Remote work

Remote work covers a lot of ground. It might mean a fully remote job with an employer in another city, a hybrid arrangement with two days at home, a freelance business run from the spare room, or occasional days at home when you need to focus. Whatever form it takes, the same questions come up: how to find it, how to negotiate it, how it affects your tax and how to make it work for your health and relationships.

This section brings together our guides to remote work in Australia.

Guides in this section

• Finding remote jobs: where to look, how to judge listings, applying and spotting job scams.
• Flexible work rights: who can request flexible work, how to make a request and what employers must do.
• Working from home tax basics: the ATO's methods, records and common mistakes.
• Staying well when working remotely: routines, boundaries, loneliness, the right to disconnect and getting support.

Types of remote work

• Fully remote: you work from home or another location all the time, often for an employer based elsewhere.
• Hybrid: you split your week between home and a workplace. This is now common in office-based jobs.
• Occasional: you work from home on some days by arrangement or when needed.
• Freelance and self-employed: you run your own business from home, serving clients remotely.
• Location-flexible: you work from different places, such as regional towns, coworking spaces or while travelling, within the limits your employer and the law allow.

Each brings different rights, responsibilities and practicalities. Employees have workplace rights under the Fair Work Act and work health and safety laws; contractors and business owners have different obligations.

Negotiating remote work

Many working from home arrangements are agreed informally between employees and managers. Others are set out in employment contracts, enterprise agreements, awards or workplace policies. If you're eligible, you can make a formal request for flexible working arrangements under the Fair Work Act, which gives you procedural protections. Our flexible work rights guide explains how.

When negotiating, focus on how the work will get done: your availability, how you'll communicate, how performance will be measured and what equipment you need. Offering a trial period can help an uncertain manager agree.

Health and safety at home

Work health and safety laws apply when you work from home. According to Safe Work Australia, employers must manage risks to physical and psychological health so far as reasonably practicable, consult workers and may set conditions on working from home arrangements. Workers must also take reasonable care of their own health and safety. Our home office setup guide explains how to set up a safe workstation.

Tax and expenses

If you work from home, you may be able to claim some of your running expenses, such as electricity, internet and phone, as a tax deduction, provided you meet the ATO's rules and keep records. Your employer may also reimburse some costs. Read our tax basics guide, and check the ATO's current guidance or ask a registered tax agent.

Making remote work sustainable

Remote work can blur the line between work and home. Routines, a dedicated workspace, regular breaks, social contact and clear boundaries help. Many employees now have a legal right to disconnect outside working hours. Our wellbeing guide covers these topics and where to get support.

For managers

Leading a remote or hybrid team means being deliberate about communication, inclusion and wellbeing. Set clear expectations, agree on core hours and response times, make meetings work for remote participants, check in regularly, and watch for signs of isolation or overwork. Remember that your work health and safety duties extend to workers at home. Our time zone guide helps distributed teams find overlap.

For freelancers and small businesses

If you run a business from home, you're responsible for your own workspace, equipment, security, insurance and tax. Check whether your home insurance covers business equipment and activities, keep business and personal records separate, and consider whether you need professional advice on tax, contracts and insurance.

Before you go remote

Before you commit to remote or hybrid work, think about the practical side as well as the appeal. Do you have a space where you can work without constant interruption? Is your internet reliable enough for video calls? How will you keep in touch with colleagues and stay visible for development opportunities? Agreeing expectations early, such as core hours, response times and how often you will be in the office, prevents misunderstandings later and makes the arrangement easier to keep.

Where to start in this section

If you are new to remote work, begin with the flexible work rights guide to understand where you stand, then read the wellbeing guide for habits that make working from home sustainable. If you are job hunting, start with the remote jobs guide, and check the tax basics guide before your next return.

Key points

Remote work takes many forms, from hybrid arrangements to fully remote jobs and home-based businesses. Know your rights to request flexible work, remember that health and safety duties still apply at home, keep records for tax, and build routines and boundaries that make remote work sustainable.