Leslie Massey
Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation, is an Australian government-owned corporation that provides postal services throughout the country. The organisation has come a long way since its colonial beginnings in 1809, but how does it fare today? In recent years, Australia Post has faced challenges with mail performance, drawing criticism from the Prime Minister and public scrutiny over CEO salaries. While they've since returned to profit and undergone a major rebranding, questions remain about their delivery speeds and whether they're keeping up with the times. With a vast workforce of over 64,000, next-day delivery options, and a commitment to serving all Australian addresses, Australia Post strives to meet modern demands, but is it enough to keep up with customer expectations?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Corporation | Government-owned |
| Headquarters | Swan Street, Richmond, Victoria |
| Total workforce | 64,000+ |
| Full-time employees | 34,000+ |
| Percentage of employees with disabilities | 6.2% |
| Percentage of Indigenous employees | 3.0% |
| Percentage of female employees | 37.5% |
| Percentage of LGBTQIA+ employees | 3.6% |
| Percentage of employees from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds | 32% |
| Delivery options | Next-day delivery, Express Post, Standard, Economy |
| Delivery coverage | All addresses in Australia |
| Additional services | Online calculator for postage cost and delivery time, Domestic Parcels Delivery Estimator |
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What You'll Learn
Australia Post's history and predecessors
The history of Australia Post dates back to 1809, when Isaac Nichols, a former convict, was appointed Postmaster for New South Wales. Nichols used his own home on George Street in Sydney to sort mail collected from ships arriving in Sydney Harbour. Nichols' home soon became the first official Post Office. His main job was to take charge of letters and parcels arriving by ship, to avoid the chaos of people rushing aboard ships as soon as they arrived at Sydney's wharves. Nichols would pick up the mail and post a list of recipients outside his house. He would also advertise the names of those who received mail in the Sydney Gazette. Recipients paid a fixed price of one shilling per letter to collect mail from Nichols' home, with parcels costing more depending on their weight.
In 1812, Nichols created a postmark that read 'Sydney NSW', considered the precursor of the stamp in Australia. Between 1812 and 1842, postmasters were also appointed in Tasmania (1812), Western Australia (1829), Victoria (1836), South Australia (1837), and Queensland (1842). In 1857, a regular mail service to England commenced, with mail exchanged monthly between Sydney and Southampton. By 1880, the frequency of voyages had increased to weekly, with fortnightly services provided by P&O and its rival, the Orient shipping line.
Following federation in 1901, the colonial mail systems were merged into the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG), which was responsible for telegraph and domestic telephone operations, as well as postal mail. In 1914, an airmail service was introduced. In 1967, Australia introduced 4-digit postcodes and the world's first mechanical processing centre.
In 1975, the Postmaster-General's Department was split into two government trading commissions: Australia Post and Telecom Australia (now Telstra). Australia Post was established as a government-owned corporation, unifying postal services nationally. In 1989, it became the Australian Postal Corporation, corporatising into what is now known as Australia Post.
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Current postal coverage and delivery speeds
Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation, is an Australian Government-owned corporation that provides postal services throughout Australia. The first organisation of a postal service in Australia commenced in 1809 with the appointment of the first postmaster in Sydney, Isaac Nichols, an English ex-convict.
Today, Australia Post covers all addresses in Australia. The national next-business-day delivery network operates between capital cities (excluding Darwin; and for Perth, delivery into the CBD only) and some major centres. The actual delivery speed depends on where in each state/territory the item is being posted from/to, and the level of congestion in the delivery network at the relevant time. All delivery times are based on the number of business days items take to arrive following the day of posting.
Express Post next-business-day delivery is only available within the Express Post next-business-day delivery network. Depending on where you are posting from, Express Post next-business-day delivery may be available to specific postcodes within the same state or territory.
International deliveries are also available to over 220 destinations, with delivery estimates provided as a general guide. Items sent from South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory must travel interstate before departing Australia, adding 2 business days for Express items and 5 for Standard and Economy.
Australia Post also offers domestic freight solutions, including courier and sensitive shipping services, through StarTrack, a business of Australia Post.
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Australia Post's workforce and diversity
Australia Post has long acknowledged the importance of a diverse and inclusive workplace. The company believes that diverse perspectives drive innovation and better outcomes for its people, customers, and communities. Australia Post also recognizes the traditional owners of the land on which they operate and have a proud history of providing employment and career development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Australia Post has one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse workforces in Australia. The company aims to break down language and cultural barriers and provide career fulfillment by enhancing the skills and capabilities of its people. They are also members of the Australian Network on Disability and have successfully completed the Disability Confident Recruiter program. This program ensures an inclusive experience for candidates with disabilities, and the company also takes part in the RecruitAbility Scheme, which supports people with disabilities in securing jobs.
In terms of gender diversity, Australia Post's approach to gender equity involves creating meaningful opportunities and removing barriers so that all team members, regardless of gender, can thrive. The company also has a PostPride network of LGBTI+ employees and allies, which has grown to include many hundreds of people. This network has marched in Pride marches across Australia and participated in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day.
Australia Post also values its mature-aged workers, recognizing that older workers bring built-up knowledge and skills to the workforce, allowing them to view the business from a different perspective. The company offers parental leave and keeping-in-touch days to support new parents.
Overall, Australia Post embraces diversity and inclusion by supporting an inclusive environment in and out of the workplace. They encourage a workplace where people feel they belong and their unique contributions are valued. The company also works towards a barrier-free recruitment process, welcoming applications from everyone.
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International delivery times and destinations
Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation, is an Australian Government-owned corporation that provides postal services throughout Australia.
Australia Post provides estimated delivery times for over 220 international destinations and information on which destinations are currently accepting deliveries. The delivery estimates are a general guide, and actual delivery speed will depend on where in each state/territory the item is being posted from/to, and the level of congestion in the delivery network at the relevant time. All delivery times are based on the number of business days items take to arrive following the day of posting.
Items sent from South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory must travel interstate before departing Australia. You can factor this in by adding 2 business days for Express items and 5 business days for Standard and Economy items. All estimates are for sending between metro destinations – items sent to and from regional and rural locations will likely take longer.
You can use the online calculator to estimate the postage price and delivery time for your item or view the downloadable business postage guides.
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Australia Post's rebranding and performance
Australia Post, formally the Australian Postal Corporation and also known as AusPost, is an Australian Government-owned corporation that provides postal services throughout Australia. The first organisation of a postal service in Australia commenced in 1809 with the appointment of the first postmaster, Isaac Nichols, in Sydney.
In 1975, the Postmaster-General's Department was abolished, and its postal functions were taken over by the Australian Postal Commission. In 1989, the organisation's current name and structure were adopted when it was made into a government-owned corporation.
In 2015, Australia Post faced one of its most challenging periods due to the decline of mail, the rise of the digital economy, and the emergence of disruptive startups. This led to a major rebranding project in 2019, with the Melbourne-based brand strategy firm Maud. The project aimed to contemporise the brand and reposition Australia Post as the country's leading ecommerce company.
The rebranding resulted in a contemporary and flexible new identity system, with a dynamic logo, a fresh photography style, a new illustration style, an updated colour palette, and a new brand voice. The new identity upholds the trust and heritage of the brand while appealing to a wide range of audiences. The feedback from the rebranding has been overwhelmingly positive.
In terms of performance, Australia Post has demonstrated strong parcel and courier services, with a return to profit in 2017 through organisation restructuring. However, mail performance has reached an all-time low. Australia Post continues to adapt to the changing landscape, leveraging its physical network of over 4,400 post offices and expanding its digital capabilities with over 2 million registered users.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia Post, formerly the Australian Postal Corporation, is a government-owned corporation that provides postal services throughout Australia.
In February 2017, Australia Post's mail performance reached an all-time low.
Delivery times vary depending on the delivery speed chosen, the origin of the parcel, and its destination. Australia Post offers next-day delivery within the Express Post next-business-day delivery network.
Australia Post employs a workforce of more than 34,000 team members, with 6.2% of the workforce identifying as having a disability, 3.0% identifying as Indigenous, 37.5% being female, 3.6% identifying as LGBTQIA+, and 32% being from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
