Can You Be Fired for Job Searching in Australia?

Technically, no, not on its own, especially if you worked long enough to be covered by unfair dismissal protections, or were fired for a prohibited reason (e.g. after exercising leave or raising a complaint), then you can’t legally be fired just for looking for another job.

Job hunting on your own time, using your own resources, and without breaching your contract isn’t misconduct. Applying for other jobs is not a valid reason on its own for dismissal, but employers often act pre-emptively when trust breaks down. If they find out you’re job hunting, they might decide to let you go, but if you come under the unfair dismissal laws, then they would need a valid reason and provide procedural fairness throughout the process.

If you’re dismissed after doing something protected—like taking leave to attend interviews or asking about your entitlements—you may have a general protections claim. In those cases, the burden shifts to your employer to prove that your dismissal wasn’t connected to that reason.

Contracts can also play a role. Some include clauses about outside work, conflict of interest, or confidentiality—especially in senior roles. But these must be clearly written, and simply job searching is rarely enough to justify dismissal on its own.

The safest option is to keep your job search private. Use your own time and devices. Don’t list managers as referees without asking. Avoid negative remarks about your employer. And if you're dismissed during this period, especially after exercising a right, it’s worth getting advice—because it might not just feel unfair, it might be unlawful.