How do I become a freelance writer
Get qualified to work as a freelance writer with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Freelance Writer.
Common questions
There are no clear salary figures for Freelance Writers in Australia at this time. Freelancing is a popular side-hustle for students and new graduates who need some extra cash.
Courses.com.au Team
There are no clear employment figures for Freelance Writers working in Australia at this time. Many freelance writers have their own writing business but some are employed (or hired out) by advertising agencies and digital marketing companies.
Courses.com.au Team
While you don’t need a specialist qualification to become a Freelance Writer, you should definitely consider the Certificate IV or Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing. Both of these courses will teach you how to write professional-level content for a range of media, including the finer points of document construction, proofreading, and editing. If you want to work with an advertising agency or undertake corporate assignments, you will need a Bachelor of Communications, Bachelor of Journalism, or Bachelor of Marketing. To launch your career as a Freelance Writer, create a portfolio of your published writing to give to prospective clients and/or a writer’s website to advertise your services.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
Courses.com.au Team
Further reading
Career spotlight: Advertising and marketing professionals
2nd October 2019
Jobs for mums returning to work
1st June 2021Freelance Writer careers
Freelance Writers are writing professionals who work on their own terms for a range of business clients and/or media outlets. They are usually self-employed and write to a project brief, completing individual assignments within their chosen niche or speciality area — advertising and marketing copy, magazine articles, web content and blogs, business documents, technical and scientific writing, training materials, and more.
As a freelance writer you coud be pitching a story idea to the editor of a magazine, sending a copywriting quote to a prospective client, carrying out online research for a technical eBook, writing a blog post, proofreading and editing a piece of finished copy, signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before commencing a writing assignment for a corporate business, or just working on that novel you swear you’ll finish one day.
To be successful in this career you will need outstanding writing skills and be highly organised (with the ability to manage your own small business). If you want to specialise in web content writing, you’ll also need an up-to-date knowledge of Search Engine Optimisation.
