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Workforce Australia: How to Use the Government Job Search and Alerts
How to use Workforce Australia, the Australian Government's free employment service: searching job ads, filtering results, setting job alerts, linking to myGov and getting resumé help.
Workforce Australia is the Australian Government's employment service. Alongside support for people receiving income support, it runs a free job board that anyone can search, plus practical guides on resumés and interviews. If you want a no-frills place to look for local work, or you are new to job hunting, it is a good first stop.
What Workforce Australia is
The service is run by the Australian Government. Its job board shows ads from registered businesses, searchable by keyword and location. With a free account you can create a profile, save job ads, see recommended jobs, set job alerts and apply for jobs. You sign in by linking Workforce Australia to your myGov account.
People who receive a Centrelink payment and have mutual obligation requirements also use Workforce Australia to manage those requirements. You do not need to be on a payment to search or apply for jobs.
Who it suits
- First-time and returning job seekers who want simple search tools and plain-language advice.
- People in regional areas, where local employers may advertise through the government service.
- Anyone receiving income support, because job search activity and the job board sit in the same place.
- People who want free help with resumés, cover letters and interview preparation.
How to search well
On the Find a job page, enter a keyword such as "cleaner", "storeperson" or "disability support" and a suburb or town. Then open Filter & sort. The filters include:
- Industry, such as trades and services, health, retail or transport
- Job age, for example jobs posted in the past three days or the past week
- Work type, to separate full-time, part-time and casual roles
- Salary bands
Sort by newest first and check back every couple of days; recently posted ads tend to get the quickest responses.
Job alerts and profile
Workforce Australia has a guide to setting up job preferences and alerts so you hear about new jobs that match what you want. Once signed in, save the searches you run most often and switch on alerts. Fill in your profile with your licences and checks (driver licence class, forklift licence, police check, Working with Children Check or NDIS worker screening), because these are the details employers in practical roles look for first.
The Improve your job applications section has free guides on writing a resumé, cover letters and interviews. If you have not written a resumé before, start there.
How to apply
- Read the ad for the application method: some go through Workforce Australia, others to the employer's own site or email.
- Tailor your resumé to the ad, listing the specific skills and tickets it asks for.
- Keep a record of the jobs you apply for, especially if you have mutual obligation requirements.
Staying safe
A government job board is a trustworthy starting point, but always confirm the employer yourself. Never pay a fee to apply for a job, for training you were not told about at the start, or for equipment before you are hired. Scamwatch advises you never to send money to get a job, and to be wary of unexpected messages offering easy work from home. Report suspected scams to Scamwatch.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be on a Centrelink payment to use Workforce Australia?
No. Anyone can search the job ads. People receiving income support with mutual obligation requirements also use it to manage those requirements, but the job search itself is open to everyone.
How do I sign in to Workforce Australia?
You link Workforce Australia to your myGov account. Once linked you can create a profile, save job ads, see recommended jobs and set up job alerts.
Are the jobs on Workforce Australia real?
The ads come from registered businesses, but you should still check each employer yourself and never pay to apply or to start work.
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Sources
Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and may not fit your situation or country. Rules, prices and requirements change, so check the details with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Read our full disclaimer.