Employment opportunities in Western Australia (WA) continue to grow and diversify, and WA is a great place to live.
For continued prosperity, WA needs skilled and experienced workers to fill positions that are not able to be filled by the local workforce — this opens up a world of opportunities for skilled migrants.
WA offers a unique set of strengths and capabilities, from a highly skilled workforce to abundant resources and outstanding research and education institutions. WA workplaces are like no other!
Pictured: Skilled migrant studying the coursework at Evolve WA’s free five-day Workplace Readiness Training workshop.
Finding employment when you reside in WA
Once you have arrived in WA, there are many services available to help you connect with the WA workforce. We have put together the following handy information to help you start making connections.
Visit the Jobs and Skills WA website(opens in a new tab) for information on writing a resume and job applications, and preparing for interviews. Once you have arrived in WA, you can visit a Jobs and Skills Centre for free careers, training and employment advice and assistance.
You can also search locations for Jobs and Skills Centres on the Jobs and Skills WA website(opens in a new tab).
The Skilled Migrant Employment Register is a free initiative supporting employers and skilled migrants to connect to build the WA workforce.
To connect with the WA workforce, visit our Skilled Migrant Employment Register page
Once you have arrived in WA, the Overseas Qualifications Unit (OQU) can assess eligible qualifications you have gained overseas and advise on your level of education compared to the Australian Qualifications Framework.
The jobs.wa.gov.au website(opens in a new tab) lists current vacancies within the WA Government.
To be permanently employed with the WA Government, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
If you are on a temporary visa, you may be eligible for a fixed term contract.
Depending on your visa, you may be eligible to register with Workforce Australia. This is a government funded service providing support and assistance to find employment — this may include access to services, training, skills development and work experience.
To find out if you are eligible visit the Workforce Australia website(opens in a new tab) or call 13 62 68.
You can get local experience by doing volunteer work or taking on a work placement (often referred to as work experience) in your profession. This will help you build professional contacts and experience the Australian workplace for yourself.
Visit the Volunteering WA website(opens in a new tab) to search for volunteering opportunities.
Local work related experience and work placements will help you to gain a job in WA. Local experience may also refer to your knowledge of Australian:
- occupational standards;
- employment related legislation, for example the WA Equal Opportunity Act(opens in a new tab); and
- workplace culture.
Multicultural Services Centre of WA Inc. (MSC) is an established provider of diverse community services and programs. MSC has been supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) Western Australians for over four decades and aims to address the unmet needs of migrants and refugees.
The Multicultural Services Centre of WA (MSC) provides services to people living anywhere in WA. Send an enquiry to the MSC through their website(opens in a new tab), or call 08 9328 2699.
MercyCare is an organisation committed to supporting people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to settle successfully and live meaningful and valued lives, where they can contribute to and feel part of the fabric of WA. Services are offered through MercyCare Community Services and are available face-to-face, online or over the phone.
MercyCare Mirrabooka
4 Brewer Place, Mirrabooka
Phone: 08 6298 9888
Email: mirrabookareception@mercycare.com.au
MercyCare Cannington
1/6 Cecil Avenue, Cannington 6107
Phone: 08 6298 9800
Email: canningtonreception@mercycare.com.au
Other important information
The following information is provided as an overview only. For detailed information about Australian workplaces and your rights as an employee, please visit our Settlement Services page.
Industrial relations
To understand your legal rights as an employee, view the Western Australia Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) Acts and Regulations(opens in a new tab). There are also a number of registered organisations(opens in a new tab) that can help you with your industrial relations questions or issues.
Employee rights
The Fair Work Ombudsman(opens in a new tab) gives information and advice on Australia's workplace rights and responsibilities. Their website includes information on pay, awards, employment, leave, termination and complaints.
An award sets the minimum conditions – including pay – for employees who work in the same industries or occupations. To ensure you are being paid to industry standard, use the Ombudsman’s Award Finder(opens in a new tab).
You can also contact the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety Wageline service(opens in a new tab) for information on State workforce law on 1300 655 266.
Income tax
In Australia, you are required to pay tax on your income. If you intend to live in Australia permanently, you are considered an Australian resident for tax purposes. This means that:
- you must declare all your income in your tax return;
- you can claim the benefits of the Australian tax system, such as:
- the tax-free threshold;
- tax offsets; and
- generally lower tax rates than a foreign resident.
Tax file number
A tax file number assists the Australian Tax Office (ATO) to administer tax. You are not required to have a tax file number but if you don’t have one, you may have more tax withheld from your salary than you need to. To apply online for a tax file number and for more information on salary taxation, visit the ATO website(opens in a new tab). The ATO contact number for translating and interpreting services is 13 14 50.
Tax help
If you earn around $70,000 per year or less you may be eligible for free assistance with your tax return through the ATO's Tax Help service(opens in a new tab).
Accountants
You may wish to engage an accountant in WA to help you manage your financial affairs. The accountant will be able to provide professional advice on all taxation issues and identify the information and documentation you need to bring to Australia. You can find a list of accountants from CPA Australia(opens in a new tab) or the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia(opens in a new tab) website.
Superannuation (Super)
Super is money set aside over your lifetime to provide for your retirement. For most people, super begins when you start work and your employer starts paying super for you – these payments are known as super guarantee contributions or concessional contributions. Temporary residents who work in Australia, and have super contributions paid by their employer, are entitled to receive their super benefits once they leave Australia. This payment is called a departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP). For more information on superannuation and DASP, visit the ATO Office website(opens in a new tab).
Small businesses account for 95 per cent of all businesses in the State and employ around a third of its labour force. Most small businesses in WA are in the following industries:
- construction;
- agriculture, forestry and fishing;
- finance and insurance services;
- transport, postal and warehousing; and
- retail trade.
Information on ways you can start or own a business in WA can be found on the Small Business Development Corporation website(opens in a new tab).
Services Australia provides a range of Government benefits for people at times of major change, providing dedicated Multicultural Service Officers to assist migrant and refugee communities connecting with their services. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible to receive an income support payment while you secure employment.
Visit the Services Australia website to check your eligibility(opens in a new tab) or connect with a dedicated Multicultural Service Officer(opens in a new tab).
To find out information about the waiting periods and residency rules that apply to most benefits, check the newly arrived residents waiting period page of the Services Australia website(opens in a new tab).