100% free job description templates for Australian businesses
Professional, award-compliant job description templates designed for Australian small businesses. Download ready-to-use PDFs for hospitality, retail, health care, logistics, transport, events, cleaning, security, construction, childcare and manufacturing — no signup required.
Browse by industryWhy 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.
Browse by industry
Select your industry to find relevant job description templates
Hospitality
Restaurants, cafes, bars, catering and food service roles. From kitchen hands to head chefs, bartenders to restaurant managers.
Retail
Sales assistants, cashiers, supervisors and store managers. Covers supermarkets, boutiques, department stores and specialty retail.
Accommodation
Hotels, motels, resorts and serviced apartments. Front desk, housekeeping, concierge and guest services roles.
Health Care
Aged care, disability support, home care and community services. Personal care assistants, support workers and team leaders.
Logistics
Warehouses, distribution centres and supply chain. Forklift operators, pickers, packers and warehouse supervisors.
Transport
Passenger services, airports and ground transport. Drivers, customer service, ticketing and transport supervisors.
Events
Venues, theatres, stadiums and festivals. Ushers, ticketing staff, crowd controllers and stagehands.
Cleaning
Commercial, office, residential and specialist cleaning. Cleaners, housekeepers, supervisors and facilities coordinators.
Security
Guards, patrol officers, CCTV operators and supervisors. Corporate, retail, events and residential security services.
Construction
Labourers, scaffolders, riggers, concreters and supervisors. Residential, commercial and civil construction projects.
Childcare
Educators, room leaders, directors and support staff. Long day care, family day care, preschools and OSHC services.
Manufacturing
Production workers, machine operators, supervisors and factory staff. Food, automotive, plastics and general manufacturing.
148 job description templates across 12 industries — all free to download
Tips for writing effective job descriptions
Get the most from your job descriptions with these best practices
Be specific about duties
Vague descriptions like 'general duties as required' create confusion. List the actual tasks the person will perform.
Reference the right award
Ensure you identify the correct modern award. This determines minimum pay rates, penalties, and conditions.
Clarify working hours
Be upfront about shift patterns, weekend work, split shifts, or on-call requirements. Candidates need to know what to expect.
List genuine requirements
Only include qualifications and experience that are truly necessary. Inflated requirements limit your candidate pool.
Consider including pay
Salary transparency attracts more applicants and saves time by filtering candidates with mismatched expectations.
Update regularly
Roles evolve over time. Review job descriptions annually and after significant changes to keep them accurate.
What should a job description include?
Essential elements for Australian workplace compliance
All our templates include these essential elements, ready for you to customise.
Common job description mistakes to avoid
These issues can lead to hiring problems and compliance risks
Vague responsibilities
"Other duties as required" without clear core duties
Inflated requirements
Asking for 5 years experience for entry-level roles
Wrong award reference
Citing incorrect modern award for the role
Discriminatory language
Age, gender or other biased terminology
Missing work conditions
Not mentioning weekend, evening or physical demands
Outdated content
Using job descriptions that haven't been reviewed in years
Our templates help you avoid these pitfalls with clear, compliant content.
The impact of good job descriptions
Without clear job descriptions
- Candidates unsure what role involves
- High turnover from mismatched expectations
- Difficult performance conversations
- Weak position in Fair Work disputes
- Inconsistent hiring decisions
With clear job descriptions
- Attract candidates who fit the role
- Set clear expectations from day one
- Support performance management
- Strong documentation for compliance
- Consistent, fair hiring process
Who these templates are for
Legal disclaimer
These templates are designed to reflect Australian workplace standards and Fair Work principles at the time of publication. They are provided as a general guide only and do not constitute legal advice.
You should review and tailor each template to suit your business, industry, modern award, enterprise agreement and specific workplace circumstances. For complex situations or disputes, independent legal or HR advice should be sought.
Frequently asked questions
- 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.
Need help managing your team?
Once you've hired the right people, RosterElf helps you schedule shifts, track time and attendance, and manage payroll compliance — all in one place.