Australian Clinical Labs
    (101 reviews)

    Company Reviews

    Working at Australian Clinical Labs

    1.9101 ratings in total
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    4
    8
    3
    10
    2
    19
    1
    57
    50%
    Rate salary as high or average
    20%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    2.2(100 ratings)
    Career development
    1.8(101 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    1.7(101 ratings)
    Management
    1.7(101 ratings)
    Working environment
    2.0(101 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    2.4(100 ratings)
    Ratings for Australian Clinical Labs are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

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    1.0
    Medical Scientist
    Feb 2026
    Geelong VIC 322020 to 21 years in the role, former employee
    No integrity, no quality, poor culture.
    The good thingsI am passionate about medical science, microbiology and molecular biology, so the opportunity to work in a team that can use those skills was fulfilling.
    The challengesACL management do not appropriately consider the risk of their procedures or change implementation on the patient at the end of the sample or the staff required to comply. The constraints put in place and “vision” for the future lack evidence and scientific validity, making the provision of quality results difficult. The company is constantly undergoing operational review, meaning staffing numbers are inadequate and analysers are not replaced or repaired in a timely way. If you raise concerns, managers place undue stress on staff and threaten more cuts. The environment is difficult to reconcile and the divergence of scientific practices from established evidence based standards challenge your ethics.
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Specimen Collector
    Sep 2025
    All Adelaide SA7 to 8 years in the role, current employee
    not enough hours to go around
    The good thingsColleges are very helpful and always try to be there to support.
    The challengesshifts (hours, shift changes without notifying staff, hours cut no reasons), no communication from upstairs problem is communication is non-existent and it’s all about $$$
    4 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Medical Scientist
    Sep 2025
    Osborne Park WA 601711 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    High stress working here! Don't do it.
    The good thingsCollegues striving to do their best for patient care
    The challengesPoor management overall. Lower management not supported to learn how to manage. Poor communication. Always understaffed. Underpaid.
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pathology Courier
    Jun 2025
    Murarrie QLD 4172Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Australian Clinical Labs is NOT the place you want to work.
    The good thingsI did not enjoy any of my time at Australian Clinical Labs.
    The challengesPoor management, lack of support & training and unapproachable leaders. There is a negative culture within the business and the management in the Brisbane region are not easy to deal with or work with.
    8 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Phlebotomist
    May 2025
    Warrnambool VIC 3280Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    My experience at Clinical Labs Warrnambool has been rewarding, with a strong emphasis on teamwork, supportive leadership, and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality patient care.
    The good thingsI’d like to acknowledge the supportive and positive environment at Clinical Labs Warrnambool. The team consistently fosters a culture of respect, teamwork, and open communication, which makes it a genuinely enjoyable and motivating place to work.
    The challengesBusy mornings but very rewarding at the end of the shift
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Medical Scientist
    Apr 2025
    Mildura & Murray VIC1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Supportive staff but the management and remuneration for work are not ideal
    The good thingsIt is easy to get along with staff. Gain good experience working in various disciplines.
    The challengesManagement is not as supportive of rural labs in accommodating their needs. The pay rate is not good for the amount of work.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Pathology Collector
    Apr 2025
    Mulgrave VIC 3170Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Stay Away From This Company
    The good thingsColleagues are extremely friendly & helpful
    The challengesToo many staff & not enough shifts to go round No room to progress Staff are overworked & underpaid Short staffed Difficult to get extra work Management don't care
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Laboratory Technician
    Mar 2025
    Clayton VIC 31683 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Depressing experience. Numbers and profit more important than staff and patients.
    The good thingsGood skill builder, genuinely amazing coworkers who make it not totally soul draining
    The challengesHorrid management that puts profits and numbers over staff welfare and patient care. Cost cutting leads to permanent understaffing and borderline exploitation. Staff morale is extremely low because we try our best to put patient care first without harming our own work life balance.
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Victoria Warehouse Administrator
    Feb 2025
    Clayton VIC 3168
    Big company that doesn’t pay great and hard to go anywhere up the ladder
    The good thingsCo-workers would probably be the only thing. Upper management didn’t care at all about anyone under them
    The challengesManagement changed when I was on mat leave. Upon returning I was told I couldn’t work the days I had been working for years. Pushed out in a really unprofessional manner all because new management was being across people they knew. No flexibility or appreciation, very self absorbed upper management.
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pathology Courier
    Jan 2025
    Adelaide Airport SA 59501 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Run Away! Do not Work Here!
    The good thingsThe few staff members who were friendly & supportive.
    The challengesManagement who have no regard for patient care or the employee's welbeing at the front line, profit driven company only. Ineffective Management.
    12 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Technical Assistant
    Jan 2025
    Adelaide Airport SA 59509 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    A soul draining experience
    The good thingsRelatively easy to get a foot in the door due to high turnover and low standards. That's great for people to get some experience and then move on to greener pastures.
    The challengesA complete lack of care for patients, clients and staff. Since they went on the stock market, every decision is centered on trying to extract value. This means low staff wages, high casual staff, lack of permanency options, lack of equipment, poor quality equipment, under trained and overworked staff, stressed managers given impossible tasks. Be prepared to be used until you are burnt out then tossed aside. Has the worst company culture I've ever seen, endorsed by the entrenched c-suite.
    19 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pathology Specimen Collector
    Jan 2025
    Melton VIC 3337current employee
    Worst company for poor management and mis treatment, underpaid, overworked and treated like an animal.
    The good thingsWork colleagues are amazing! All on the same sinking ship together.
    The challengesManagement favourites, poor treatment, compromising safety.
    13 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pathology Specimen Collector
    Nov 2024
    Bendigo VIC 3550
    Do Not Work Here
    The good thingsThe actual work was enjoyable and most patients were nice.
    The challengesHorrible management, favouritism, terrible pay, lack of resources, poor training, inflexible hours
    12 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Phlebotomist
    Nov 2024
    Geelong VIC 322011 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    "My experience has been disappointing due to a lack of growth opportunities, favoritism, and poor management. Communication is almost nonexistent, which leads to frequent confusion, and there’s little appreciation for hard work. The low pay—less than what many retail workers earn—only adds to the feeling of being undervalued, making it difficult to stay motivated."
    The good things"One of the best parts about working here is the incredible friendships I've formed. The team feels more like a family, and the support from colleagues makes every day enjoyable. It's the kind of environment where people truly care for each other, both professionally and personally. I've made friends for life here, and that sense of camaraderie has been invaluable."
    The challenges"Working here has been challenging due to constant cost-cutting measures that increase the workload on already stretched teams. Team leaders provide little support, and management struggles with organization, leaving us to deal with inefficiencies and added pressure without clear guidance. Overall, these issues make it difficult to stay engaged and productive."
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    medical scientist & lab manager
    Nov 2024
    Moorabbin VIC 31893 to 4 years in the role
    Toxic environment. Another private pathology company where money comes first and foremost before anything else
    The good thingsNot many. Meet some interesting colleagues and patients
    The challengesLack of support from upper management that prioritise money and profits over patients or staff wellbeing. Unprofessional, old equipment, lack of quality processes, no training, out of date management practices. Micromanage everything
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pathology
    Sep 2024
    Melbourne VIC 30001 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Wouldn’t recommend to anyone
    The good thingsFriendships made during time spent with company
    The challengesShort staffed all the time. Staff leave approved but no replacements to cover shifts Hiring incompetent staff and ignoring concerns regarding patient safety
    13 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Phlebotomist
    Aug 2024
    Perth WA 60003 to 4 years in the role, current employee
    Toxic work environment pay very low could get more working at Coles supermarket
    The good thingsOther staff are great
    The challengesCan barely afford to live on the wages
    11 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Phlebotomist
    Jun 2024
    All Perth WAformer employee
    I became disillusioned and sad that a health care company would care more about shareholders than their employees or patients.
    The good thingsWorking in one place and becoming familiar with regular patients
    The challengesMany rooms are small and cramped without proper facilities. Company would rather go to court than fix a workplace issue. You will be managed out of your job if you speak up.
    21 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Airport lab staff
    Jun 2024
    Adelaide SA 5000current employee
    Run forest run
    The good thingsMet some really good people that are now good friends
    The challengesUnengaged work environment that promotes high employees turnover due to poor management stewardship that manipulate their employees and doesn't provide growth opportunities and put them under pressure by overworking them with no recognition.
    17 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Laboratory Staff
    Jun 2024
    Adelaide Airport SA 5950
    Extremely disappointing company to work for.
    The good thingsMet some good friends.
    The challengesAbsolutely no career growth. Money is prioritised over quality. No empathy for employees. Promises of career progression are never met. Toxic work environment. Poor management.
    18 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Technical Officer
    May 2024
    Adelaide SA 5000
    Worst year of my life
    The good thingsLearnt a lot in my area quickly
    The challengesUncaring Manager, toxic work environment, profit driven, over worked employees. Quantity over quality.
    14 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Phlebotomist
    Mar 2024
    West Melbourne VIC 3003
    It's flexible. You can pick and choose where you want to work. Majority of the time it's a 4-5 hrs shift. No support from management team.
    The good thingsFlexible working arrangements if you're a casual.
    The challengesHard to find good shifts with good hours. Management isn't that great. Goes for both team leaders and area manager.
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pathology Specimen Collector
    Mar 2024
    Wagga Wagga NSW 2650Less than 1 year in the role
    Strongly dislike this company. No opportunities to grow or learn. Got bored very quickly
    The good thingsDriving alone and shift times as a parent
    The challengesManagement expected me to be on call every weekend, Became passive aggressive because I had a second job. Did barely any pathology skills was just a Courier job.. does not state that in the ad
    8 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Laboratory Technician
    Mar 2024
    Clayton VIC 31681 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    I do recommend working for ACL, especially if you happy with your manager, you,ll have a good time
    The good thingsI had a very good time there. if you get along with your co-workers you will get to enjoy and looking forward to go back to work tomorrow.
    The challengesThere was not and automated promotion there, for example a laboratory technician or scientist had to quit so that an opportunity became available for someone to move up the ladder
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Courier Driver
    Feb 2024
    Clayton VIC 3168
    Low morale, depressing work environment
    The good thingsNo one will bother you at work. Everyone keeps to themselves.
    The challengesWorked there for two years and was never offered a raise or promotion. Horrible work culture - the company doesn't care about its employees at all. The management are constantly understaffed as there's a revolving door or people who come and go, which means they constantly call you outside of working hours to fill shifts at the last minute. This is a dysfunctional and depressing place to work because you're just seen as a number and someone who will be replaced. Pay isn't very good either.
    8 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Laboratory worker
    Sep 2023
    Bendigo VIC 3550
    Easily the worst pathology service I’ve ever worked for and I have worked for private and public.
    The good thingsMost colleagues were genuinely trying to do their best and provide the best service possible.
    The challengesComplete disconnect between executive and operational management teams. Executive team with no knowledge of operational demands or process design. Their ONLY focus is short term cost minimisation. All operational recommendations about instrumentation, software improvements, staff training, reporting, etc are ignored if they are not IMMEDIATELY cost neutral or cheaper. No vision past monthly reporting cycle. Frontline workers are exposed to a high risk/workload environment and if anything goes you will be “thrown under the bus “. ACL is in a race to be the lowest cost pathology service through trying to establish what is minimum quality of service that passes accreditation and retains revenue (and doesn’t attract litigation). They are lowest paying in the profession (at least in Victoria). Incredible staff turnover rate throughput all levels of the company, except the very senior executives.
    30 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pathology Courier
    Aug 2023
    Bella Vista NSW 2153current employee
    Better not to work in this company especially to the courier department
    The good thingsNone, the management from courier side are helpless to their employees. Pretending they know how to manage but unfortunately no idea how run this department
    The challengesIt is hard to work to the management because they never look after what are the needs of their employees even you complain a simple issue they never help you
    15 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Administration Officer
    Jun 2023
    Clayton VIC 3168
    It’s a company that’s got all its priorities upside down. It’s money and “growth” first, people last.
    The good thingsThe cafes nearby the office
    The challengesBeing under appreciated, being seen as only a “cost centre” as said by an exec and poorly managed overall.
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Scientist
    Mar 2023
    current employee
    Unengaged workplace which overloads and depresses staff promoting a revolving door culture
    The good thingsPermanent contract Average pay
    The challengesWork/life balance Development opportunities don't exist Unorganised and uncaring workplace Understaffing in general (specifically during sick leave) Morale is so low management need to try and force people into coming to the Christmas party which staff need to pay for
    19 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Qualified Phlebotomist
    Feb 2023
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Management is terrible. A lot of oppression, hiring their friends without qualifications, talking down to employees, promises you work then doesn’t deliver.
    The good thingsThe people and the work
    The challengesSome collection centres are busy
    7 people found this helpful
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