Working from home – 5 ways to earn a living from home in Australia
The idea of spending each working day on your own schedule, on your own couch (or home office), sipping away on a cup of coffee as you type away in your pajamas, can seem like the ideal job for many.
In fact, the ABS shows that almost a third of all Australian workers have pursued this type of working lifestyle: reports reveal that nearly 3.5 million employed people regularly work from home, either in their job or own business.
It’s no shocker why, either – respondents cite family considerations, flexibility, other business commitments and the ability to catch up on workloads as some of the main reasons for wanting such employment conditions, among others. The ability to save on long hours of commuting are another popular reason for choosing the home-based work life.
Think you’d like to this sort of gig for yourself? Below, we discuss 5 popular ways of earning a living in Australia, right from the comfort of your own home.
Work from home jobs in Australia
- Social Media Manager.
- Child Care Worker.
- Call Centre Operator.
- Software Developer.
- Bookkeeper.
1. Social Media Manager.
It’s no wonder social media managers have become a common job role in the country; marketing professionals with an in-depth knowledge of communicating with an online audience, using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to analyse consumer data, promote products and services, and providing customers with online support.
Those interested in honing such skills can check out our Diploma of Social Media Marketing (10118NAT) or Social Media Short Course.
With their tasks solely online, many are able to work from home – all you need is a laptop and stable internet connection. Social media managers are a popular job category on freelance job boards such as Upwork Australia and FlexJobs, with an average annual salary of $58,484.
2. Child Care Worker.
While many child care workers carry out their duties at non-residential childcare centres, there are also plenty that care for children within their own homes. This is commonly known as a “family day care” service – a non-traditional form of child care that takes place in the carer’s residency.
All other aspects of the role remain the same: you, as a carer, will be responsible for the hygiene, education, and daily recreational activity of your children in care.
You will play a vital part in the behavioural and social development of each child, requiring at least an educational certificate in the field to be qualified. On average, child care workers earn about $44,469 each year.
3. Call Centre Operator.
Among these companies are Medibank and MYOB, who both mention staff retention as a prime benefit in allowing employees to work from home. “We focus on output rather than micromanagement,” Medibank contact centre manager, Melanie Davis, states.
Call centre operators are part of a growing industry, assisting customers over the phone and informing them of a business’ goods and services. They earn an average of $45,660 a year.
Those interested in polishing their customer service skills can view our online Certificate IV in Customer Engagement (BSB40315), exploring all you need to know on customer service strategies, policies, and procedures.
4. Software Developer.
All you need is the right office setup: a laptop or desktop computer, a headset, an application for contacting your clients (i.e. Skype), and a stable internet connection.
With proper communication practices and software tools set in place, you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful developer – right from your own home office.
Software developers are responsible for designing, coding, and testing system programs, along with evaluating a user’s program needs and providing technical guidance where needed. On average, they earn about $67,986 a year.
If you’ve got an affinity for computers and all things technology, software development may just be up your alley. Check out our Diploma of Software Development (ICT50718) or Certificate IV in Programming (ICT40518) to explore the skills required for this lucrative career path.
5. Bookkeeper.
Establishing your own online, bookkeeping business doesn’t require large investments on your end either – all that’s necessary is a good internet connection, the right software tools, mathematical skills, and a sharp social media strategy for promoting yourself.
Bookkeepers maintain and keep track of a business’ financial records and activities. They help manage transactions, prepare invoices, produce reports on budget and expenditure, among plenty of other accounting responsibilities. Those in this role earn an average of $54,890 per year.
If you’re an analytical thinker with a penchant for numbers, you may just excel as a work-from-home bookkeeper.
With all the available tools and technology for working flexibly in the digital space, work-from-home employees may only see a further rise in numbers.
In a Business Insider article predicting the top trends of Australia’s future workplace, an executive of the workspace network Regus notes the likely normalisation of such flexible working conditions.
Considering all the benefits on productivity and wellbeing that remote work has to offer, this prediction may just prove a positive one for Australia’s workforce.
Got the skills you need to work from home?
Earning a living from home requires keeping updated on all the in-demand skillsets of the digital space. Keep your skills current, lucrative, and work-ready by upskilling in your fields of interest.
Upskilled offers over 100 qualifications across a wide range of industries; all flexibly delivered online, allowing you to work at your own pace. Get started on a course today – and acquire the necessary skills to pursue your dream career from home.
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