Employment
Employment contract templates for employees and contractors
Efficient, straightforward legal templates for hiring and managing staff
Running a small business, whether you are a solopreneur or a creative agency, means wearing many hats, but being a legal expert doesn't have to be one of them. Whether you’re hiring your first employee, managing a team of contractors or expanding your creative crew, our employee agreement templates for Australia-based businesses make the legal aspects effortless. You focus on what you do best (i.e. growing your business and fostering a creative environment) while we handle the complex legal details.
What’s included in our employment contract templates
Our employment contract templates help you set clear expectations before someone joins your team. Depending on the template you choose, you can cover key details like role responsibilities, hours, pay, confidentiality, intellectual property, workplace policies, termination and other practical terms that help everyone know where they stand.
They’re built for real hiring moments, from bringing on your first employee to adding casual support during a busy season or creating more structure as your creative crew grows. You also get practical guidance to help you customise your template with confidence, minus the legal fog.
Why entrepreneurs and creatives choose our employment and contractor templates
Our employment and contractor agreements offer more than just peace of mind. They ensure you’re legally covered and operationally efficient, allowing you more time to focus on what you love.
In today’s competitive landscape, managing a diverse team can seem as daunting as interpreting “legalese”. That’s why our templates and individual employment contracts are crafted to be as easy to use as they are effective. From casual hires to full-time staff, we’ve simplified the legal work, so you can integrate it seamlessly into your daily operations.
Employee vs contractor agreements: which template do you need?
Employees and contractors are treated differently under Australian law, so choosing the right agreement matters. An employee usually works within your business, follows your processes and may be entitled to minimum employment conditions. A contractor generally runs their own business and provides services under a commercial arrangement.
The right template depends on how the relationship works in practice, not just the title you give it. Getting this wrong can create legal and financial risks, including sham contracting concerns, so it is worth choosing carefully and getting advice from your lawyer if you’re unsure.
SUITABLE FOR VARIOUS INDUSTRIES
Our templates are versatile enough to be tailored to various industries. Here’s a glimpse of some of the employers using our templates!
- Design agencies
- Content agencies
- Social media agencies
- E-commerce businesses
- Course Creators
- Beauty Businesses
- Graphic Designers
- Photographers
- Coaches
- and so many more
Why lawyer-drafted employment contract templates matter
Free templates can look tempting, but they’re often generic, outdated or written for a different country, industry or business model. That’s not ideal when you are setting up a real working relationship with real expectations, real responsibilities and, yes, real legal consequences.
Our lawyer-drafted templates are created with Australian businesses in mind, including creative agencies, online founders, eCommerce brands, coaches and service providers. They’re designed to cover key terms while keeping the language clear and usable, so you’re not left copy-pasting mystery clauses from the internet and hoping for the best.
FAQs
Yes, an employment contract template can be legally binding in Australia when it’s properly completed, agreed to by both parties and meets the usual contract requirements. It still needs to comply with the National Employment Standards, any applicable award, enterprise agreement or other workplace laws.
Yes, in many cases, you can use the same employment contract template across different roles, with the specific duties, responsibilities and role details addressed in the schedule. However, the template should still be customised to suit the employee’s position, working arrangement and any relevant industry requirements.
If your business operates in a specific industry such as aesthetics, skin clinics or beauty, it may be more appropriate to use our industry-specific contract templates. Otherwise, you should review and tailor the template to make sure it reflects the role and your business needs.
Yes, our employee agreement templates for Australia-based businesses can be used for remote or online employees when tailored to the arrangement. Your contract should clearly cover duties, hours, work location, equipment, confidentiality, intellectual property and communication expectations.
No, you don’t always need a lawyer to use legal templates for employment, especially for straightforward hiring arrangements. Our templates are designed to be practical, plain English and easy to customise with guidance. Legal advice may be helpful if your setup is complex, award-covered, high-risk or you are unsure whether someone should be treated as an employee or contractor.
Foundd Legal’s templates are lawyer-drafted, in plain English and created for modern founders, creatives and online businesses. Our legal templates for contractors and employees come with practical guidance and walkthroughs, so you can understand what you are sending before you hit "Send".
READY TO GROW YOUR TEAM?
Navigating the legal landscape can often seem daunting, especially when you're focused on driving creative and business growth. Whether you're a small startup, an independent freelancer or a bustling creative agency, having the right legal frameworks in place is crucial to ensuring smooth operations and protecting your innovative efforts.
At Foundd Legal, we understand that growing your team is a major step in scaling your creative business. That’s why we offer a collection of legal templates designed to ease the transition and support your expansion. From nurturing emerging talent with intern agreements to enhancing project capabilities through subcontractor agreements and even providing flexible staffing solutions with casual employment contracts.
Discover how our legal documents can help streamline your operations, protect your creative assets and foster your business’s growth.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT TEMPLATE (FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME)
As you're gearing up to expand your dream team, you’ve got no time to sweat the small stuff, like drafting up that perfect Employment Agreement for your newest team member. No worries, because we've got your back with our Employment Agreement Template! It's your one-stop solution for setting clear expectations, defining those all-important employee rights and duties and safeguarding your business's interests, now and in the future. Just fill in the specifics and you're all set for a smooth, stress-free welcome for your latest hire. Let's make your business thrive together!
Note: This is a general template and may not encompass all unique aspects or specific needs of your particular situation, so ensure to review and customise to suit your specific needs and requirements.
NURTURE EMERGING TALENT WITH OUR INTERN AGREEMENT
Assist in cultivating new skills while protecting your intellectual property with our Intern Agreement Template. This template clearly outlines the educational goals and responsibilities of both the intern and your business, ensuring a productive and legally compliant experience. Equip your interns with the knowledge they need to succeed while securing your intellectual property.
Note: This is a general template and may not encompass all unique aspects or specific needs of your particular situation, so ensure to review and customise to suit your specific needs and requirements.
ENHANCE YOUR STAFFING FLEXIBILITY WITH OUR CASUAL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Adaptability in staffing is crucial in the fast-paced creative sectors. Our Casual Employment Agreement Template is ideal for businesses seeking temporary or part-time staff. It specifies work terms clearly, protecting both you and your casual employees, simplifying the hiring process and ensuring compliance, allowing you to focus more on creativity and less on administrative tasks.
Note: This is a general template and may not encompass all unique aspects or specific needs of your particular situation, so ensure to review and customise to suit your specific needs and requirements.
BOOST YOUR CREATIVE CAPABILITIES WITH OUR SUBCONTRACTOR AGREEMENT
When project demands exceed your in-house capacity, our Subcontractor Agreement Template comes to the rescue. Ensure that your subcontracted talent meets your business’s quality standards and deadlines, integrating their efforts seamlessly into your projects. Secure and professional, this template allows you to confidently outsource creative tasks without compromising on quality or legal security.
Note: This is a general template and may not encompass all unique aspects or specific needs of your particular situation, so ensure to review and customise to suit your specific needs and requirements.
FLEXIBLE EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS WITH OUR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT TEMPLATE
Looking to grow your team without the fixed overhead of full-time hires? Our Independent Contractor Agreement Template provides a flexible framework for collaborating with freelancers and specialists across all creative fields. Whether you need support in marketing, design or any other area, this template ensures clear roles and responsibilities, setting the stage for successful collaborations that help scale your diverse business.
Note: This is a general template and may not encompass all unique aspects or specific needs of your particular situation, so ensure to review and customise to suit your specific needs and requirements.
Nurture Emerging Talent with Our Intern Agreement
Assist in cultivating new skills while protecting your intellectual property with our Intern Agreement Template. This template clearly outlines the educational goals and responsibilities of both the intern and your business, ensuring a productive and legally compliant experience. Equip your interns with the knowledge they need to succeed while securing your intellectual property.
IMPT: This is a general template and may not encompass all unique aspects or specific needs of your particular situation, so ensure to review and customise to suit your specific needs and requirements.
INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS, LEGAL TEMPLATES FOR EMPLOYMENT, LEGAL TEMPLATES FOR CONTRACTORS AND MORE
Need legal solutions for your business with the right legal contracts? Explore your options in three simple ways:
Take our quiz: Identify which contracts and templates align best with your business’s operations.
Chat with us: Click the chat button for assistance.
ook a call: Not sure which template is right or want a hand setting it up? Book a quick call, and we'll point you the right way.
Secure the creative and legal aspects of your business from the ground up.
