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How to Become a Personal Assistant: Australian Careers in Administration

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What is a Personal Assistant?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Personal Assistant?

A Personal Assistant supports a manager or senior professional with day-to-day admin tasks. They manage diaries, handle emails, and help the people they support stay on top of their work. It is one of the most central roles in any office.

The job covers a wide range of tasks. Personal Assistants book meetings, arrange travel, prepare reports, and screen phone calls. They often act as the first point of contact for their manager’s clients and colleagues. Strong organisational and communication skills are key.

Personal Assistants work across nearly every sector, from corporate offices and health services to government agencies and schools. The skills transfer well between fields, so career moves are common. Most roles are full-time, but part-time and casual options exist too.

Those who enjoy variety and a fast-paced office will find this career rewarding. With experience, many Personal Assistants move into executive assistant or office manager roles. Some move into project work or operations as they grow their skill set.

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Career snapshots For Personal Assistants

Around 50,900 Personal Assistants work in Australia (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). Most are found in Education and Training, Finance, Health Care, and Public Admin. The role is 97% female, with a median age of 43.

Most Personal Assistants work full-time, averaging 41 hours per week. Median weekly pay is $1,832, or about $95,000 per year. Demand is set to fall slightly over the next five years (Your Career, 2025). Even so, senior PA roles in complex settings remain steady and well-paid.

What will I do?

Personal Assistants handle many different tasks each day. Their role keeps managers on track, ready, and in touch with their teams. The tasks depend on the workplace and the level of the person they support.

  • Calendar – Booking meetings, setting reminders, and fixing diary clashes.
  • Emails and Calls – Reading, replying to, and screening daily comms.
  • Travel – Booking flights, hotels, and taxis for work trips.
  • Documents – Writing, editing, and laying out reports, slides, and memos.
  • Meetings – Setting up agendas, taking notes, and tracking action items.
  • Office Admin – Ordering supplies and keeping the workspace organised.
  • Research – Finding and pulling together facts to help with decisions.
  • Expenses – Tracking costs, submitting invoices, and handling reimbursements.
  • Project Help – Tracking tasks and keeping projects on schedule.
  • Confidentiality – Keeping private data safe and treating it with care.

What skills do I need?

Personal Assistants need a mix of practical and people skills to do their job well. Being well organised is at the core. This means handling many tasks at once, keeping records tidy, and making sure nothing slips through the gaps. Communication matters just as much, since PAs are often the link between their manager and everyone else.

Attention to detail is critical, especially when preparing documents, booking travel, or handling private information. Strong digital skills matter too, from Microsoft Office to calendar and project tools. A calm approach under pressure rounds out the skill set most employers look for.

Skills/attributes

  • Strong organisational skills
  • Clear written and verbal communication
  • Time management and prioritisation
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to multitask
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
  • Problem-solving and resourcefulness
  • Discretion and confidentiality
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Interpersonal and stakeholder management skills
  • Basic financial and expense management
  • Research and information gathering
  • Professional presentation and conduct

CourseFinder makes every effort to ensure the information we provide is correct at the time of publication. We welcome your input to help keep our career profiles as accurate and up to date as possible. All queries and feedback will be taken into consideration as we conduct periodic reviews of our content. Add your voice to the conversation!

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About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.