Few stories of Australian business success start with a $2,600 bet placed by a woman who had just arrived from Italy, but Sarina Russo’s does. The company she founded in 1979 now operates as a central employment services provider across Queensland and NSW, helping thousands of job seekers connect with employers through government-funded programs.
Founded: 1979 with $2,600 ·
Founder: Sarina Russo AM ·
Services: Apprenticeships, employment placement, self-employment assistance ·
Contact: 13 15 59 ·
Locations: Brisbane, Toowoomba, Warwick, Maryborough, Melton, Camden and others
Quick snapshot
- Founded in 1979 by Sarina Russo AM with $2,600 (Sarina Russo official site)
- Listed inductee in the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame (Sarina Russo official site) (Sarina Russo official site)
- Contact number 13 15 59, Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:00pm (Sarina Russo official site) (Sarina Russo official site)
- Sarina Russo’s exact age is not recorded in official public filings
- Her net worth and personal email address are not disclosed
- Standard commercial placement fees beyond government contracts are not published
- 1979: Company founded with $2,600 (Sarina Russo official site) (Department of Employment and Workplace Relations)
- 1980s–1990s: National expansion into employment services (Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame induction biography) (Department of Employment and Workplace Relations)
- 4 July 2022: Workforce Australia replaces jobactive system (Department of Employment and Workplace Relations)
- Always verify contract terms before signing with any agency
- Check the Department of Employment data for provider performance
- Use free government-contracted services first if eligible
Seven public entries from the company profile, one editorial read: the official record keeps a tight boundary around the personal.
| Field | Details from official records |
|---|---|
| Company | Sarina Russo Group |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Sarina Russo AM |
| Headquarters | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Phone | 13 15 59 |
| Website | www.sarinarusso.com.au |
| Key program | Self-Employment Assistance |
How old is Sarina Russo?
Sarina Russo was born in Castiglione, Italy, and founded the company in 1979. Her exact age is not listed in official company records or her biography in the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
When a founder’s age is absent from official bios and public registries, it’s usually a calculated privacy choice rather than an oversight. The focus remains squarely on the company’s story, not the founder’s chronology.
The implication: Sarina Russo’s brand is built on her business track record, not personal details—a deliberate framing that keeps public attention on the enterprise she built.
What is an employment services provider in Australia?
Employment services providers are organisations contracted by the Australian Government to help job seekers find work. Workforce Australia replaced the previous jobactive system on 4 July 2022. Providers like Sarina Russo Group deliver services including training referrals, resume writing, interview preparation and post-placement support in specific geographic regions.
- Services are funded through government contracts, paid when a job seeker is placed into work and stays there for a minimum period, typically 26 weeks.
- Sarina Russo Group holds contracts covering regions in Queensland and NSW, including Brisbane, Logan and western Sydney.
According to the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, between April 2025 and March 2026, 78.8% of Workforce Australia Services participants surveyed were satisfied or very satisfied with overall service quality. A further 73.1% felt that working with their provider improved their chances of getting a job. For the Transition to Work stream, 84.3% were satisfied and 81.7% reported improved job chances.
Providers are judged on participant satisfaction, yet their revenue depends on placement speed. The system pays for outcomes but surveys ask about quality. This tension explains why a single provider can attract both high complaints and high satisfaction scores simultaneously.
The pattern: government-contracted providers like Sarina Russo face a delicate balancing act—maximising placements while maintaining satisfaction scores above 78%. The DEWR Annual Report recorded 8,320 complaints about employment services in 2024–25, indicating that while satisfaction benchmarks are met at scale, friction exists at ground level.
Is it worth using a recruitment agency?
The answer depends on whether you are a job seeker looking for free, supported entry into the workforce, or an employer trying to fill a vacancy efficiently.
Pros of using a recruitment agency
- Saves time by leveraging the agency’s existing network of job openings and employer relationships
- Access to the hidden job market—many roles are filled through agencies before being publicly advertised
- Usually free for job seekers, especially when the agency is a government-contracted provider like Sarina Russo Group
Cons of using a recruitment agency
- Agencies may prioritise the employer’s needs over the job seeker’s long-term career goals
- Limited control over which specific jobs you are put forward for—your consultant chooses what to send you
- Commission fees paid by the employer can reduce the salary package they are willing to offer you
- Some agencies primarily place candidates into temporary or contract work, which may not align with your permanent employment goals
If an agency asks you to pay upfront for job placement services in Australia, that is a red flag. Legitimate government-contracted providers like Sarina Russo do not charge job seekers. The Sarina Russo official site confirms its Job Access employment services are no-cost for both job seekers and employers.
The trade-off: free access to a government-contracted agency often beats a commercial recruiter for cost, but your choice of roles may be shaped by the provider’s funding targets rather than your personal ideal fit.
What are the drawbacks of using a hiring agency?
Common drawbacks
- Misaligned incentives: The agency’s primary customer is the employer who pays the fee, not the job seeker. This can mean your interests come second.
- Limited control: You rely on the consultant to present you for suitable roles. If their understanding of your skills is shallow, you may miss relevant opportunities.
- Contract terms: Some agencies require exclusivity clauses or impose penalties if you leave a role within a certain period.
- Placement type: Many agency roles are temporary or contract based, which might not suit someone looking for stable, long-term employment.
How to identify a trustworthy agency
- Check that the agency is listed on the Workforce Australia provider register or accredited with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
- Read the service agreement carefully before signing. Confirm who pays whom and whether any fees apply to you.
- Ask for a clear explanation of their complaints process and how your personal information will be handled.
- Red flags: upfront fees, pressure to sign immediately, promises of a guaranteed job, reluctance to disclose their fee structure in writing.
The catch: even a reputable agency operates on commission. Understanding their payment model tells you whose interests they are designed to serve first.
How much do recruitment agencies charge in Australia?
Typical fees for employers
- Commercial agencies typically charge a percentage of the placed candidate’s first-year annual salary. This fee can reach up to 30% for specialised or executive roles.
- Some agencies charge a retainer fee paid upfront, with a completion fee when the role is filled.
- The Sarina Russo official site states that its Job Access employment services provide no-cost recruitment to businesses, but does not publish a standard percentage or retainer schedule for every scenario.
Typical fees for job seekers
- In Australia, job seekers generally do not pay recruitment agencies. The fee is paid by the employer who hires the candidate.
- Government-funded providers such as Sarina Russo Group are free to both job seekers and employers because the Australian Government pays the provider for each successful placement outcome.
- The absence of a published fee schedule does not automatically mean every Sarina Russo service or commercial arrangement is free of cost—contract-specific terms require direct confirmation.
A “no-cost recruitment” promise applies to Sarina Russo’s government-funded arm, but any commercial division the company operates might follow different terms. Always verify which entity signs your contract and what fees, if any, apply.
Why this matters: the only truly transparent price in Australian employment services is the one set by the government—zero for the job seeker, subsidised by the taxpayer. Commercial fees, by contrast, are negotiated privately and vary widely.
Sarina Russo Group timeline
- 1979: Sarina Russo founds the company with $2,600 in savings after arriving from Castiglione, Italy (Sarina Russo official site)
- 1980s–1990s: Expansion into employment services and apprenticeship placement across Queensland (Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame induction biography)
- 2000s: National growth with multiple office locations including Brisbane, Toowoomba, Warwick, Maryborough, Melton and Camden (Sarina Russo official site)
- Recent: Sarina Russo AM inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame (Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame)
The pattern: if you wonder how an immigrant entrepreneur competes with publicly-listed job agencies, a slow, bootstrap-funded growth strategy combined with government contracting is the answer.
What we know vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Sarina Russo AM founded the company in 1979 (Sarina Russo official site)
- Company offers a Self-Employment Assistance program (Sarina Russo official site)
- Contact number is 13 15 59 (Sarina Russo official site)
- Publicly listed offices in Brisbane, Camden, Toowoomba, Melbourne, Maryborough, Warwick (Sarina Russo official site)
What’s unclear
- Exact age of Sarina Russo is not published on official records
- Personal email address of Sarina Russo is not disclosed
- Sarina Russo’s partner is not identified in public filings
- Sarina Russo’s net worth is not publicly documented
The consistent boundary: official records prioritise business credentials over personal biography, a deliberate pattern observed across all public entries.
What the sources say
“Sarina Russo arrived in Australia with $2,600 and a determination to build a business that would help others find their footing in the workforce.”
— Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame (induction biography)
“Our Self-Employment Assistance program is a proven pathway for those who want to be their own boss, combining business mentoring with government income support while the business is established.”
— Sarina Russo official website
The convergence: both the institutional hall of fame citation and the company’s own website align on the story of a bootstrap founder and a self-employment pathway.
The takeaway for job seekers and employers
Sarina Russo Group occupies a specific and valuable niche: a government-contracted employment services provider that is free to both job seekers and employers for its core offerings. For anyone searching for a job in Australia’s Workforce Australia system, the practical decision is clear: use a government-contracted provider for free, skilled placement support, but keep a close eye on the complaints data and your own progress report against the 78% satisfaction benchmark. For employers, no-cost recruitment is available through the Job Access program, but verifying the absence of hidden placement fees in any commercial arrangement requires a direct contract review before signing.
dewr.gov.au, dewr.gov.au, wwwa.org.au, dewr.gov.au, aph.gov.au
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest job to find in Australia?
Labour hire, retail, hospitality and aged care consistently show the highest turnover and most frequent entry-level vacancies. The “easiest” job depends on your location, existing skills and transport access.
What are red flags for recruiters?
Upfront fees, guaranteed job promises, pressure to sign immediately, lack of a physical office address, and unwillingness to disclose who pays their fee are all warning signs. Legitimate government-contracted providers like Sarina Russo do not charge job seekers.
What happens if you get a job through a recruitment agency?
The agency receives a commission from the employer, typically a percentage of your first-year salary. Your pay is negotiated directly with the employer. The agency does not take money from your wages in standard ethical arrangements.
What not to say to a recruiter?
Avoid badmouthing previous employers, exaggerating your skills, or being vague about salary expectations. Recruiters need honest, specific information to match you to suitable roles.
What is the hardest month to get hired?
December and January are typically the slowest hiring months due to the holiday season and summer shutdowns in many industries. Winter months can also be slower for outdoor and trade roles.
How do I contact Sarina Russo Brisbane office?
You can call 13 15 59 Monday to Friday 8:30am–5:00pm, or visit the Sarina Russo website for the specific Brisbane office address and email contact form.
What is Sarina Russo Apprenticeships?
Sarina Russo Apprenticeships is a program that helps place people into apprenticeship and traineeship positions. It supports both the apprentice and the employer through the sign-up process and provides ongoing mentoring throughout the training contract.
The value: these questions address common practical concerns, helping job seekers and employers navigate recruitment services with clear red flags and expectations.
Related reading: See our guide on Australian Visa Processing Times: 2026 Updates and Oyster Farmers: Salary, Costs, Safety, and Farming in Australia for additional context on Australian workforce participation.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.