Looking for receptionist jobs in Australia? Receptionist roles are available across medical centres, hotels, corporate offices, education providers, professional services firms and other organisations. This guide explains what receptionist jobs involve, the skills employers look for, where to search, and how to improve your chances of getting hired.
What Does a Receptionist Do in Australia?
A receptionist is often the first point of contact for customers, clients and visitors. Typical responsibilities include:
- Greeting visitors and directing them to the right person
- Answering and transferring telephone calls
- Managing appointments and calendars
- Responding to emails and enquiries
- Maintaining reception and office areas
- Handling deliveries and correspondence
- Entering and updating information in computer systems
- Supporting general administration and office tasks
- Providing professional customer service
- Handling complaints and routine enquiries
Jobs and Skills Australia classifies Receptionists (General) under ANZSCO 542111. The broader receptionist occupation also includes admissions clerks, hotel and motel receptionists, and medical receptionists.
Where Can You Find Receptionist Jobs in Australia?
Receptionists work across a wide range of industries. Common employers include:
Medical Receptionist Jobs
Medical centres, dental practices, specialist clinics and allied-health businesses regularly require reception staff. These positions can involve appointment scheduling, answering patient enquiries and administrative support.
Hotel Receptionist Jobs
Hotels and accommodation businesses employ receptionists to welcome guests, manage bookings, answer enquiries and assist with check-in and check-out.
Corporate Receptionist Jobs
Corporate offices often look for receptionists who can combine front-desk customer service with administration, meeting-room coordination, telephone management and office support.
School and Education Receptionist Jobs
Schools, colleges, training providers and education organisations may employ reception and administrative staff to assist students, parents, visitors and staff.
Jobs and Skills Australia identifies health care and social assistance, professional/scientific/technical services, and education/training among industries where general receptionists work.
Skills Employers Look For
To succeed in receptionist jobs in Australia, employers commonly value:
- Excellent communication skills
- Friendly and professional customer service
- Good telephone etiquette
- Basic computer skills
- Microsoft Office or similar office software knowledge
- Organisation and time-management skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to multitask
- Professional appearance and attitude
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Strong English communication can be particularly important because receptionists regularly communicate with customers, clients, colleagues and visitors.
Do You Need Qualifications?
A university degree is not necessarily required for a general receptionist position. Employers may place greater emphasis on communication, customer service, computer skills and previous administration experience.
Jobs and Skills Australia data shows that receptionists have a range of educational backgrounds, including Year 12, Certificate III/IV and diploma-level qualifications.
For specialised positions, additional training may be useful. For example, medical reception roles may favour applicants who understand medical administration systems and terminology.
Full-Time and Part-Time Receptionist Jobs
Receptionist positions can be available on both a full-time and part-time basis. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, around 70,900 people were employed as general receptionists in the available February 2026 occupation data, and the occupation had a 52% part-time share.
This can make receptionist work attractive to people looking for flexible employment as well as those seeking a full-time administrative career.
Receptionist Jobs Across Australia
Receptionist opportunities can be found in major cities and regional areas.
Jobs and Skills Australia data shows the largest shares of general receptionist employment are in:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- Western Australia
- South Australia
- Tasmania
The distribution of receptionist employment reflects the concentration of businesses, healthcare providers, hotels, professional services and other organisations across Australia.
How to Find Receptionist Jobs in Australia
When searching for jobs online, try keywords such as:
- Receptionist
- Front Desk Receptionist
- Medical Receptionist
- Hotel Receptionist
- Corporate Receptionist
- Administration Receptionist
- Reception & Administration
- Office Receptionist
- Front Office Receptionist
- Junior Receptionist
Use major Australian employment websites and employer career pages, and set up job alerts so you can apply soon after suitable vacancies are advertised.
Jobs and Skills Australia’s Internet Vacancy Index is also useful for understanding online job-advertisement activity by occupation, state and region. The latest available IVI data was released in August 2026 and covers July 2026.
How to Write a Receptionist Resume
Your resume should be clear, professional and tailored to each position.
Include:
Professional Summary: Briefly describe your customer service, administration and communication experience.
Key Skills: List relevant skills such as reception, telephone handling, appointment scheduling, data entry, Microsoft Office and customer service.
Work Experience: Focus on responsibilities and achievements that demonstrate your ability to deal with customers and manage administrative tasks.
Education and Training: Include relevant certificates, diplomas and training.
Availability: If appropriate, mention whether you are available for full-time, part-time, weekend or shift work.
Tips for Getting a Receptionist Job
- Tailor your resume to each vacancy.
- Highlight customer service experience, even if it came from another industry.
- Demonstrate computer skills, especially office and booking systems.
- Prepare for telephone and customer-service interview questions.
- Dress professionally for interviews.
- Show confidence and friendliness, as reception is a people-facing role.
- Apply quickly when a suitable vacancy appears.
- Consider temporary or casual roles to build Australian workplace experience.
Is Receptionist Work a Good Career Option in Australia?
Receptionist work can provide a useful entry point into administration, customer service and office-based careers. With experience, a receptionist may progress into roles such as administration officer, office coordinator, executive assistant, medical administration, practice management or other customer-service and administrative positions.
Australia’s overall employment market is also projected to grow. Jobs and Skills Australia projects total Australian employment to increase by about 961,000 people over the five years to May 2030, although these projections are indicative rather than guarantees for individual occupations.
Final Thoughts
Receptionist jobs in Australia can be a good option for people with strong communication, organisation and customer-service skills. Opportunities exist across healthcare, hotels, corporate offices, education and professional services.
If you are starting your job search, create a targeted resume, search for several receptionist job titles, set up vacancy alerts and apply consistently. Developing computer, communication and administration skills can help you stand out from other applicants.
Start your search today and take the next step towards a receptionist or administration career in Australia.