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About Administration
You'll become
Average Salaries
Administration workers may earn between $44,000 and $78,000 per year
Play a critical role helping businesses succeed and build in-demand skills by studying an exciting administration course.
You’re organised, disciplined and love working with people. Turn those abilities into a rewarding new career by studying an administration course.
Playing a vital role in the functioning of all businesses and organisations, administrative staff are the ones who make things happen. You know lofty goals, big visions and technical expertise are nothing without the planning and management to see dreams become reality, and you have the skills to play a critical part.
Working with businesses, government departments and not-for-profit organisations, administrative staff members are involved with the day-to-day management and operation of businesses. With more than two million businesses operating in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there is significant demand for skilled administrative staff, and a wide range of situations in which you can make a real difference.
After completing an administration course, you’ll have the critical skills, abilities and insights to shape the success of a wide range of businesses, and unlock the potential of people to achieve their goals. If you’re seeking a rewarding, dynamic and exciting new career that can make a real impact, studying an administration course is for you.
You may study an administration course at a range of different levels, including as a certificate or diploma course, or as part of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business. After completing an administration course, you may work in a range of leadership, management and operational roles, including working as an office manager, business administrator or operations manager.
If you thrive working with people, and want to use your organisational skills to make a real difference, studying administration is for you.
What do administration graduates do?
Graduates of administration courses may seek employment in a wide variety of operational roles in a diverse range of industries, which means your day-to-day duties will vary, depending on the role you take on. However, your work will likely include tasks such as:
- Identifying and organising key office goals and priorities;
- Developing plans, policies and procedures relating to the operation and management of the business or office;
- Authorising the allocation and movement of office resources, including space and equipment;
- Allocating human resources, including managing and scheduling appointments;
- Monitoring the performance of staff;
- Managing office accounts, records, stock levels and ordering;
- Preparing reports, submissions and notes;
- Representing the business or organisation in public;
- Managing conflict;
- Coordinating personnel activities including hiring, inducting, training and performance managing staff;
- Managing payroll and petty cash;
- Ensuring the business’s ongoing compliance with relevant regulatory and statutory obligations, including workplace health and safety requirements; and
Liaising between different departments and teams within a business.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
Administration workers are in demand in a range of different industries. After completing an administration course, you may work in a field like:
- Agriculture
- Banking and finance
- Construction
- Education
- Engineering
- Government services
- Information technology
- Marketing and sales
- Media services
- Retail trade and hospitality
- Security
- Tourism and events management
After completing an administration course, you may seek employment in a wide range of administration, management, leadership and business roles. Roles you may choose to take on after graduating may include working as a:
- Health Assistant
- Health Administrator
- Medical Records Section Leader
- Senior Admissions Clerk
- Senior Administrative Worker
- Senior Ward Clerk
- Clinical Services Team Leader
- Ward Clerk
- Medical Receptionist
- Medical Administrative Assistant
- Admissions Clerk
- Administration Assistant
- Office Administrator
- Receptionist
- Accounts Clerk
- Data Entry Operator
- Administrator
- Business Manager
- Small Business Manager
- Team Leader
- Operations Manager
- Operations Officer
- Project Team Leader
- Project Administrator
- Executive Assistant
- Human Resources Assistant
- Human Resources Administrator
- Work Health & Safety Assistant
- Work Health & Safety Officer
- Work Health and Safety Advisor
- Workplace WHS Coordinator
- Work Health Safety Coordinator
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Is administration right for you?
You’ll thrive working in administration if you:
- Have excellent time management and organisational skills
- Are a natural leader
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Thrive when working with people
- Have big ideas
- Are highly motivated
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Are proactive and efficient
- Can think strategically and exercise sound judgment
- Can speak confidently in public
- Enjoy fast-paced work
- Want to get things done
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook predicts moderate growth in job opportunities for office and administration managers over the next decade, predicting the profession will grow to employ an additional 8,000 people by 2020. Currently employing approximately 129,200 people, the profession is considered extremely large, and roles are available in most areas of Australia. While growth in job opportunities has contracted slightly in the past decade, Job Outlook is confident opportunities will continue to grow until at least 2020.
Average Salaries
According to PayScale, an office manager can expect to earn a salary between $44,000 and $78,000 per year, with an average annual salary of approximately $56,000. An operations manager can expect to earn between $35,000 and $90,000 per year, and entry-level managers may enjoy earning a competitive average salary of approximately $50,000 per year.