Terms of engagement

The following are common types of engagements. Not all employment engagements are covered by industrial relations legislation or by an industrial instrument Whilst the following explanations are for general information purposes only, it is recommended that you check the award/agreement applicable for a more exacting definition.

Full-time employee

A full-time employee is an employee other than a casual or part-time employee employed on a permanent basis to work the award prescribed minimum hours per week and entitled to all the benefits under an award. The employer must provide an employee with a full week's work or equivalent payment, as well as, all leave entitlements.

Part-time employee

A part-time employee is engaged on a permanent basis to work regular hours that are within a defined minimum and maximum number of hours per week and is entitled to all the benefits under an Award relative to the number of hours worked each week. A part-time employee is entitled to the same conditions as a full-time employee and generally the same hourly rate of pay however, some awards provide for a loaded hourly rate in certain circumstances.

Casual employee

A casual employee is engaged to work on an hourly or daily basis for less than the ordinary weekly working hours of a full-time employee. An extra loading on top of the normal rate is paid to compensate for the lack of usual benefits under an award. A casual employee may work regular hours or shifts, however are not considered permanent employees. Refer to our resource page on casual employee entitlements and conditions for further information.

Probationary employee

A probationary employee is an employee in the first three months of employment. The main purpose of a probation period is to give the employer time to assess an employee's suitability for a job.

Junior employee

A junior employee is an employee usually under the age of twenty-one years who receives a percentage of the minimum award wage prescribed for an adult.

Permanent employee

Full-time and part-time employment is permanent employment. Casual employment is not considered permanent.

Fixed-term employee

An employee (full-time, part-time, casual) who is employed for a fixed period. At the end of the fixed period, the option may be open for the employer/employee to renew the arrangement. Fixed-term employees are often employed on project work or relieving an employee absent on parental leave or long service leave.

Independent Contractor

An independent contractor is any person who enters into a contract for service (opposed to a contract of service), has their own business and uses their own equipment to complete work for an all-inclusive price.

Pieceworker

A pieceworker is an employee who is usually paid on the basis of results, e.g. paid on a rate per article produced, such as a shearer or sewing machinist.

The general subject of pieceworker entitlements to various award provisions (such as annual leave or sick leave) is a complex one and reference should be made to each award to ascertain if any special provisions are made for pieceworkers.

Outworker

An outworker is a person engaged, for someone else's calling or business, in or about a private residence or other premises that are not necessarily business or commercial premises to pack, process or work on articles or material or carry out clerical work. Outworkers are commonly found in the clothing industry.

Apprentice

An apprentice is paid to learn trade skills. The structured training mixes theory and skills development at college with practical application on the job. The flexibility of apprenticeship schemes means wage rates and employment conditions vary depending on the type of apprenticeship.

Trainee

A trainee undertakes a combination of structured training and work. The flexibility of traineeships means wage rates and employment conditions vary depending on the type of traineeship.

Last updated: 03 October 2006

Rights & obligations