Staffing and Employment Laws in Australia: What You Need to Know
Australia is a country renowned for its unique wildlife, stunning natural landscapes, and diverse cultural heritage. However, what often goes unnoticed is its highly skilled and productive workforce. With a population of over 25 million, Australia’s highly educated and diverse workforce contributes to its economic growth and development.
Employers in Australia have access to various staffing methods to build and maintain their workforce. These methods include permanent, casual, and contract staffing arrangements, and apprenticeships—each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right staffing approach requires careful consideration of several factors, such as work nature, required skills, and company culture.
This blog post will explore the common staffing in Australia, including workforce trends and methods, to help you know which to use for your organization.
4 Types of Staffing Methods in Australia
If you plan to expand your workforce, consider employing some workplace staffing solutions to speed up your recruitment, hiring, and on boarding processes. Some of the staffing methods employers in Australia use include the ones below.
1. Permanent staffing
Permanent staffing involves hiring long-term employees, usually for a full-time position. Permanent employees are entitled to job security and benefits such as paid and sick leaves and superannuation. They’re also protected under the Fair Work Act, which provides the minimum standard of employment conditions and entitlements for most employees in Australia.
Some of these entitlements are paid annual leaves, sick and carer’s leaves, and family and domestic violence leaves.
Permanent employees differ from fixed-term workers. The former are employed continuously until they or their employer terminates their relationship. Meanwhile, the latter are employed for a specific period of time. However, they can be full-time or part-time workers.
2. Casual staffing
Employers in Australia use a casual staffing method when they want to hire employees on an as-needed basis like they need to accomplish tasks during peak or busy periods. A person becomes a casual employee if they accept an offer, knowing they won’t receive ongoing work.
Under the National Employment Standards (NES), casual employees are entitled to some benefits, such as an opportunity to become a permanent employee, unpaid carer’s leave, and unpaid community service leave.
Casual workers will lose their titles on either of the two conditions:
a. When they become a permanent employee through casual conversion or a full-time or part-time employment offer
b. When their employer ends their agreement
3. Contract Staffing
Contract employees in Australia are hired to accomplish a specific project or work for a period. They can run their own businesses and offer services to other individuals or organizations. They’re also sometimes called independent contractors, subcontractors, or freelancers.
Employers usually hire this type of employee for their skills and expertise. For instance, a tech startup may hire a freelance writer to create social media and ad copies. A shoe brand may also contract a photographer to take product images.
Under the Independent Contractors Act 2006, independent contractors may ask a court to review a contract for being unfair or harsh.
4. Gig Work
Gig workers are similar to independent contractors—they work independently and for a specific project. The only difference is that employers usually hire gig workers for short-term projects, while independent contractors receive longer-term contracts.
Independent contractors usually negotiate their own fees and working arrangements and can work for more than one client at a time. That said, gig workers are ideal for employers needing manpower for quick tasks.
How Staffing Solutions Can Help Employers Fill Job Vacancies
Finding the right talent in a highly competitive job market can be challenging and time-consuming. Staffing solutions can be a game-changer for employers struggling to fill job vacancies in Australia.
1. Access to a larger talent pool
Staffing solutions give employers access to a larger talent pool than they would have if they were to rely solely on their internal recruitment efforts. Staffing agencies have extensive databases of qualified candidates they can tap into, and they also have access to job boards, social media platforms, and other recruitment channels.
This means that staffing agencies can quickly identify and connect with potential candidates who may not have been reached through traditional recruitment methods.
2. Streamlined recruitment process
The recruitment process can be time-consuming and costly for employers. Staffing solutions can help streamline the recruitment process by handling the sourcing, screening, and interviewing of candidates. This means employers can focus on their core business operations while the staffing agency takes care of the recruitment process.
3. Flexibility
Staffing solutions offer employers the flexibility to scale their workforce up or down as needed. This is particularly important for businesses that experience seasonal fluctuations in demand or project-based work. Staffing agencies can provide temporary or contract staff to meet short-term needs, and they can also provide permanent staff for long-term roles.
4. Expertise
Staffing agencies have expertise in finding and placing qualified candidates in various industries and roles. They understand the skills and qualifications required for specific job roles and can identify candidates with these qualities.
Staffing agencies also deeply understand the job market and can provide valuable insights into hiring trends and best practices.
5. Reduced risk
Hiring the wrong candidate can be costly for employers. Staffing solutions can help reduce the risk of making a bad hire by thoroughly vetting candidates and conducting background checks. This reduces the likelihood of turnover and the associated rehiring and retraining costs.
With all these benefits, it’ll no longer be a surprise if there is a surge staffing in Australia. The earlier you employ staffing solutions for your business, the faster you’ll reach your target markets, accomplish your goals, and become an industry leader.
Find Your Partner for Staffing in Australia
If you plan to expand your workforce, enlist the help of a staff recruitment agency like Staffhouse International Resources to get started. With our agency staff, we’re committed to helping employers worldwide fill their job vacancies with skilled and hardworking employees from the Philippines.
We also have accreditation from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), formerly known as Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), assuring both employers and employees that they can achieve their employment goals with us. With a recruitment agency, staffing can be easier and more seamless.
Contact us today via our website or Facebook and LinkedIn pages to learn which staffing methods to use for your organization.
