Postal processing centres are large hubs where huge quantities of mail arrive to be sorted, inspected, and sent on to their final destination. There are lots of different people responsible for making sure your mail is delivered on time, including mail sorters, delivery drivers, logistics managers, customer support workers, engineers, and more.
Here are some things you can expect when working at a postal processing centre:
- Lots of teamwork – in most roles you’ll be working closely with other people.
- An organised environment – organisation and efficiency are two key skills that any worker in a postal processing centre should have.
- They can be very busy – millions of letters and parcels are sent around the world every day, so there’s always work to do.
Key Outcome – sort and send mail to its destination
The main focus of postal processing centres is to sort and process incoming mail so that it gets to its destination safely and on time.
Key Tasks –
- Inspect and sort incoming mail
- Maintain efficient and safe processes
- Keep machinery up and running
- Answer queries and investigate complaints
Industry – you can find postal processing centres in the logistics and transport industry
Postal processing centres are found in the logistics and transport industry. Some of them are run by government (such as Australia Post), while others are privately owned postal and logistics companies.
Work Environment
You can expect shift work and on-site work
Shift work | Work on-site | Jobs in all locations, including metro, regional, and rural | Moderate job growth
Because postal processing centres are generally open all the time, they need people to cover shifts from early mornings to late nights. Many workers might find that their schedules are different each week, depending on demand. Particularly when the postal service is very busy, such as around Christmas time, you might need to work extra hours.
For most people in postal processing centres, work either must be done on-site, or is easier to do on-site. Opportunities for remote work are limited, but certainly possible in some roles.
There are postal processing centres all across the country, but the biggest and busiest are in capital cities and large regional hubs, so it can be easier to find work in these locations.
The Career Clusters you’ll find in a postal processing centre
People from all Clusters are needed for a postal processing centre to run effectively, but the most common Clusters you’ll find are Makers and Coordinators.