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Working in Australia (Pay, Tax and Superannuation)
This is Sushma. She started her first job in Australia 2 weeks ago
When you work in Australia and you are employed you get paid. Sushma is happy to get her first
pay slip.
Sushma sees her friend Rani- she tells her she got paid but is confused about some things
on her payslip. She does not understand what the tax and the superannuation means
Rani explains that the Government asks employers to collect some money from each worker to
pay for services- this is called tax
Rani explains that the government uses the tax to pay for services such as; Hospitals
and other health services, Schools Centrelink, Parks
Sushma understands it’s important to have these things – she is proud to help her
community by paying tax
The next thing on the Payslip is superannuation- Rani explains that this is money being saved
for you for when you are old and do not work anymore.
Rani says employers must pay your superannuation for you if you are over 18 and working regularly.
Superannuation is money that your employer pays on top of your pay.
The money is sent to a company that keeps it for you in a special account called a superannuation
fund. Rani explains that Sushma will get that money when she is much older and not working.
Sushma thanks Rani for explaining Superannuation and Tax- she goes home to see her family
Sushma is excited to show her pay slip to her younger sister Sujata. Sujata also started
working two weeks ago in a nearby bakery.
Sushma explains Sujata about the tax and superannuation.
Sujata notices that she has tax on her pay slip but nothing called Superannuation
Sushma tells Sujata that her employer doesn’t have to pay her superannuation because she
is under 18 and working less than 30 hours per week.
After dinner Sushma is sitting quietly thinking about her first pay- She is happy to help
the community by paying tax She is also happy that superannuation money
will help her when she is old. And most of all she is happy to be working. Sushma feels
very lucky.
Remember When you are employed in Australia you get
paid. When you work in Australia, you pay tax (money)
to the Australian Government. Superannuation is money being saved for when
you are old and do not work anymore. Your employer usually has to pay an extra
9% of the money you earn into a superannuation fund for you. This money is in addition to
your pay.
For information about tax and superannuation call the Australian Tax Office on 13 28 65.
For information about your rights at work call Fair Work Australia on 1300 799 675.