Typical duties
- Receive deliveries and check them against the paperwork
- Unload goods by hand, pallet jack or forklift
- Put stock away in the correct bays and racking locations
- Pick and pack orders from pick slips or a scanner
- Count stock and report differences to a supervisor
- Load outbound vehicles and check despatch documents
- Keep aisles clear and the store tidy
- Follow manual handling and site safety rules
Skills, licences & tickets
- Forklift licence (High Risk Work Licence, LF class), often preferred
- Comfort with manual handling and a full shift on your feet
- Scanner and warehouse system use
- Accurate counting and basic data entry
- Steel-cap boots and hi-vis for site work
- Reliable attendance and punctuality
A storeperson receives, stores, picks and despatches goods in a warehouse, a factory store or a distribution centre. This storeperson job description explains what the work involves, what employers look for and what the role pays, so you can decide whether it suits you.
It is one of the most common entry points into warehousing and logistics in Melbourne. Many people start as a storeperson and move into forklift, leading hand or inventory roles.
What does a storeperson do?
The day follows the flow of stock. Deliveries come in, get checked and are put away. Orders come out, get picked, packed and loaded. In between, the storeperson counts stock and keeps the area safe and tidy.
Some sites run on handheld scanners and a warehouse system. Others still use paper pick slips. Either way, the job is to put the right goods in the right place and to flag anything that does not match the paperwork.
A typical shift
- Start with a safety briefing and a check of the day's inbound and outbound jobs.
- Unload and check deliveries, then put stock away.
- Pick, pack and stage orders for despatch.
- Count a section of stock and record any differences.
- Load trucks, then tidy the area before handover.
Skills and tickets employers look for
Employers want people who turn up on time, work safely and count carefully. A forklift licence is the ticket that most often separates one applicant from another. In Victoria, WorkSafe Victoria issues the high risk work licence for forklift operation.
If you hold any licences, keep a record of them. The licence and ticket tracker helps you list them in one place before you apply.
Pay, hours and employment types
Storeperson work is offered as casual, part-time, full-time and permanent roles. Warehouse pay is usually set by an award or an enterprise agreement, and the Storage Services and Wholesale Award summary shows the minimum conditions that commonly apply.
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the median full-time storeperson earned about $1,328 a week and $34 an hour in May 2025, based on ABS data in its storepersons occupation profile. Individual pay depends on the award, the shift pattern and your experience. Most awards add a 25 per cent loading for casual work, which is explained in the Fair Work guide to casual employment.
How to become a storeperson
You do not need a formal qualification to start. Employers usually want a clean work history, reliable transport, safe work habits and a willingness to learn the system. Gaining a forklift licence, and later a Certificate III in Warehousing Operations, opens up leading hand and inventory roles.
Related Resources
- Storeman resume template
- Warehousing and logistics recruitment in Melbourne
- Warehouse and factory interview preparation pack
- Licence and ticket tracker
- Storepersons occupation profile from Jobs and Skills Australia
- High risk work licence information from WorkSafe Victoria
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a forklift licence to work as a storeperson?
Not always. Many storeperson jobs involve hand picking and pallet jacks only. A forklift licence is often listed as preferred, and it gives you access to more roles and shifts.
What is the difference between a storeperson and a warehouse worker?
The titles overlap. Storeperson usually points to stock control, receiving and picking in a store or warehouse, while warehouse worker can also cover general labouring and packing tasks.
Is storeperson work physically demanding?
Yes. You will lift, carry, bend and stand for most of a shift. Employers expect you to follow manual handling rules and to ask for help with heavy or awkward loads.
Can a storeperson move into a leading hand role?
Yes. People who show accuracy, reliability and good communication are often promoted to leading hand or inventory control positions.
Accuracy Gets You Promoted
Storeperson work rewards people who count carefully, work safely and show up. If that sounds like you, browse current openings on the job board or submit your CV so recruiters can match you to warehouse roles.
