How to become a Secretary
Official title: Secretary (General)
Performs secretarial, clerical, organisational and administrative tasks in support of daily office operations.
Main tasks
- Assists with document management, archiving and file maintenance
- Organises and manages appointments and schedules
- Manages enquiries, calls, messages and document preparation
- Welcomes and directs visitors and clients
- Assists with copying, scanning, emailing, notetaking and booking travel
- Performs other general clerical duties as requested
- May manage petty cash, maintain office supplies and coordinate equipment maintenance
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Business (BSB30120); Certificate III in Health Administration (HLT37315); Certificate III in Accounts Administration (FNS30322); Certificate III in Legal Services (BSB30320)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $84,552 a year
- About 30,200 people work in this job group now, and about 28,500 are projected by 2035. (-5.7%)
- Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Secretary?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Business; Certificate III in Health Administration.
How much does a Secretary earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $84,552 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Secretary a growing career in Australia?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 30,200 to about 28,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Secretary?
Usually not. Only 18% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Business; Certificate III in Health Administration.
Will AI change the work of a Secretary?
Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04