Career opportunities and support for your partner

Supporting the partners of essential workers to secure relevant and meaningful employment in their new regional community.

Man and his partner tending to garden

There are more than 20,000 jobs currently advertised in regional NSW.

An abundance of rewarding career opportunities are waiting for you to explore in regional NSW.

In fact, job vacancies in regional NSW are growing at a much faster rate than Sydney. In June 2024, regional NSW job vacancies were up 76% from five years prior, compared to -5.7% in Sydney.

Regional NSW is the largest, most diverse regional economy in Australia and is home to the biggest regional workforce in the country. With the growing number of jobs in a wide range of professions and industries, regional communities are attractive places for skilled workers wanting to advance their careers while enjoying the many lifestyle benefits of country living.

The NSW Government is making it even easier for partners of essential workers to find employment in regional communities, through initiatives such as The Welcome Experience. This support means workers and their families are more settled and feel more at home in their new community.

Employment opportunities for your partner

The NSW Government is the largest employer in the southern hemisphere and has lots of great career opportunities available, plus offers plenty of flexibility in the way you work.  

If you are an essential worker and your partner gets a job with the NSW Government, we will support your partner to take their job with them to regional NSW, where practical.

Public sector roles in regional NSW 

Regional NSW is a great place for you and your partner to find meaningful employment. Across the public and private sectors, there are some amazing opportunities, especially in the following industries.  

3,070
Technicians and trades jobs

advertised in June 2024.

2,394
Clerical and administrative jobs

 advertised in June 2024.

1,710
Labourer jobs

advertised in June 2024.

 

1,680
Sales and marketing jobs

advertised in June 2024.

1,745
Carers and aides jobs

advertised in June 2024.

1,000
Legal, social and welfare jobs

advertised in June 2024.

796
Hospitality jobs

advertised in June 2024.

 

449
Business, finance and human resources jobs

advertised in June 2024.

393
Engineering jobs

advertised in June 2024.

Employment support for essential worker partners

The Welcome Experience is a new service providing essential workers and their families with the support they need to move into regional communities, settle in and become one of the locals.

As part of the service, a Local Connector is on hand to provide support to the partners of essential workers in securing relevant, meaningful employment in regional NSW.

If your partner is an employee in any of the below industries or agencies, you may be eligible for support to help you secure employment.

  • Aged care
  • Corrective Services NSW
  • Department of Communities & Justice
  • Disability support
  • Early childhood education
  • Education
  • Fire & Rescue NSW
  • Health
  • NSW Ambulance
  • NSW Department of Education
  • NSW Health
  • NSW Police Force
  • NSW Rural Fire Service
  • Veterinary services.

To register your interest for partner employment support, please use the link below.

Register now

Are you an existing public servant and a partner of an essential worker? Take your NSW Government role with you.

If you are an existing NSW Government employee and the partner of an essential worker relocating to regional NSW, you will be supported to take your job with you to your new regional location, where it is practical to do so.

This is designed for roles that can realistically be performed anywhere, including communications officers, policy officers, accountants, recruitment advisors, data analysts, IT support specialists, web developers, legal officers, executive assistants, business coordinators, business managers and administrative assistants. Approval will be at the discretion of your delegated approving officer and excludes financial support.

Man and women on construction site in personal protective equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a 'partner'?

A person is considered to be your partner if you and the person are living together, or usually live together, and are:​ 

  1. Married; or​ 
  2. In a registered relationship; or​ 
  3. In a de facto relationship​ 
What is regional, rural or remote NSW?

This includes all of NSW, with the exception of the metropolitan areas of Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

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