UTS Careers Presents:
The Aussie Workplace
Workshop aims
• To raise awareness of Australian
workplace culture and practices
• Provide information on your workplace
rights and responsibilties
• Advise is general in nature. Industries,
work places and roles vary
Typically Australian
From your experience so far in Australia
or what you’ve heard about Australians:
• What to you is typically Australian
• What about a ‘typical Australian person’?
Typically Australian
Australian workplace cultures
Organisational culture:
Each Australian workplace has a unique mix of:
• Australian national culture
• Subcultures
• Workplace-specific norms and values
Each organisation will have unique communication styles,
hierarchies and other features.
Learning the culture of one Australian workplace will not
make you an expert in them all!
Australian workplace culture uniqueness
•
Australian workplace culture is a unique and different culture from
its counterparts in N America, Asia and Europe.
•
10-year study looked at the notion of “quality”.
•
They said: “quality is perceived by Australians, primarily in terms of
the relationships they have with those around them and the
organisation with which they are involved.”
•
Certain concepts, like Quality, have a totally different meaning in
other countries.
Source: “Simply the best workplaces in Australia”, Working paper 88 by Dr. D Hull and V Read,
December 2003.
Spotting perceived cultural differences
Quality is an obsession with standards
… in Germany
Quality is the pursuit of perfection
… in Japan
Quality is viewed as luxury
… in France
Quality means ‘It works’
… in the USA
Quality implies Quality of Relationship first
… in Australia
Key differences between Australian
and other workplaces
1. Organisational hierarchy and management styles
o Equality
o Managers are collaborative rather than directive
2. Communication styles
o Informal. Use of first names/ nicknames
o Joking and banter – sign of friendliness
o Shortening words
3. Expectations of you as an employee
One of the mates …..
Australian Approach
Ref: Lewis, D (1999), Cross-Cultural Communication, A Visual Approach, UK: Transcreen Publications
Australian communication styles
Informal speech is typical
Directness can be seen as being more efficient and
effective
Managers often use collaborative rather than directive
communication styles with subordinates. Use of
please/thank you.
Humour between colleagues doesn’t mean there isn’t
respect
Sarcasm is a common form of Australian humour!
Australian non-verbal communication
Tone of voice – statements often end with an upturn in tone, as
if the statement was a question!
Eye contact – it is expected to have eye contact during
communication
(Ref: Interviews.)
Shaking hands – it is normal for both females and males as a
form of greeting
Personal space and content of conversation
– depends on the circumstances and your relationship with the
person(s)
Straya lingo
Employers’ expectations… you will:
Demonstrate good communication skills
Have good problem-solving, planning and organisational skills
Be able to work independently or in diverse teams
Show enthusiasm and be self motivated
Take initiative and be assertive when appropriate
Be punctual and responsible for tasks
Ask good questions
Give your own ideas (in an appropriate manner)
The Employability skills
framework
Personal attributes that contribute to overall employability & which employers appreciate:

Loyalty

Positive self-esteem

Commitment

A sense of humour

Honesty & integrity


Enthusiasm
A balanced attitude to
work and home life

Reliability


Personal
presentation
An ability to deal with
pressure

Motivation & initiative
Common sense

Adaptability

Source: Graduate Careers Australia
Most assessed
skills/competencies
The Top 10 most assessed competencies, as reported by graduate
employers in the 2014 AAGE survey:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Cultural fit
Teamwork
Oral communication
Interpersonal skills
Motivational fit
Analytical skills
Problem solving skills
Achieves results
Integrity and trust
Written communication skills
Age and culture
Workplaces today:
Baby boomers +
Gen X
Gen Y
Different generations
Different education
Different upbringings
Different cultures
Different perspectives
Different social norms, values
Work vs. Leisure
A fairly accurate generalisation could be that, in Australia:
Work is important, but leisure makes it all worthwhile!
Australians certainly do work hard, although many Australians
will see work as a means to acquire the financial resources
they need to do the things they enjoy the most.
(Casual) Fridays in the workplace
Long lunches; dress more casually; the weekend is almost
here!
Talking Sport!
Can help you ‘fit in’/ be accepted in some workplaces.
What makes an “excellent
workplace”?
Steps to assist with cultural adaptation
Observation
oObserve what goes on in social situations: what do people
who are a similar age, gender, role etc to you do?
oObserve how Australians react to your behaviour.
oTry to understand why people behave in certain ways by
learning about cultural norms, values and beliefs - (the
lightbulb moment!).
Self-awareness
oBe mindful of how you interact with others.
oPersonal space
Experimentation
oTry new behaviours until you find the one that seems most
accepted or ‘normal’ in any given context.
oThings that are successful with one person may not work
well with others.
Australian legislation relevant
to the workplace
Federal (Commonwealth) law
State or Territory legislation
Local government regulation
A ‘must’ / shall / compulsory
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Code of practice / conduct
Workplace guidelines
Policies and procedures
A ‘should’ / ought to / supposed to
Australian legislation – Health
& Safety
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
NSW employers must have a workers compensation policy that covers all workers
Employers have a duty of care to ensure workers are not exposed to any risks to
their health and safety during the course of carrying out their duties.
Employees must:
take reasonable care for their own health and safety
take reasonable care for the health and safety of others
comply with any reasonable instruction by the employer
cooperate with any reasonable policies and procedures of the employer
TIP: When you join an organisation, you should familiarise yourself with the WHS
policy, including emergency evacuation procedures.
Australian legislation – Antidiscrimination & Equal
Opportunity
Discrimination, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) & affirmative
action
Australia has strong anti-discrimination legislation.
Federal Laws:
Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)
Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Racial Discrimination Act 1975
Sex Discrimination Act 1984
State (NSW) Law:
New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)
Australian legislation – Antidiscrimination & Equal
Opportunity
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, discrimination is disadvantaging someone in the
workplace because of their:
Australian legislation –
workplace rights
The basics of the Fair Work System
There are 10 National Employment Standards that protect employees’ minimum
conditions.
There are 122 modern awards that cover most businesses in Australia. These set the
minimum wages and conditions of employment for employees and employers who
are covered by them.
There are minimum wages, which usually depend on the type of work you’re doing,
your age, qualifications, whether you’re doing an apprenticeship or traineeship and
the industry you work in.
Every employee has to get a Fair Work Information Statement when they start a
new job.
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/policies-and-guides/best-practice-guides/aguide-for-young-workers
Australian legislation –
conditions and salary
TAX
If you work in Australia, your employer will deduct income tax from the salary or
wages they pay you and pass it on to the Australian Tax Office (ATO).
Before you start work, you will need to get a Tax File Number (TFN). Apply online
through the ATO.
At the end of each income year (30 June), most people need to lodge an income
tax return. Your employer should provide you with a payment summary which has
most of the info required on it. Deadline is 31 October each year.
If you are working temporarily in Australia, you may pay tax at different rates
depending on your residency status.
More info: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/International-tax-forindividuals/Coming-to-Australia/
Australian legislation –
conditions and salary
SUPERANNUATION (“Super”) https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Super/
Money set aside over your lifetime to provide for your retirement.
Employers make compulsory superannuation contributions (minimum 9.25%) on
behalf of eligible employees.
Employees can generally choose the superannuation fund into which their
contributions are made. Employers will pay super directly into a super fund.
Generally paid to employees who are less than 70 years old; are paid a salary or
wages of A$450 or more in a calendar month & who work full-time, part-time or
on a casual basis.
Australian legislation –
conditions and salary
SALARY
The national minimum wage acts is a safety net for employees in the national workplace
relations system to provide minimum rates of pay for employees not covered by awards or
agreements.
Correct as at 1 July 2014: Federal minimum wage is $17.29 per hour or $656.90 per 38
hour week (before tax). Reviewed by the Fair Work Commission annually. Into effect from
1st pay period on or after 1 July each year.
Basic rate of pay depends on age, job classification and industrial instruments (e.g. an
Award or Workplace Agreement).
Casual rates of pay can vary (for example $15 – 26 per hour).
VISAS
You must understand your work rights in Australia. See the Dept of Immigration website
www.immi.gov.au
BANK ACCOUNT
When filling in paperwork for a new job, you will be required to provide your bank BSB
and account number.
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/find-help-for/visa-holders-and-migrants
Useful links
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/find-help-for/visa-holders-andmigrants#international-students
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment
http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/
http://employment.gov.au/
International students living in NSW:
http://www.nsw.gov.au/internationalstudents-living
Australian Government: http://australia.gov.au/people/students/internationalstudents
NSW Police have Facebook and Weibo pages for international students:
https://www.facebook.com/nswinternationalstudents
http://www.weibo.com/signup/signup.php?inviteCode=3165942032
Final Tips
Adaptation begins with self-awareness. Be aware of your
own attitudes and values.
Observe others in your surrounds – you will pick up on
what the cultural ‘norms’ are by doing this.
Be open to others and get to know people: talk to them,
learn about them and let them learn about you.
Give yourself time and be patient. Transitioning from one
culture to another takes time. As an Australian would say,
give yourself a “fair go”!
Pat yourself on the back for your courage in going out
there and trying something new 
www.careers.uts.edu.au
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