Payroll Trainee

Central Highlands Regional Council; Emerald; On-site; AUD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave with 17.5% LEA

Fortnightly RDOs

Full uniform allocation

Payroll deductions and salary-sacrific

Wages paid fortnightly

Employee Assistance Program

Fitness Passport benefits

Job summary

Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) is seeking a motivated payroll trainee to gain full-time, paid work while working toward a Certificate III in Business. You’ll learn payroll processing, employee records, reporting, and customer service in a hands-on, supportive environment.

Join CHRC’s payroll team and develop practical workplace skills, with structured training and mentoring to build a career in payroll, administration, and business services close to home in Emerald, QLD.

Qualifications

• Trainee will gain hands-on payroll experience.
• Be enrolled in or working toward a Certificate III in Business.
• Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Reliable team player with good communication.
• Willingness to learn and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Assist with payroll processing and entering timesheet data.
• Learn wage calculations, overtime, allowances, and deductions.
• Support payroll compliance activities, including superannuation and tax.
• Assist with leave processing and maintain accurate employee records.
• Create and update employee information in payroll systems.
• Respond to payroll inquiries with customer-focused service.
• Liaise with Payroll, HR, Recruitment and Injury Management teams.
• Assist with payroll reporting, reconciliations and audits.

Skills

Basic computer literacy

Attention to detail

Numerical skills

Written & verbal communication

Confidentiality

Teamwork

Willingness to learn

Education

Certificate III in Business

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Central Highlands Regional Council – Emerald QLD

Work Type: Maximum Term Full Time - 12 Months

Directorate: Corporate Services

Award & Salary: In accordance with relevant industrial agreements, including the applicable Award, Order or Certified Agreement

Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) is seeking a motivated, reliable, and eager-to-learn trainee to join our payroll team. This is an exciting opportunity to gain full-time, paid work while working towards a Certificate III in Business.

As a trainee, you'll gain hands‑on experience supporting CHRC’s Payroll team through a range of payroll and administrative tasks, including payroll processing, employee record management, reporting, and customer service. This hands‑on experience, combined with formal training, will provide you with valuable skills, knowledge, and practical workplace experience to build a successful career in payroll, administration, and business services.

What you’ll bring

• A positive attitude and genuine willingness to learn
• A reliable approach to teamwork, with a focus on following instructions
• Basic computer literacy and confidence using Microsoft Office applications
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Good numerical and problem‑solving skills
• Sound written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately
• Teamwork skills and the capacity to contribute to an office‑based environment
• A commitment to completing a Certificate III in Business

Please note: Although a current driver's licence is not mandatory for this role, you must ensure that you have a reliable means of transportation to and from work.

What you'll be doing

• Assisting with payroll processing, including collecting, checking, and entering timesheet information
• Learning how to calculate wages, overtime, allowances, and other payroll‑related payments
• Supporting payroll compliance activities, including superannuation, taxation, and statutory deductions
• Assisting with leave processing and maintaining accurate employee records
• Creating and updating employee information within payroll systems, including onboarding and employment changes
• Responding to employee payroll enquiries and providing customer‑focused support
• Liaising with Payroll, Human Resources, Recruitment, and Injury Management teams as required
• Assisting with payroll reporting, reconciliations, and audit preparation

Why work for Central Highlands Regional Council?

At CHRC, we're committed to creating opportunities for the next generation of skilled workers. As the winner of the 2022 and 2024 Regional Queensland Training Awards – Large Employer of the Year, as well as producing the 2022 Apprentice of the Year and 2023 Equity Student of the Year, we have a proven track record of supporting apprentices and trainees to achieve their career goals.

At CHRC, there’s a rewarding path and an incredible future waiting for you. Through hands‑on experience, structured training, and supportive mentoring, you'll have the opportunity to develop valuable skills, gain a nationally recognised qualification, and build a rewarding career close to home.

We also offer great benefits including:

• Five weeks annual leave with 17.5% leave loading
• Fortnightly RDO’s
• Full uniform allocation
• Payroll deductions and salary sacrifice options
• Wages paid fortnightly
• Employee Assistance Program
• Fitness Passport member benefits

To be eligible for this traineeship, you must:

• Be at least 15 years of age and no longer at school
• Meet citizen, residency, and visa requirements to undertake a traineeship
• Not hold a qualification equal to or higher than the traineeship qualification in the same field

Where trainee positions are funded through government initiatives, they may be subject to additional eligibility requirements. We strongly encourage applications from the following groups:

• Young people (aged 15–24 years, including those in and transitioned from out-of-home care)
• Long-term unemployed job seekers
• Mature-age job seekers (aged 45 years or older)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Migrants and refugees
• People with disability
• Displaced workers
• Women re-entering the workforce
• Veterans and ex-service personnel and their families

Applications close: Monday 19th October 2026 at 8am.