Overseas applicants
KCGM actively seeks to recruit appropriately skilled and experienced overseas candidates for professional and trade-based roles.
This page aims to provide overseas job applicants with a summary of the types of factors that you may need to consider before commencing work in Australia.
To work in Australia, citizens of other countries (except New Zealand) must obtain a visa from the Australia Department of Immigration & Citizenship, entitling them to work on either a permanent or temporary basis. The Australian migration program offers many different work visas, which cater for people with different skills and goals. Australian work visas are primarily designed to fill labour shortages and encourage skilled migrants to settle in Australia.
KCGM generally offers sponsorship to successful applicants and their families under the 457 Temporary Business Long Stay visa category for individuals with recognised qualifications and skills or experience in particular occupations. These visas are provided under the Government’s Skilled Migration Program. The Skilled Occupation List (SOL), available at
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf , provides a comprehensive list of the qualifications and work experience that are applicable under this Program. Eligibility under this category of visa is generally only open to skilled workers, such as those who are tertiary or trade qualified.
For more information, please visit the web site of the Australian Department of Immigration & Citizenship,
www.immi.gov.au.
Once employed, KCGM can also assist employees and their families to apply for permanent residency within Australia.
From 1 July 2007, overseas workers seeking to work in Australia under a 457 Temporary Working visa must have English language skills equivalent to an average band score of 4.5 in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, unless exempted in certain special circumstances.
Applicants must have higher English language skills where this is required for licensing, registration, or membership of a professional association in their nominated occupation.
More information about these requirements can be found at
www.immi.gov.au.
Australia operates under a tiered income taxation system. Income tax is deducted from regular salary payments made by the employer (in KCGM’s case, on a fortnightly basis).
A summary of the taxation rates for Australian residents are provided below:
|
Taxable income
|
Tax on this income
|
|
$1 – $6,000
|
Nil
|
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$6,001 – $35,000
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15c for each $1 over $6,000
|
|
$35,001 – $80,000
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$4,350 plus 30c for each $1 over $35,000
|
|
$80,001 – $180,000
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$17,850 plus 38c for each $1 over $80,000
|
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$180,001 and over
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$55,850 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,000
|
The income tax rates for non-residents of Australia differ from the above. The following table outlines the rates applicable for non-residents of Australia:
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Taxable income
|
Tax on this income
|
|
$0 – $34,000
|
29c for each $1
|
|
$34,001 – $80,000
|
$9,860 plus 30c for each $1 over $34,000
|
|
$80,001 – $180,000
|
$23,660 plus 40c for each $1 over $80,000
|
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$180,001 and over
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$63,660 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,000
|
For more information on Australia’s taxation system, please visit www.ato.gov.au. Alternatively, please see the attached PDF document:
Australian Taxation Information.pdf
To work in Australia you will also need to obtain a tax file number, which is a unique number that the Australian Taxation Office issues to identify your tax records. Details about how to apply for one of a tax file number can also be found on the above mentioned web site.
In Australia, employers are required to make compulsory contributions of at least 9% of employee’s cash salaries to a superannuation fund of the employee’s choice.
Employees are able to make additional contributions to a superannuation fund of their choice from either their pre or post tax incomes.
Details about superannuation in Australia can be found at
www.ato.gov.au/superannuation .
The Australian Government provides Australian citizens & permanent residents with free or low-cost public health care under the Medicare system. Australia also has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with some countries. Under these arrangements, residents of applicable countries may be entitled to restricted access to health cover while in Australia.
More information about Medicare can be found at
www.medicareaustralia.gov.au .
Residents of Australia are also encouraged to seek additional private health insurance through one of the many private health care funds operating within Australia. More information on the funds that are available can be found at
www.privatehealth.gov.au
Australian legislation covering the recognition of professional and trade qualifications varies according to where you live within Australia. Australia has a federal system of government and is divided into six States and two Territories. In some professions and trades you are required to be registered with a relevant Registration Board in your State/Territory to practise in your occupation.
People who already hold registration or are licensed to practise a professional or trade occupation in New Zealand are generally permitted to practise the equivalent occupation in any Australian State or Territory where registration is a requirement, after gaining registration with the relevant Registration Board. This Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) covers all registrable occupations, except medicine.
For more information, please refer to the Trade Recognition Australia web site,
www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Programmes/TRA/