Administrative and support services industry
Last Updated: 24 June 2020
COVID-19 affected industries
Victorian COVID-19 restrictions
From 6pm on Sunday 2 August, Melbourne moved to Stage 4 restrictions and regional Victoria moved to Stage 3 restrictions.
Find how to create a COVID Safe Plan and understand how Stage 4 restrictions apply to your industry on the Business Victoria website.
From 11:59pm on Sunday 2 August 2020, all Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live. You and your staff should wear them when at work and also when travelling to and from work. If you don't, you must have a lawful reason not to.
Find more Victorian business COVID-19 information.
COVID-19 support for all Australian businesses
It's important to keep workers safe and limit the spread of COVID-19. You can find the latest information and resources for your industry on the Safe Work Australia website.
If the coronavirus has affected your business, get coronavirus information and support for business.
Business types in this industry
The administrative and support services industry includes:
- employment services
- travel agency services
- tour arrangement service
- administrative service
- building cleaning
- pest control
- gardening service
- packaging service
- support activities for day-to-day operations of other businesses or organisations
Legislation, standards and initiatives
It’s important that you’re aware of the laws that apply to the administrative and support services industry. Key legislation includes:
Industry guides to the law
Check the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's (ACCC) guides for more information:
- Personal services – an industry guide to the Australian Consumer Law
- Travel & accommodation – an industry guide to the Australian Consumer Law
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Travel agency & tour arrangement services
Cleaning, gardening & pest control
Packaging labelling codes and standards
Licences and permits
State or territory governments manage the licences and permits for the administrative and support services industry. Select the relevant service type below for some of the licences and permits you may need.
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Cleaning, gardening & pest control
Packaging services
Find the licences and permits you need for your business
Search the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) to find information on the licences you may need.
Employing people
If you employ staff, you need to comply with Australia’s national workplace laws specific to the administrative and support services industry.
Workplace health and safety (WHS)
There are general occupational health and safety regulations for all businesses, the administrative and support services industry also have state-specific WHS requirements, including:
- mandatory asbestos training for commercial cleaners and pest controllers in the ACT
- licensing for high risk work
- standards for protective clothing and equipment
- prevention of burns from hot liquids, surfaces or steam
- prevention of slips and falls
- prevention of injury from animal handling
- use of heavy machinery
- standards for occupational safety signage
- national standard for manual handling
- occupational noise management
- electrical safety
- handling, labelling, storage and use of chemicals or dangerous substances.
Intellectual property
There are Intellectual Property rights that might be relevant to administrative and support services businesses.
- If you play, use or reproduce film, sound or video recordings you may need to get a licence from the APRA AMCOS website.
- Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) will protect new plant varieties and grants exclusive rights to the plant breeder to use, sell and distribute the plant and receive royalties.
Environment
The main environmental concerns that businesses in the administrative and support services industry should be aware of include:
- protection of parks, flora and fauna
- protection of heritage sites
- water conservation
- sustainability
- strategies to reduce pesticide spray drift
- proper disposal of pesticides and other harmful chemicals
- proper disposal of trade waste
- biodegradable packaging options
- waste management and reduction
Government organisations
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Federal government organisations
State and territory government agencies
Government industry research
Further advice and assistance
Check our general business information for additional regulations and obligations relevant to your business.
For further advice and assistance, consider contacting your accountant, solicitor, business adviser or industry association.
