What should a job description include in Australia?

A comprehensive Australian job description should include: position title, reporting structure, key responsibilities, required qualifications and skills, working conditions, employment type (casual/part-time/full-time), applicable modern award, and any specific requirements like licences or certificates. Our templates cover all these elements.

Are job descriptions legally required in Australia?

While not strictly legally mandated, job descriptions are essential for Fair Work compliance. They help demonstrate you’ve clearly communicated role expectations, support performance management, and provide evidence in unfair dismissal claims. They’re considered best practice by Fair Work Australia.

How often should I update job descriptions?

Review job descriptions annually or whenever: the role significantly changes, modern award updates occur, new compliance requirements emerge, or you notice a mismatch between the description and actual duties. Document review dates and maintain version control.

Can I use the same job description for casual and permanent staff?

The core duties can be the same, but you should specify the employment type and note differences in entitlements. Casual employees receive a loading instead of leave entitlements, while permanent staff accrue leave. Both are covered by the same modern award rates.

Should I include pay rates in job descriptions?

It’s optional but recommended. You can include exact rates, a range, or simply reference the applicable award (e.g., ‘Paid in accordance with the Hospitality Industry Award’). Transparency about pay helps attract suitable candidates and sets clear expectations.

Are these job description templates free to use?

Yes, all our job description templates are 100% free to download and use. No signup required. You can customise them for your business needs.

Can ChatGPT or AI create a job description?

AI tools can draft a job description, but the output still needs a human check for the correct Australian modern award, genuine role requirements and non-discriminatory language. Our templates give you a compliant, Australia-specific starting point so you’re not relying on a generic AI draft — edit them to match your venue or site.

Which modern award applies to my business?

The applicable award depends on your industry and the work performed. Our templates reference the relevant awards for each role. Common awards include the Hospitality Award, Retail Award, Aged Care Award and SCHADS Award. Check the Fair Work Commission website for full award coverage details.

How do I create and customise a job description from a template?

Download the PDF template, then: add your business name and location, adjust duties to match your specific requirements, update qualifications based on your needs, specify your shift patterns and working hours, and include any business-specific policies or requirements.

Can I use these templates for job ads?

Yes, these templates work well as the foundation for job advertisements. Extract the key responsibilities, requirements and conditions sections for your job ad, then add information about your business culture and any benefits you offer to make the ad more attractive to candidates.

What makes a good job description?

A good job description is: clear and specific about duties, realistic about requirements (avoid wish lists), compliant with the relevant award, transparent about working conditions, inclusive and free from discriminatory language, and regularly updated to reflect the actual role.

How detailed should job responsibilities be?

Be specific enough that someone could understand what a typical day looks like, but not so detailed that minor task changes require updates. Focus on key responsibilities and outcomes rather than exhaustive task lists. Use action verbs like ‘prepare’, ‘serve’, ‘assist’, ‘manage’.

How do I avoid discrimination in job descriptions?

Focus on genuine job requirements, not personal characteristics. Avoid age-related terms (‘young and energetic’), gender-specific language, or requirements that indirectly discriminate. Requirements must be inherent to the role. Our templates use inclusive language throughout.

FREE JOB DESCRIPTION TEMPLATES

100% free job description templates for Australian businesses

Professional, award-compliant job description templates for Australian small businesses. Download ready-to-use PDFs across hospitality, retail, health care, logistics, transport, events, cleaning, security, construction, childcare and manufacturing — no signup required.

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These templates reflect Australian workplace standards and Fair Work principles at the time of publication. They are a general guide to adapt for your business, industry and modern award, and are not legal advice. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.

References HR Hub disclaimer Modern Awards Fair Work

Why job descriptions matter

A well-written job description is more than a hiring tool — it’s the foundation of a clear employment relationship. It sets expectations, supports performance management, and provides essential documentation for Fair Work compliance.

In Australia, job descriptions should reference the applicable modern award, outline genuine requirements, and accurately reflect the role. Getting this right from the start helps you attract suitable candidates and avoid disputes down the track.

Our templates are designed specifically for Australian businesses, covering the most common roles in shift-based industries. Each template includes key responsibilities, required qualifications, working conditions and award references — and pairs naturally with rostering software once the role is filled.

Business professional reviewing job description documents

Browse by industry

Select your industry to find relevant job description templates — 169 roles across 15 industries, all free to download

20 ROLESHOSPITALITY AWARD

Hospitality

Restaurants, cafes, bars, catering and food service roles — from kitchen hands to head chefs, bartenders to restaurant managers.

20 ROLESRETAIL AWARD

Retail

Sales assistants, cashiers, supervisors and store managers across supermarkets, boutiques, department and specialty stores.

15 ROLESHOSPITALITY AWARD

Accommodation

Hotels, motels, resorts and serviced apartments — front desk, housekeeping, concierge and guest services roles.

15 ROLESAGED CARE / SCHADS

Health care

Aged care, disability support, home care and community services — personal care assistants, support workers and team leaders.

15 ROLESSTORAGE SERVICES AWARD

Logistics

Warehouses, distribution centres and supply chain — forklift operators, pickers, packers and warehouse supervisors.

9 ROLESTRANSPORT AWARDS

Transport

Passenger services, airports and ground transport — drivers, customer service, ticketing and transport supervisors.

5 ROLESAMUSEMENT & RECREATION

Events

Venues, theatres, stadiums and festivals — ushers, ticketing staff, crowd controllers and stagehands.

10 ROLESCLEANING SERVICES AWARD

Cleaning

Commercial, office, residential and specialist cleaning — cleaners, housekeepers, supervisors and facilities coordinators.

10 ROLESSECURITY SERVICES AWARD

Security

Guards, patrol officers, CCTV operators and supervisors across corporate, retail, events and residential security.

10 ROLESBUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

Construction

Labourers, scaffolders, riggers, concreters and supervisors for residential, commercial and civil projects.

10 ROLESCHILDREN'S SERVICES AWARD

Childcare

Educators, room leaders, directors and support staff for long day care, family day care, preschools and OSHC.

10 ROLESMANUFACTURING AWARD

Manufacturing

Production workers, machine operators, supervisors and factory staff across food, automotive, plastics and general manufacturing.

8 ROLESMINING INDUSTRY AWARD

Mining

Haul truck and excavator operators, drillers, shotfirers, fitters, geologists and engineers across metalliferous mining and processing.

7 ROLESHAIR & BEAUTY AWARD

Hair & beauty

Hairdressers, barbers, beauty therapists, nail technicians, make-up artists, salon managers and assistants across salons and barbershops.

6 ROLESGAS INDUSTRY AWARD

Gas

Gas fitters, meter readers, distribution operators, maintenance workers, network technicians and customer service across gas networks and retail.

5 ROLESMA000086 & MA000062

Maritime & offshore

Deckhands, marine engineers, vessel masters, roustabouts and offshore production operators across offshore oil & gas vessels and platforms.

5 ROLESCLERKS AWARD

Office & admin

Receptionists, office administrators, data entry clerks, accounts clerks and office managers across offices, call centres and admin teams.

5 ROLESFITNESS AWARD

Fitness

Personal trainers, group fitness instructors, gym instructors, fitness centre managers and swim instructors across gyms, studios and aquatic centres.

5 ROLESPHARMACY AWARD

Pharmacy

Community and retail pharmacies — pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, dispensary technicians, interns and pharmacy managers.

5 ROLESCLUBS AWARD

Clubs

Bar attendants, gaming attendants, club managers, duty managers and functions coordinators across registered and licensed clubs.

5 ROLESLOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD

Local government

Library officers, parks and gardens keepers, customer service officers, works depot operators and administration officers across councils and local government.

Waste management

Collection, depot and resource recovery roles — from depot hands to driver instructors, each mapped to its Waste Management Award level.

What should a job description include?

Essential elements for Australian workplace compliance — every template covers these

Position title and reporting structure

Key responsibilities and duties

Required qualifications and experience

Essential skills and attributes

Working conditions and physical requirements

Employment type (casual / part-time / full-time)

Applicable modern award reference

Licences, certificates or clearances required

All our templates include these essential elements, ready for you to customise.

Who these templates are for

Small business owners HR managers Hospitality operators Retail store managers Care service providers Warehouse operators

Popular categories & free tools

Jump straight to a busy industry or pair your job descriptions with a free workforce tool

Hospitality job descriptions

20 roles from kitchen hand to restaurant manager, aligned with the Hospitality and Restaurant awards.

Browse hospitality

Retail job descriptions

20 roles from retail cashier to store manager under the General Retail Industry Award.

Browse retail

Free HR templates

100+ workplace policies and forms — conduct, leave, performance, safety and onboarding.

Browse HR templates

Free workforce calculators

Award pay-rate estimates, overtime, shift cost and more — free calculators for Australian businesses.

Explore free tools

Helpful guides & resources

Put these templates to work with step-by-step guides for Australian employers.

Modern award pay rates Employment law guides How to onboard a new employee HR software Rostering software Free HR templates How to write a job description

Job descriptions by industry

Tailored for the Australian industries we serve.

Hospitality & cafes Retail stores Healthcare & aged care Childcare centres Trades & construction Manufacturing

How to write an effective job description

A strong job description is specific about duties (skip vague phrases like “other duties as required”), references the correct modern award, is clear about working hours and shift patterns, and lists only genuine requirements so you don’t shrink your candidate pool. Avoid the common mistakes — inflated experience requirements, the wrong award, discriminatory language and outdated content that hasn’t been reviewed in years.

Clear descriptions attract candidates who fit the role, set expectations from day one, support performance management and give you strong documentation in a Fair Work dispute. Review them annually and whenever the role changes. For the bigger picture, see our modern award pay rate guides and the Fair Work Act glossary entry, then download the templates for your industry above.

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FAQ

Job descriptions FAQ

A comprehensive Australian job description should include: position title, reporting structure, key responsibilities, required qualifications and skills, working conditions, employment type (casual/part-time/full-time), applicable modern award, and any specific requirements like licences or certificates. Our templates cover all these elements.
While not strictly legally mandated, job descriptions are essential for Fair Work compliance. They help demonstrate you’ve clearly communicated role expectations, support performance management, and provide evidence in unfair dismissal claims. They’re considered best practice by Fair Work Australia.
Review job descriptions annually or whenever: the role significantly changes, modern award updates occur, new compliance requirements emerge, or you notice a mismatch between the description and actual duties. Document review dates and maintain version control.
The core duties can be the same, but you should specify the employment type and note differences in entitlements. Casual employees receive a loading instead of leave entitlements, while permanent staff accrue leave. Both are covered by the same modern award rates.
It’s optional but recommended. You can include exact rates, a range, or simply reference the applicable award (e.g., ‘Paid in accordance with the Hospitality Industry Award’). Transparency about pay helps attract suitable candidates and sets clear expectations.

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