No. 01 — Spring 2026The Australia edition4 guides · 22 sources

Work,near home. A guide to pay, rights and jobs for workers in Australia

A field guide for people who want good work close to home. Your rights, your pay and the jobs Australia is short of — checked against the Fair Work Ombudsman, the ATO and Jobs and Skills Australia.

Cover story · Your rights

Is an unpaid trial shift legal in Australia?

Unpaid trials are allowed in Australia, but only as a short, supervised demonstration of your skills. Here’s where the line sits.

An unpaid trial must be needed to show your skills, last only as long as needed (one hour to one shift), be a demonstration only, and be directly supervised throughout.
Any time beyond what’s reasonably needed must be paid at the minimum rate.
“Work the first week for free” creates an employment relationship: every hour must be paid.

Read the guide · 3 min →

Also in this issue

Updated 25 September 2026

Pay

A$26.44 an hour: minimum wage, casual loading and super from 1 July 2026

July brought a new minimum wage and a new way your super gets paid. Here’s what changed and how to check your own rate.

2 min read →03

Jobs in demand

Still in short supply: nurses, carers and early childhood educators

Fewer jobs are in shortage than at the 2023 peak. But care, nursing and early childhood are short in every state and territory.

2 min read →04

Starting out

Screening checks before your first shift: aged care, disability and childcare

In care and childcare, the paperwork comes before the work. Here’s which check applies to which job, and when you can start.

2 min read →

Australia work, by the numbers

A$26.44
National minimum wage per hour from 1 July 2026 (A$1,004.90 for a 38-hour week).
Fair Work Commission, 2026
25%
Casual loading on top of the minimum rate, because casuals don’t get paid leave.
Fair Work Commission, 2026
12%
Superannuation Guarantee rate. Since 1 July 2026 it’s paid with every payday.
Australian Taxation Office, 2026
29%
Share of assessed occupations in national shortage in 2025, down from 36% in 2023.
Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025

Jobs in this edition

The roles Phonim covers in Australia

Phonim is starting in six states and territories: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Northern Territory. South Australia and Western Australia are not available yet.

Health

Registered nurses
Dental hygienists
Physiotherapists

Care & early childhood

Aged & disability care workers
Early childhood educators

Automotive

Motor mechanics

From the publisher

See the workplace before you say yes.

2hVisit a workplace near you for up to two hours before you decide.
3Look around, meet the team, ask your questions.

Coming soon

Phonim is launching in Australia soon.

Questions

About Phonim Work

Hiring in Australia? Read the employers’ page →

What is Phonim Work?

A practical guide for people looking for work near home in Australia: your rights on trial shifts, pay and leave, the jobs in demand and what to sort out before your first day. Every figure names its official source.

What is a Phonim workplace visit?

A visit lets you see a workplace for up to two hours before you decide on a job. You see where you would work, meet the team and ask questions. A visit is for looking and asking, not for working.

Which jobs does Phonim cover in Australia?

At launch: Registered nurses, Dental hygienists, Physiotherapists, Aged & disability care workers, Early childhood educators, Motor mechanics.

Is this legal advice?

No. Our guides explain official guidance in plain English, but rules change and every situation is different. For your own situation, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.