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.
The Australian tax system works pretty similarly to New Zealand’s. The Australian Tax Office/Department (ATO) is the equivalent of the IRD in New Zealand.
Your employer will pay the Australian Tax Department/Office tax on your behalf. If you are self-employed, you will need to file your own tax returns, so you will need to get an Australian tax accountant to help you file everything correctly.
And the first thing you should do when you arrive in Australia is apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)!
Australia is experiencing widespread skill shortages across various industries, impacting sectors such as healthcare, teaching, construction, technology and more. Significant skill shortages in blue-collar jobs mean that all trades are in high demand.
Several factors contribute to these shortages, including an aging workforce, increased demand for specialised skills, and the lingering effects of border closures during the pandemic.
Australia has a history of paying its workers more than NZ, and if living in Australia has always intrigued you, then why not spend some time running the numbers and seeing how much more you will be paid if you make the move to Australia from New Zealand?
Workers on Australian construction sites must have a construction induction card (White Card) before starting work. You may also need to show your White Card to the person in charge of the construction site or an inspector if asked.
To get your White Card, you need to complete the nationally recognised CPCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry course through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
Once issued, your White Card is recognised Australia-wide.
The good news is that getting your White Card is fairly straightforward once you’re in Australia. Depending on the state you’re living in, you may be able to complete your training online or face-to-face.
Please note that you must physically be in Australia to complete a White Card course.
Editor’s note for Kiwis moving to Australia: If you’re using your New Zealand passport and Australian visa (SCV) to create your USI, you won’t be able to create it until you’ve arrived in Australia and cleared customs. You can book your course beforehand, but you’ll need your USI before completing your white card course (read more below).
I have spoken directly to three different White Card training providers and there is no way to get a White Card from NZ. However, you can complete the training in one day either in person or online and get your certificate on the same day.
Access to the online test is restricted to Australia (you will not be able to access it from outside Australia).
What this post covers:
A White Card in Australia is a certification required for anyone carrying out construction work. It is also known as a Construction Induction Card or General Construction Induction Card.
To get one, you need to complete the nationally recognised CPCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry course.
The course covers important workplace health and safety information, including identifying construction hazards, managing risks and knowing what to do if an incident occurs.
The White Card training is mandatory for all workers who will be working in the construction industry:
During your course, you’ll learn about workplace health and safety requirements, construction hazards, communicating and reporting safety issues, and incident and emergency procedures.
To get a White Card in Australia, you need to complete an approved construction induction training course through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
The type of training available depends on which Australian state you’re living in. Depending on the state and provider, training may be available face-to-face or through an approved online/virtual classroom option:
Once you’ve successfully completed your training, you’ll receive a Statement of Attainment and your White Card will be issued according to the requirements of your state.
Your White Card is then recognised Australia-wide.
Please note that online White Card training is only available in certain states.
Whether you are doing it online or in person, you need to book your place!
I’ve partnered with National White Card Courses (RTO 41072), who offer White Card training across Australia, with course options depending on the state you’re moving to.
They have issued more than 50,000 White Cards and have over 6,000 5-star reviews, so I’m really pleased to be able to offer Moving to Australia visitors a discount on their training.
Save $5 on your White Card course using code: MTA0526.
Before completing your White Card training, you’ll generally need:
Please note, National White Card Courses will help you along the way and let you know what ID requirements, etc are required by your state. All the communication I have had with them has been fantastic, and the reviews speak for themselves.
However, if you want to know now exactly what the requirements are, you can find out using the links below:
Whether you can complete White Card training online depends on the state you’re living in and the delivery methods currently approved in that state.
Some states allow approved online or virtual classroom training, while others require face-to-face training:
The good news is that once you’ve successfully obtained your White Card, it is recognised Australia-wide.
Check the current White Card course options for your state.
An Australian White Card generally costs between $80 and $250, depending on the state you’re in, the training provider you choose and whether you complete the course online or face-to-face.
At the time of updating this article, White Card courses with National White Card Courses start from $89 ($84 for MTA visitors), with prices varying by state.
Moving to Australia readers can also save $5 on their White Card course using discount code: MTA0526.
White Card training can generally be completed in one day, although the exact time depends on your state, training provider and whether you complete the course face-to-face or through an approved online/virtual option.
Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll receive a Statement of Attainment. The process for receiving your physical White Card varies by state.
If you’re moving from New Zealand and need a White Card to start work, I recommend booking your course before you leave NZ for as soon as possible after you arrive in Australia.
There are lots of White Card training providers in Australia. Whichever provider you choose, make sure they are a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) approved to provide the training you need.
I’ve partnered with National White Card Courses (RTO 41072), who provide White Card training across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, and at a very competitive rate.
They offer face-to-face and approved online/virtual options depending on your state and have issued more than 50,000 White Cards across Australia.
And you know I value Google reviews and National White Card Courses have 5 stars!
As a Moving to Australia reader, you’ll receive $5 off your White Card course. Please use my discount code: MTA0526.
Book your White Card course now with National White Card Courses.
To get your White Card, you’ll need to show that you understand the basic health and safety knowledge required to work safely on a construction site in Australia.
The White Card course covers three main areas: Work Health and Safety (WHS) responsibilities, identifying and managing construction hazards and risks, and responding to workplace accidents and incidents.
During your course and assessment, you can expect to cover topics including:
You don’t need previous construction experience to understand the course. The training is designed to teach you the basic safety knowledge you need before working on a construction site.
Before you complete your White Card training, you’ll need a Unique Student Identifier (USI).
Your USI is free, stays with you for life and creates a record of your nationally recognised training in Australia.
If you’re using your New Zealand passport and Australian visa as your identification, unfortunately not.
The Australian Government specifically confirms that New Zealand students cannot use their New Zealand passport to create a USI until they have landed in Australia and gone through customs.
However, you can research and organise your White Card course before leaving New Zealand, then create your USI once you arrive.
Editors note: If you need your White Card to start a new job, organise your training for soon after you arrive in Australia so you can get onto site as quickly as possible.
Create your USI for free on the official Australian Government website.
If you know your move date and are keen to lock in your course, you can do so by following the links below. Don’t forget to save $5 using my discount code: MTA0526.
The posts below 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!
This is not a course or training.
It’s a mandatory government background check designed to help keep children safe.
Each Australian state and territory runs its own Working With Children Check, with slightly different rules, costs and application processes, which are outlined below.
Victoria is known for its high-quality ECE system. The Victorian state government has invested significantly in the Best Start, Best Life reforms, expanding kindergarten programs across the state and creating more career pathways and opportunities for ECE professionals.
The strong commitment to early childhood education in Victoria makes it a promising destination for ECE professionals.
To provide a real-world perspective, we spoke with Ken Ah Honi, an early childhood teacher (head teacher) who moved from New Zealand to Victoria. Here’s his story:
With more than a decade of experience in early childhood education in New Zealand, Natasha made the move with her family after carefully weighing both professional and personal considerations. Her story offers a grounded, first-hand perspective on what it’s really like to transition into Victoria’s kindergarten system — from registration and employment to teaching practice, available scholarships and incentives, and work–life balance.
In this interview, Natasha shares the realities of relocating from Auckland to metropolitan Melbourne, the differences she’s experienced working in Victoria’s early childhood education sector, and the advice she would offer other New Zealand kindergarten teachers considering a similar move.
When Natasha first began thinking about moving from New Zealand to Australia, it wasn’t part of a long-term plan. It started quietly, in December 2023 — a thought that kept resurfacing as she reflected on her career, her family, and what she wanted the next chapter of her life to look like.
“I’d been working in early childhood education for over ten years,” she says. “I was in a management role, and I missed teaching. I missed being in the room with children.”
At the same time, Natasha and her husband were thinking about their two young boys and the education opportunities ahead of them. Based in West Auckland, she had experienced the strengths of New Zealand’s early childhood sector — but she also felt increasingly constrained.
“Financially, I didn’t feel my role reflected the workload I was carrying,” she explains. “And when I started looking ahead to primary schooling for my children, I wasn’t confident it was giving them what they needed.”
By February 2024, that initial idea had turned into action. The planning began.
Like many New Zealand teachers considering a move, Natasha’s first source of information wasn’t an official website — it was other teachers.
“I spent a lot of time reading posts and conversations online,” she says. “That’s where people were openly sharing their experiences — what documents you need, what the process actually looks like, and what to expect once you arrive.”
Those conversations helped her understand the steps involved and gave her the confidence to begin the formal process.
By April 2024, Natasha started gathering documentation and applying for Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration, a required step for teachers working in Victoria.
“Overall, the process was quite straightforward,” she says.
The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) is the independent body that regulates teachers in Victoria, ensuring quality teaching and the safety and well-being of children. It’s a legal requirement for all teachers to be registered before working in a Victorian school or early childhood service.
As part of the application process, you’ll need someone who knows you professionally to complete the endorsement or attestation form, confirming your identity and character.
“I applied to three centres while I was still in New Zealand,” she says. “All three replied.”
When she arrived in Melbourne, she visited each centre during her first week. All three offered her a position.
“That was really empowering,” she reflects. “It gave me the chance to choose based on the environment, the philosophy, and how the centre felt — not just availability.”
She chose the centre that felt like the best fit, even though it meant a longer commute.
“I don’t mind travelling if I feel aligned with where I’m working. You know when a place feels right.”
The Department of Education in Victoria provides specialist recruitment agency support for early childhood education professionals in New Zealand. to find a new role and successfully relocate.
You are encouraged to register with one of these specialist recruitment agencies. These agencies provide expert support to the sector to help find early childhood education staff seeking a new career or a change.
Register your interest to connect with a recruitment agency.
Moving from New Zealand to Victoria came with adjustments — particularly in the early childhood environment.
In Victoria, qualification requirements vary depending on the role. Kindergarten programs must be led by a qualified early childhood teacher, while educators working alongside early childhood teachers, or with children under three, may hold vocational qualifications.
Natasha described her kindergarten as a well-supported environment under strong service leadership that values high-quality practice and ongoing professional growth. She highlighted the impact of a skilled educational leader who guides and fosters innovative practice, ultimately strengthening children’s outcomes.
One of the most noticeable differences Natasha experienced after moving to Victoria was staff-to-child ratios — particularly in infant and toddler rooms.
“In Victoria, babies are cared for at a one-to-three ratio,” she says. “That alone changes everything. You can slow down, respond properly, and really be present with each child.”
By comparison, Natasha explains that ratios in New Zealand are higher, even in centres that aim to exceed minimum requirements.
“When ratios are tighter, you’re not constantly rushing,” she says. “You can give children the time they deserve — during routines, play, and everyday moments. That has a direct impact on quality.”
Funding was another area where Natasha noticed a clear difference.
“There’s more resourcing available to support kindergarten programs,” she explains. “That includes funding streams that support planning, program delivery, and collaboration.”
She describes being able to make intentional decisions about learning environments and program needs, rather than constantly working within budget/funding constraints.
“You’re not always trying to stretch limited resources,” she says. “You can focus on what will genuinely support learning.”
For Natasha, the combination of lower ratios and stronger funding has created a more sustainable teaching environment.
“You’re able to focus on quality — not just supervision,” she says. “That changes how you feel as a teacher, and how effective you can be in your role.”
Financially, the move to Victoria was a clear step forward.
Natasha received $17,000 in relocation incentives, which eased the financial burden and helped make the transition much less stressful.
Regarding her new job, Natasha said “even when I was in a management role in New Zealand, I earned less than I do now as a kindergarten teacher in Victoria.”.
In Victoria, individual employers set teacher wages, and there are different industrial arrangements in place across the sector. For kindergarten teachers working in standalone services, there are two key enterprise agreements that set wages and a range of conditions, including paid parental leave, mentoring support, and generous non-contact time. “That consistency matters,” she explains. “You know exactly where you stand.”
Another significant difference is non-contact time.
“In my centre, we are entitled to eight hours of planning time per week,” she says. “I kept asking if that was correct — because in New Zealand, I was getting around two.”
Natasha moved to Melbourne with her two sons, who were seven and three years old at the time. They settled in the eastern suburbs, chosen largely for access to public schooling.
“The schools are excellent,” she says. “They’re well-resourced and very proactive.”
Her eldest son’s progress stood out early on.
“Within a few months, his reading improved dramatically,” she says. “The level of individual support was something we hadn’t experienced before.”
For Natasha, seeing her children settle and thrive reinforced that the move was the right decision.
While the professional benefits were clear, Natasha is honest about the practical challenges of relocating.
“There’s a lot to organise and it all takes time,” she says. “
Victoria requires more frequent renewals for safety certifications than New Zealand, which is important for incoming teachers to understand.
Housing was another major consideration. Natasha’s husband moved ahead of the family to secure accommodation.
“I would strongly recommend that approach if it’s possible,” she says. “Finding a rental takes time — doing that with children would have been extremely difficult.”
Transport costs were another surprise.
“Cars are expensive here,” she says. “Much more than we expected. Registration, insurance, and vehicle prices all add up quickly.”
To ease the financial challenges of moving to Victoria, the Department of Education offers financial incentives of between $9,000 and $50,000, plus relocation supplements of up to $8,000, for eligible early childhood teachers and educators, like Natasha, to take up roles in funded kindergarten programs. These incentives include support for those joining or re-joining the sector, relocating to work in a hard-to-staff location and those joining the Victorian workforce.
Despite the challenges, Natasha has no hesitation in recommending the move — with preparation.
“I would absolutely recommend Victoria to other New Zealand kindergarten teachers,” she says. “But it’s important to understand that it will be different.”
She now regularly supports other teachers through online communities, answering questions about documentation, registration, and what to expect once they arrive.
“A lot of people worry about whether they can move centres if something isn’t the right fit,” she says. “The key is to do your research, ask questions early, and know your professional worth.”
For Natasha, the move to Victoria has brought balance back into her career.
“I feel respected as a professional. I’m supported. I’m paid fairly. And I still get to do the work I love.”
And for her family?
“It’s been the best decision we could have made.”
If you’re a New Zealand-trained kindergarten teacher considering a move to Victoria, there is a range of support and information available to help you understand registration, employment pathways, and what to expect when working in the Victorian kindergarten system.
To find out more about opportunities to work in Victorian kindergartens, including registration requirements and workforce initiatives such as financial incentives and relocation support, visit Department of Education Victoria and explore the kindergarten workforce information available for overseas-trained teachers.
You can also find practical guidance, real-life case studies, and step-by-step resources here on Moving to Australia that will help you plan your move with confidence.
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I’m here to help! Suppose you want to know something specific about Moving to Australia. In that case, you can ask me in the comments section below, and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction. If I haven’t covered it on this site, I will research the answer for you.
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Generally, New Zealanders on an SCV are not able to get an Australia student loan, known as a HELP loan, unless they have been living in Australia for 10 years. Read more below.
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Here are the common errors many candidates make when creating their CVs.