Is an offer letter legally binding?

Yes, once accepted. An offer letter setting out essential terms (position, remuneration, start date) becomes a binding contract of employment on acceptance, unless expressly stated to be subject to a further written contract.

What is a probation period?

A probation period is an agreed initial period — typically three or six months — during which either party can end the employment on shorter notice. Probation does not affect the operation of the Fair Work Act; unfair dismissal protection applies after the minimum employment period (6 months, or 12 months for small business employers).

Must I offer at least the minimum wage?

Yes. The National Minimum Wage set by the Fair Work Commission applies where no award or agreement covers the role. From 1 July 2024, the national minimum wage is $24.10 per hour. Award-covered employees must be paid the applicable classification rate, which may be higher.

What notice period must I give in the offer?

Notice of termination is set by the NES (1 to 5 weeks depending on service and age). The offer letter commonly matches the statutory notice or specifies a longer contractual notice that can be given by the employer.

Do I need to pay superannuation to casuals?

Yes. Superannuation Guarantee applies to casual, part-time, and full-time employees earning ordinary time earnings above the $450 monthly threshold (abolished from 1 July 2022 — now no threshold). Contributions are currently 11.5%, rising to 12% from 1 July 2025.

Can I make the offer conditional on background checks?

Yes. Offers are routinely conditional on work rights verification under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), National Police Checks where justified by the role, and reference checks. Conditions should be clearly stated and completed before the start date.

Can the offer be withdrawn before acceptance?

Yes. An offer can be withdrawn at any time before it is accepted, unless the offer is stated to be kept open for a specified period and is supported by consideration.

Does the candidate need to sign the offer letter?

Yes. The signed offer letter evidences acceptance and forms the contract. Electronic signatures are valid under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) and state equivalents.

CareerAustralia

Employee Offer Letter Template

An employee offer letter extends a conditional offer of employment and sets out the key terms of the role. Use our free Australian template to make a clear, professional offer that aligns with the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), the National Employment Standards, and any applicable modern award or enterprise agreement.

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Harbour Digital Pty Ltd

Level 12, 1 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

+61 2 9876 5432

hr@harbourdigital.com.au

25 April 2026

Emma L. Watson

88 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT — Senior Software Engineer

Dear Emma L. Watson,

We are delighted to extend this formal offer of Full-Time employment with Harbour Digital Pty Ltd (ABN 12 345 678 901). Following our recent discussions, we were impressed by your qualifications and experience and are confident you will be an outstanding addition to our team.

POSITION DETAILS

Job Title	Senior Software Engineer
Department	Engineering
Reporting To	Head of Engineering
Work Location	Level 12, 1 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000 (Hybrid — 3 days in-office)
Start Date	1 June 2026
Employment Type	Full-Time

COMPENSATION
Your remuneration will be 120,000.00 AUD per annum (p.a.) (gross, before applicable tax withholding under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth)). Your ordinary hours of work will be 38 hours per week, consistent with the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s. 62.

SUPERANNUATION
In addition to your remuneration, the Company will contribute 11.5% of your ordinary time earnings to a complying superannuation fund of your choice, in accordance with the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) s. 19. If you do not nominate a fund, contributions will be made to the Company's default fund.

NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS (NES)
Your employment will be governed by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and the National Employment Standards (NES), which set minimum entitlements that cannot be contracted out of, including:

• Annual Leave: 4 weeks paid annual leave per year (or 5 weeks for shift workers), accruing progressively under NES s. 87;
• Personal/Carer's Leave: 10 days per year for full-time and part-time employees under NES s. 96;
• Parental Leave: Up to 12 months unpaid parental leave (with the right to request a further 12 months) under NES s. 70;
• Notice of Termination: Minimum notice periods based on continuous service under NES s. 117;
• Redundancy Pay: Entitlements based on length of service under NES s. 119.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD
This offer is subject to the satisfactory completion of a probationary period of three (3) months from your commencement date. During this time, either party may terminate the employment relationship by providing the notice required under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s. 117. Please note that the unfair dismissal provisions of the Fair Work Act do not apply during the minimum employment period (s. 383).

FAIR WORK INFORMATION STATEMENT
As required by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s. 125, the Company will provide you with a copy of the Fair Work Information Statement before, or as soon as practicable after, you commence employment. The Statement sets out your rights and entitlements under the Fair Work system and can also be accessed at fairwork.gov.au.

ADDITIONAL TERMS
A signing bonus of 5,000 AUD (gross) will be paid with the first payroll cycle.

This offer is open for acceptance until 9 May 2026. If we do not receive your signed acceptance by that date, this offer shall be deemed withdrawn without further notice.

We look forward to welcoming you to the team. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding the terms of this offer.

YOURS SINCERELY

Laura A. Chen

Chief People Officer

Date: ____________________

ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER

I, Emma L. Watson, accept the offer of employment with Harbour Digital Pty Ltd as Senior Software Engineer on the terms and conditions set out in this letter. I confirm that I am lawfully entitled to work in Australia in accordance with the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).

Candidate Signature: _____________________________ Date: _____________________
Printed Name: _____________________________

Available as a print-ready PDF or an editable Microsoft Word (.docx) file.

What Is an Employee Offer Letter?

An employee offer letter is a written document extending a conditional offer of employment to a candidate. It captures the fundamental terms — position title, reporting line, start date, remuneration, hours of work, and contingencies — and usually references a full employment contract, the Fair Work Information Statement, and applicable workplace policies. The offer letter is the first formal document in the employment relationship and frames everything that follows.

In Australia, offers of employment are regulated by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), which establishes the National Employment Standards (NES) as the statutory floor of minimum entitlements for all national-system employees. The NES covers matters such as maximum weekly hours, annual leave, personal/carer's leave, parental leave, compassionate leave, public holidays, notice of termination, redundancy pay, and the right to request flexible working arrangements.

Modern awards and enterprise agreements may impose additional minimum standards, including classification-based minimum wages, overtime rates, penalty rates, and allowances. Section 125 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) requires employers to provide the Fair Work Information Statement to all new employees before, or as soon as practicable after, starting. From 15 December 2023, a Casual Employment Information Statement must also be given to casual employees.

What's Covered in This Template

Our offer letter covers the essential information a candidate needs to accept an offer with confidence.

Employer and Employee Details

Employer legal name, ABN, and candidate personal details.

Position Title and Duties

Role title, reporting line, and summary of duties.

Employment Type

Full-time, part-time, casual, or fixed-term status.

Start Date

Expected start date and any probation period.

Remuneration

Base salary, allowances, superannuation contribution rate, and bonus structure.

Hours of Work

Ordinary hours in line with the NES and any applicable award.

Leave Entitlements

Annual, personal, carer's, parental, and long service leave summary.

Applicable Award or Agreement

Reference to modern award, enterprise agreement, or common-law contract.

Conditions of Offer

Work rights, police/background checks, and reference checks.

Notice of Termination

Notice periods in line with the NES and any award or agreement.

Probation Period

Length and terms of any probation period.

Acceptance

Signature block for acceptance by the candidate.

How to Create an Employee Offer Letter

Follow these steps to produce a compliant Australian offer letter in minutes.

1
Enter Employer and Candidate Details
Provide employer legal name, ABN, and the candidate's personal details.
2
Describe the Position
Specify title, reporting line, employment type, and start date.
3
Set Remuneration and Hours
Configure base salary, superannuation, allowances, and ordinary hours in line with the NES or applicable award.
4
Add Conditions and Probation
Specify conditional items such as work rights checks and probation period.
5
Review and Download
Confirm notice periods, leave entitlements, and acceptance block, then download the PDF.

Why Doxuno documents are different

Four things that make our templates more thorough than AI-generated drafts and more current than static template libraries.

Accurate

Country-specific legal content

Drafted with legal expertise for each jurisdiction, far more thorough than AI-generated drafts that copy generic clauses across borders.

Always current

Always current with the law

Templates carrying statute references are continuously updated as the law changes. Your document always reflects the current legal framework.

Free PDF

Print-ready PDF

Free to download. Vector text, embedded fonts, statute citations baked in. Print, sign, file. Ready for any signing flow including electronic signature.

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Editable Word (.docx)

Continue editing in Word after download. Add custom clauses, reuse the template for similar agreements, or share with a colleague for collaborative review.

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Legal Considerations

Employee offer letters must comply with the NES and any applicable award or enterprise agreement.

This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified employment lawyer or the Fair Work Ombudsman for advice specific to your situation.

Reviewed for Australian law

National Employment Standards

Part 2-2 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) sets out ten NES minimum entitlements applicable to all national-system employees, including maximum 38 ordinary hours per week, four weeks' paid annual leave (five for shift workers), 10 days' personal/carer's leave, 12 months' unpaid parental leave with a right to request a further 12 months, and notice of termination from 1 to 5 weeks depending on service. Contract terms less favourable than the NES are unenforceable to the extent of the inconsistency.

Modern Awards and Enterprise Agreements

Most private-sector employees are covered by a modern award setting out classification-based minimum wages, overtime, penalty rates, and allowances. Some employers have an enterprise agreement approved by the Fair Work Commission that replaces the award. The offer letter should identify whether the role is award-covered, agreement-covered, or award-free, and the applicable classification.

Information Statements

Section 125 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) requires the Fair Work Information Statement to be given to every new employee. From 15 December 2023, the Casual Employment Information Statement must also be given to casuals on commencement, after 6 months, and after 12 months (for small businesses, only on commencement and after 12 months).

Superannuation and Tax

Employers must pay superannuation contributions at 11.5% of ordinary time earnings (rising to 12% from 1 July 2025) under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth). PAYG withholding obligations arise under the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth). The offer letter should state whether the quoted remuneration is inclusive or exclusive of superannuation.

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