Work: Finding flexible work that actually fits your life

Flexible work used to be a negotiating point — something you asked for carefully, after proving yourself, hoping the answer would be yes. The pandemic changed that. Remote work, flexible hours, part-time roles and hybrid arrangements are now mainstream, and a genuine proportion of Australian employers have committed to them permanently.

That's good news if you need your work to fit around children, caring responsibilities, health needs, or simply a life that doesn't allow for a five-day-a-week office commitment.

This guide covers how to find flexible work specifically — not just any work with a vague hope that flexibility might be available.

Start with platforms built for flexibility

Rather than sorting through thousands of standard job listings hoping to find flexible ones, start with platforms where flexibility is the filter:

• FlexCareers (flexcareers.com.au) — Australia's largest marketplace specifically for flexible, part-time and remote roles. Employers who list here have made explicit commitments to flexible hiring. Strong for professional and corporate roles.

• Seek — now has a dedicated filter for "flexible work arrangements" — use it from the start rather than applying to roles and hoping

• LinkedIn — filter by "remote" or "hybrid" from the search function. Many employers now state flexibility in the job title itself.

• Indeed — similar filters available; useful for a broader search across entry-level and administrative roles

Look for employers who have committed to flexibility publicly

Some Australian employers have made formal commitments to flexible work through programs like the Workplace Gender Equality Agency's FLEX Certified program or Diversity Council Australia's Flexibility Champions. These employers are more likely to take flexible requests seriously.

FlexCareers publishes an annual list of the most flexible employers in Australia — worth bookmarking.

Be specific about what you need

"Flexible work" means different things to different people and different employers. Before you start applying, get clear on what you actually need:

• Specific days off — e.g. school pickup days

• A reduced week — e.g. four days instead of five

• Flexible start and finish times — e.g. 10am–4pm core hours

• Remote work — full or partial

• School-term-only work

• Job sharing

The more specific you can be, the better you can assess whether a role will actually work — and the more credibly you can make the request.

How to raise flexibility in an application

There's debate about when to raise flexibility needs — in the application, after an offer, or in between. The honest answer is that it depends on how non-negotiable your needs are.

If you need specific days off or reduced hours as a firm requirement, it's better to raise it early — in the cover letter or at the first interview. A brief, confident statement works well: "I'm looking for a role that offers [specific arrangement]. I'd like to understand early on whether that's something this position could accommodate."

This filters out roles that won't work before you invest significant time, and it signals confidence rather than apology.

Know your rights

Under the Fair Work Act, employees who have been with an employer for at least 12 months have the right to request flexible working arrangements — particularly if they are a parent, carer, have a disability, are 55 or over, or are experiencing family violence. Employers must genuinely consider the request and can only refuse on reasonable business grounds.

This doesn't help you when you're just starting a new role, but it's worth knowing for the future.

See our guide on your rights around flexible work for more detail.

Help for Her provides general information and guidance only.