Australia was one of the first OECD countries to introduce market mechanisms into its employment services. Since the introduction of Job Network in 1998, employment services are mainly delivered by providers from the private and community sector. This radical transformation of employment services is without parallel in OECD countries, and it shows that the delivery of publicly-financed employment services by private and community providers is a viable option. The main purpose of this article is intending to explore the post-war evolution of Australian employment promotion policy. This article does not present a comprehensive analysis of employment policy but rather uses particular issues and historical periods as the basis for exploring broader debates. While the current employment promotion policy framework has drawn on earlier initiatives, it has also advanced certain initiatives more fully (e.g. contestability and activation of benefit measures). Moreover, it has introduced innovations (e.g. establishment of Centrelink as the main point of jobseekers for both income support and employment assistance). These changes were accomplished while spending on labour market programmes was substantially reduced. However, the present employment system in Australia has its some problems. Its development trend will identify reform ways of enhancing the future performance of the Job Network, Work or the Dole and other existing labour market programmes. Indeed, the Australian experience can offer some lessons for policy-making in Taiwan society, but it is necessary to consider that different societies have their various applicabilities .