Melbourne - Post Report Question and Answers
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Lots of volunteer opportunities. More opportunities to work at the consulate are developing. Working on the economy is possible, but many people run into difficulty finding work in their field as hiring practices can be quite nationalistic (preferring to hire Aussies over anyone else). - Sep 2026
Can’t comment on other partner/spouses. I freelance. Local salary scales are quite good for people with good credentials, but residency requirements must be met. - Jul 2018
There are some WAE jobs available at post but right now there is a hiring freeze and EFMs can't get jobs. There is a bilateral work agreement but getting a job locally is harder than it might seem because many places will prefer to hire Australians or people who will be here more permanently. Local salaries are high, minimum wage is A$17.40/hour and some LES staff at the U.S. consulate make a lot more than entry-level officers do. - Jul 2017