For the working traveller with a bit more experience under their belt, temporary secretarial jobs (and travelling personal assistant jobs) are a fantastic option. Secretarial jobs generally pay slightly higher than general office admin jobs and the roles are usually a little more challenging; previous secretarial experience is also often required.
Here you’ll find information on wages and requirements for the following types of secretarial jobs in Australia:
- What is the pay like for temporary secretarial jobs in Australia?
- Do I need qualifications to find temporary secretarial jobs in Australia?
- What are the main duties performed by General, Legal and Medical Secretaries?
- What are the main duties performed by Personal/ Executive Assistants?
Note on Timeframes: Apply to specific job postings no earlier than 3 months before you arrive. You will need a work visa.
What is the pay like for temporary secretarial jobs in Australia?
Working as a secretarial temp in Australia you will normally be paid on an hourly or daily basis. Most temporary job agencies provide a weekly payroll service for their temps and the agency, not the client, will deposit your pay into your bank account. The procedure for being paid normally involves you filling in a timesheet, getting it signed by your workplace manager and then faxing it through to your agency.
The table below lists estimated earnings in Australia Dollars (AUD$). Note that these are city rates and that secretarial temp work in regional or rural Australia may not pay as highly. Also note that rates will depend on experience and can vary considerably between the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Job Title |
Hourly Rate |
| General Secretary |
$20 - $24 |
Legal Secretary |
$24 - $30 |
| Medical Secretary |
$22 - $28 |
| Personal / Executive Assistant |
$18 - $22 |
| Senior Personal / Executive Assistant |
$24 - $28 |
Note: Although temporary legal secretarial jobs generally pay higher than other temp jobs in this category, more specific experience is often required.
Register with recruitment agencies AND Apply to specific positions in Australia now!
Do I need qualifications to find temporary secretarial jobs in Australia?
It is unlikely that you will require a qualification to find temporary secretarial jobs in Australia – ‘on the job’ experience is usually valued much more by employers. Having said this, holding a certificate in Business, Medical Health or Legal Administration will be advantageous if you have limited practical experience. If you do have an administrative or secretarial qualification make sure to include this on your resume, as it could be a factor that sets you above other candidates. Obtaining industry-approved certificates will be particularly useful in finding health care secretarial jobs.
Note: In Australia there are Nationally Accredited Certificates for people wishing to find jobs in Medical Health or Legal Administration, however, it is normally not mandatory for employees to hold these. This is especially true for temporary workers who already have some experience in their home country.
What are the main duties performed by General, Legal and Medical Secretaries?
General Secretaries
The main duties that you could expect to perform in all types temporary secretarial jobs in Australia are:
- Drafting general correspondence (letters and email)
- Diary management
- File management
- Organising travel arrangements
- Dictaphone typing
- Minute-taking
- Ad hoc duties such as answering the telephone, filing, photocopying and faxing.
Standard requirements of all types of secretaries are:
- A fast typing speed (50+ words/ minute)
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Solid computer and MS Office skills
- Ability to work with senior management
- Ability to multi-task and prioritise competing tasks
- Strong attention to detail
Legal Secretaries
On top of the main duties carried out by General Secretaries, temporary legal secretarial jobs usually involve:
- Document production (mark-ups; track changes etc)
- Comparing legal documents
- Organising and supporting authors
- Bill preparation and receipt
- Client liaison
In addition to the standard requirements of General Secretaries, Legal Secretaries usually need to demonstrate:
- A background in legal support roles (sometimes in specific legal fields)
- Accurate and fast typing skills (60+ words/ minute)
- Strong attention to detail (especially with spelling)
- Ability to meet strict deadlines
Medical Secretaries
In Australia, Medical Secretaries can work in public and private hospitals, medical centres and private medical practices. On top of the main duties carried out by General Secretaries, temps working in any health care secretarial jobs are usually responsible for:
- Preparing documents and reports (often using medical terminology)
- Medical files/ Medical records management
- Booking appointments
- Bill preparation and receipt
- Customer (patient) service (in person and via telephone)
In addition to the standard requirements of General Secretaries, Medical Secretaries often need to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical terminology
- Familiarity with medical software packages
- Strong attention to detail (especially with spelling)
What are the main duties performed by Personal/ Executive Assistants?
Daily duties carried out by Executive and Personal Assistants are many and varied, depending on the type of business or organisation the role is with. Generally speaking, the regular tasks performed by Executive and Personal Assistants are:
- Drafting general correspondence (emails and letters)
- Diary management
- Organising travel arrangements
- Minute-taking
- PowerPoint presentation production
- Dictaphone typing
- Ad hoc duties such as answering the telephone, filing, photocopying and faxing.
Additional general requirements of Executive and Personal Assistants are:
- Good verbal and written communication skills
- Solid computer skills and MS Office proficiency
- Ability to work with senior management
- Ability to multi-task and prioritise competing tasks
- Strong attention to detail
Note on Timeframes: Apply to specific job postings no earlier than 3 months before you arrive. You will need a work visa.
|
Home
Go to top