How To Become A Virtual Assistant In Australia?

Are you handy on a keyboard and like working remotely part-time or full-time? Then, a virtual assistant profession could be the ideal career for you.

Virtual Assistants support businesses by performing various jobs, including general admin, support, copywriting, invoicing clients, email, social media management, bookkeeping, and more.

You don't require any formal qualifications to become a VA. However, completing tertiary education and gaining work experience will help develop niche skills.

This comprehensive guide will help you get started in this profession. We will discuss the virtual assistant role, employment opportunities, earning potential, and steps to launch a career in this field.

1. What Is a Virtual Assistant?

• Virtual Assistants are sole trading freelancers providing remote technical and administrative services to businesses or entrepreneurs. 

• They have the flexibility to work either from home or from wherever they want. 

• Virtual Assistants can decide their working hours and the type of work they wish to do. 

• They are multitaskers who provide virtual assistance to different businesses at a time. 

• Their standard services include email management, bookkeeping, administration, finance, marketing, content creation, customer service, social media, graphic design, and more.

2. What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

A virtual assistant offers services daily, contractual basis, or as self-employed. 

Knowledge of the work responsibilities is essential if you look forward to pursuing a VA profession.

• Research content ideas, write, edit and schedule blog posts, create graphics, manage blog comments, and improve blog SEO.

• Extract information from raw data and transform it into a concise and clear format.

• Create slides, spreadsheets, charts, digital graphics, presentations, reports, and web-based seminar speeches.

• Organize and manage files, spreadsheets and documents

• Manage online presence on the website or social media profiles

• Offer customer support by answering customer queries, processing orders, and managing order entry, consignment, and invoicing.

• Proofread key business documents

• Perform organizational tasks and manage client's time by overseeing calendars, appointments, and schedules 

• Track customer orders, handle exchanges/returns and manage inventory. 

• Handle superannuation, tax payments, and leave of clients

• Prepare letters, statements, and reports.

• They answer, supervise, and organize emails.

• Make, answer, or direct phone calls.

• Transcribe documents

• Book appointments

• Make travel arrangements

• Coordinate calendars and schedules

• Modify and proofread documents

• Make travel arrangements

• Generate sales leads

• Perform admin tasks such as accounting and billing 

• Research market and build databases

3. What Do You Need To Become A Virtual Assistant?

Before you start finding clients, it is crucial to equip yourself with the following essentials:

• A computer/laptop that runs a newer OS version

• A high-speed internet connection 

• Microsoft Office for working with MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint 

• An Email Account

• Photocopier, Scanner, and Printer machines

• Business Cards with an email address, website address (optional), and services you offer.

• Cloud storage

• Public Liability Insurance

• Quiet working environment 

• Excellent Virtual Assistant software/ cloud-based file-sharing tools such as Hubstaff, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Google Calendar.

4. Key Skills For A Virtual Assistant In Australia

The first step to starting your journey to becoming a VA is to determine your strengths and their suitability for this job. 

The most sought skills that employers look for in a VA job applicant are:

• Good typing speed 

• Accuracy

• Good vocabulary and diction skills 

• Outstanding computer and Internet skills 

• Administrative Skills

• Proficiency in software such as MS Word, MS Excel, Adobe Photoshop

• Data entry skills

• Social media management

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Time management and Organization

• Reliability

• Attention to detail

• Able to work under time constraints

• Accountability

• Multitasking

• Critical-thinking

• Pleasant speaking voice 

• Strong editorial skills

• A passion for learning

• Good grasp of spelling, semantics, grammar, and proper writing mechanics

5. Top Reasons To Work As A Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants make a perfect solution for businesses looking for workers to delegate tasks. 

The profession offers several benefits that no regular job can offer. Here are the top reasons to pursue this profession:

• A great earning opportunity while working from home or travelling

• The freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere and choose your working hours. 

• You can control your workload at your convenience. This way, the profession lets you work around your other priorities in life and seek a work-life balance. 

• No formal education and specific licenses are needed.

• Minimal investment is another important reason to choose this career. With just a computer/laptop, the internet, and basic computer skills, you are all set to launch your career as a VA. 

• A steady flow of varied tasks, such as admin support, customer support, finance support, social media management, blog management, etc., makes the job interesting.

• As VA does not need to commute to the workplace, it saves considerable time and energy.

6. Qualifications For A Virtual Assistant in Australia

There are no formal requirements specified to become a VA in Australia. However, having a high school diploma and a few tertiary qualifications is suitable to exhibit your skills and competence for the role.

• Complete High School education in English, IT, and Mathematics

• Undertake relevant tertiary qualifications such as Certificate III in Business Administration, Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology, Diploma in Social Media Marketing, and Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping.

• Apply for an ABN if you want to start your business

7. Steps To Become A Virtual Assistant From Home In Australia

The following steps will give you the direction to help you start working as a VA:

Step 1: Research

Look at VA job advertisements to understand the job role and duties. Learn about how businesses hire these professionals. Decide whether you want to work full-time or part-time.

Do you want to work with a local business, an employer, or a small business? Assess your skills to clarify the most suitable VA work for you.

Step 2: Decide On The Technology

Having decided about the field, you now have to decide on the necessary tools, software, and equipment to execute the job. The most common software that you would require are:

• File sharing

• Antivirus

• Emailing

• Password management

• File management

• Teleconferencing and communication software

Compare the available software in these categories to find an affordable and efficient one for your work.

Step 3: Decide On The Fee You Want To Charge

Once you have identified the niche and type of services to offer, the next step is determining your pay-per-hour rate. 

The average hourly virtual assistant rate in Australia is AU$29.28. You may initially start small and at a little lower rate. 

Once you gain a couple of months of experience and positive reviews, you can gradually increase the rate.

Step 4: Set Up Your Workplace

You need a distraction-free and quiet place that lets you work with complete focus. It could be your home or an office space.

Invest in a comfortable desk chair, and laptop stands to avoid discomfort.

Step 5: Obtain an ABN Number

An ABN (Australian Business Number) is essential to work as a self-employed virtual assistant business and issue an invoice for your services. 

The Australian Government issues this number to Australian residents with suitable visas who wish to work in a business. 

To run a business, you would also require setting up a business bank account and an Invoice system. Click here to register your Business Name with ASIC.

Step 6: Build Professional Network and Hunting For Jobs

The right marketing skills are essential to promote your talent and services to a broader audience. Some of the good places to network and look for virtual assistant jobs from home are:

• Freelancer websites, such as Freelancer, Fiverr, Upwork, FlexJobs

• If you wish to work with local businesses, social media sites such as Pinterest, VA Facebook groups, and LinkedIn will help. 

• Start your Virtual Assistant Facebook Page, and list the type of services you offer and the location of the service.

• Attend local business events, meetings, and professional development sessions to network and build connections. These are great ways to make people aware of your profession and services.

• Identify and Join VA-related Community and Business Groups.

• Design pamphlets that advertise your service and distribute them to local newspapers.

You can gain more clients and high-paying jobs by working on several projects and building a solid work portfolio.

8. Virtual Assistant Courses In Australia

Professional Development for Virtual Assistants is Australia's best online virtual assistant course.

The course focuses on refining your organizational and communication skills, teaching ways to manage numerous tasks at once, and gaining an array of business skills to succeed as a VA.

It educates students about the necessary techniques and tools, business planning, and marketing strategies to run your virtual assistant business.

The Course Content Covers The Tollowing Areas:

• Develop typing speed and precision

• Write complex documents and manage them

• Research and formulate business strategies

• Design and create a business document

Course Highlights:

• Unlimited tutor support during study via email, telephone, and live chat.

• No workplace or educational requirements to join the program

• 90 hours duration

• Online delivery of courses through an e-learning system eliminates the need to attend classes

• You receive a Certificate of Attainment after you complete the test.

Successful Completion of The Course Leads To The Following Career Pathway:

• Virtual Assistant

• Transcriptionist

• Email Marketing Manager

• Social Media Specialist

9. Where Do Virtual Assistants Work In Australia?

With more and more occupations online, the demand for VA has increased. 

Businesses focus on their core areas and outsource non-core tasks, such as social media management, email transcribing, scheduling appointments, etc., to specialized VAs. It helps them to improve productivity and generate more revenue.

A VA can either get directly employed by a company or run its business. Virtual assistant jobs for beginners are available in the following areas:

• General administration support 

• Bookkeeping

• Graphic Design work

• Customer Service or Receptionist

• Advanced-Data Entry

• Website Management

• Project Research 

• Blog Management

• Copywriting

• Event planning

• Project Management

• Content creation (for websites, blogs, social media, company presentations, etc.)

• Recruitment

Aspiring VAs can choose to pursue any of the below virtual assistant jobs in Australia:

• Blogger Virtual Assistants: They write newsletters, reviews, and articles on various food, travel, health, entertainment, news events, and more.

• Bookkeeper Virtual Assistants: They perform clerical duties that include answering phone calls, managing payroll, processing transactions, and reporting financial data. It is good to have an accounting background/work experience for this role.

• Copywriter Virtual Assistants: They write blog posts, social media posts, case studies, emails, and industry reports, for a company. Their work includes finding images, researching blog ideas/keywords, and proofreading content.

• Data Entry Virtual Assistants: Their main job is to obtain data from the company and feed it into a spreadsheet/ system.

• Marketing Virtual Assistants: This role requires managing marketing campaigns for different social media handles of a business, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. To do this, they research for relevant keywords and new leads, build and execute AdWord campaigns, and develop creative content for varying social media platforms.

• Medical Virtual Assistant: This role is concerned with the administration of doctors and medical practitioners. Medical VAs work with a medical transcriptionist to convert audio files into written documents that become part of a patient's medical record. 
• Other than medical record maintenance, they also communicate with patients, schedule appointments, file insurance claims, and do medical billing. This is a good specialization option for those who wish to work in the healthcare industry.

10. Job Prospects For Virtual Assistant In Australia

Technology advancements facilitate regular business tasks such as work-sharing, conducting meetings, providing customer support, and a lot more. 

It helps employers get remote workers without spending resources to recruit in-house professionals for their non-core tasks.

The profession also benefits VAs by offering flexibility and independence to undertake remote freelance work while managing their workload.

No formal education requirements and steady work opportunities make it a lucrative profession for budding virtual assistants in Australia.

The wide array of benefits for workers and employers makes Virtual Assistant a rapidly advancing career field in Australia. As an increasing number of small businesses and entrepreneurs prefer to hire affordable remote workers rather than full-time employees, the profession will see future solid growth across Australia.

11. How Much Does A Virtual Assistant Earn In Australia?

The virtual assistant salary is usually on a per-task basis rather than a fixed yearly or hourly-based salary. Their earnings depend on their skill set and years of experience.

Based on PayScale, a Virtual Assistant's hourly salary ranges from A$24.04 to A$43.31. 

The average hourly pay in this profession is AU$29.28 or the equivalent of $52,204 per year in Australia.

Sydney is the highest-paying city that pays an average salary of $95060 annually.

Average Hourly Salary Based On Experience

• An entry-level Virtual Assistant (< 1-year experience) earns: AU$25.14 

• An early career Virtual Assistant (1-4 years of experience) earns: AU$27.78 

• A mid-career Virtual Assistant (5-9 years of experience) earns: AU$33.77 

• An experienced Virtual Assistant (10-19 years of experience) earns: AU$38.40

12. Conclusion

Whether you want to make additional income or begin your full-time online business, Virtual Assistant work can be flexible, exciting, and challenging. It is a means to 'Future-Proof' your profession.

Training, upskilling, sincerity, setting clear boundaries, reliability, good customer service, and consistency will help to succeed in this profession.

Useful Links to Explore:

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