post on the top 5 recruitment agencies for nurses in Australia. As the companies are Australia based, it doesn’t matter that the post is British: https://bbmlive.com/top-5-recruitment-agencies-for-nurses-in-australia/.
When you get a visa for Australia it will allow you to register for Medicare, which covers pregnancies and birth in Australia: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/new-zealanders-having-a-baby-in-australia/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
C D
May 4, 2022 at 1:05 amHi JJ,
I’m a police officer with 9 years experience and looking at moving my young family over the ditch. My wife has 5 years experience in administrative work/payroll. Would love to see what jobs would be on offer either in policing or other jobs that would take into account my experience. Preferably in the Perth area but open to any options. Thanks
JJ Smith
May 19, 2022 at 2:04 pmHi C D,
Thank you for your comment. Sorry for the delay in replying.
To work for any Australia government department, including police, you must be an Australian citizen: https://jobs.afp.gov.au/become-an-officer/eligibility.
If you visited Australia before 1 September 1994 and cleared customs, the Resident Return visa is an easy and cheap visa to obtain as a New Zealand Citizen. You can find further info including cost and processing time here: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/become-an-australian-permanent-resident-and-australia-citizen/#ResidentReturnvisa.
Seek is the major job hunting website in Australia: https://www.seek.com.au/jobs/in-All-Perth-WA.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Thanks
Aria
March 23, 2022 at 1:57 amHi JJ,
I have couple of questions about the blue card – Currently, I’m living in NZ and have a Diploma in ECE level 5 and over 4 years of experience. Now, planning on moving to Gold coast in mid/end of May 2022. Will I be able to apply for the blue card online from NZ? If so, How soon do I need to start applying before arriving to Aus.? I also have a Australian address to send card once applied for.
Thank you in advance
JJ Smith
March 24, 2022 at 12:25 amHi Aria,
Thank you for your comment.
Have a read of this page as it outlines how to get a blue card: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/laws-regulated-industries-and-accountability/queensland-laws-and-regulations/regulated-industries-and-licensing/blue-card/applications/apply.
First you need to apply for a Customer Reference Number (CRN) from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). To do this you need to visit a TMR service centre in Australia: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/crn.
The application process for the blue card takes several days or even weeks, so make sure you have all your paperwork ready before you leave for Australia: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/driver-licensing/identity.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Swetha
February 24, 2022 at 12:00 amHi ,
This is Swetha. I am working as Early Childhood Teacher in Auckland. Iam a qualified and registered teacher. I am planning to relocate to Melbourne Victoria as my partner has got a job opportunity. I would like to know the job opportunities in Early childhood sector.
JJ Smith
February 24, 2022 at 11:25 pmHi Swetha,
Thank you for your comment.
You will need to search for a job like you would in New Zealand. Here is a link to the Google search I did: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Early+Childhood+jobs+in+melbourne.
As you will see from the above there are not only 1877 jobs listed on Seek for early childhood, but there are also a number of companies offering early childhood teacher jobs.
I recommend you look through both the specialised websites and Seek so you know what the employment rate is in your sector. Then get your CV up to date and start applying.
Unfortunately people usually don’t get a response from Seek general listings, as it is easier to have an interview with someone based in Australia, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth investing some time into it.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Ant
May 5, 2021 at 6:43 amHi JJ
Is there an option for NZ citizens to gain Australian permanent residency before moving over there. As I study through a university of Australia online from here, and looking and heading over there to finish the papers. Thank you
Ant
JJ Smith
May 5, 2021 at 9:48 pmHi Ant,
Thank you for your comment.
I’m not sure if that is possible. I recommend you check out IMMagine and complete their free preliminary evaluation: http://www.immigration.co.nz/.
Their free preliminary evaluation (http://www.immigration.co.nz/assessments/free-evaluation/) will establish which Visa category may suit you and whether it’s worth your while ordering a comprehensive full assessment. Not many immigration companies do this. Next step is a full assessment (http://www.immigration.co.nz/assessments/full-assessment/) where IMMagine will develop your detailed strategy, timeline and pricing structure in-person or on Skype. Naturally, a small cost applies for this full and comprehensive assessment.
You can also post your question online and one of the IMMagine team will be in touch with your answer within 24 hours (usually same day response) for a small fee (AUD$15.00): http://www.immigration.co.nz/ask-us-question/ask-us/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.