Returnships: the re-entry path more Australian companies are offering

If you have taken time out of the workforce to care for a family member, manage your own health, travel, or simply step back from a demanding career, getting back in can feel daunting. The gap on your CV attracts questions. Your confidence may have taken a knock. The job market feels like it has moved on without you.

Returnships are designed for exactly this situation and they are becoming more common in Australia.

What is a returnship?

A returnship is a structured re-entry program, typically offered by a larger employer, that provides a paid placement — usually 12 to 26 weeks — for professionals returning to work after a career break of two or more years. Think of it as an internship designed for experienced professionals, not graduates.

During a returnship, participants are typically placed in a team relevant to their background, paired with a mentor, given real work to do, and assessed over the course of the programme. Many returnships convert to permanent roles — the employer is, in effect, trialling a hire with lower risk on both sides.

Who offers returnships in Australia?

Returnship programs in Australia are growing but not yet as widespread as in the United States or United Kingdom, where they have been common for over a decade. Australian organisations that have run formal programs or expressed public commitment to return-to-work pathways include:

• ANZ Bank — has offered return-to-work programs targeting professionals with career breaks of two or more years
• Telstra — has included career re-entry pathways in its broader diversity and inclusion commitments
• NSW Public Service Commission — the public sector has been among the more active adopters of flexible re-entry pathways in Australia
• A number of professional services firms including Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC have run programs — check their careers pages directly for current offerings

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency tracks employer practices around flexible work and career re-entry — its employer database is a useful research tool for identifying organisations with genuine commitments in this area.

How to find and apply

Returnship programs are not always advertised prominently. Some are listed on careers pages under “experienced hire” or “diversity programs” rather than as a standalone category. Searching for “return to work program” or “career re-entry” on employer websites and LinkedIn is often more effective than searching job boards.

When applying, be direct about your career break. Employers running returnship programs are specifically looking for candidates with gaps — trying to minimise or explain away the break undermines the very thing that makes you eligible. Frame the break honestly, focus on what you maintained during it (skills, networks, industry knowledge), and be clear about why you are ready to return now.

If a formal returnship does not exist

Not every employer has a formal program. That does not mean re-entry is impossible, it means you may need to create your own pathway.

Some approaches that have worked for others:

• Approach a former employer about a project-based engagement before committing to a permanent role — this gives both sides a low-risk way to test the re-entry
• Look for volunteer or pro bono opportunities in your field that can refresh your skills and recent experience on your CV
• Consider short courses or micro-credentials to address any technical gaps not because your experience is insufficient, but because it signals current engagement with your field
• LinkedIn Learning and TAFE Digital both offer flexible, affordable options for updating specific skills

A career break is not a gap. It is a period of your life. The employers worth working for will understand that — and the returnship model exists precisely because more organisations are coming to recognise it.

Support during the process

If you are navigating a return to work after a significant break, a career coach who specialises in the 50+ transition can be genuinely valuable — both for the practical elements (CV, interview preparation) and for the confidence piece. Find one through the Next50 Expert directory.