Do I have enough work experience for master's programs in Australia with my 5 years of full-time work experience?

Whether 5 years helps or is simply unnecessary depends entirely on which type of Australian master's you are targeting, since general coursework programs and MBA-style programs treat work experience very differently.

General Master's Programs

For most standard master's-by-coursework programs, such as IT, engineering or data science, Australian universities primarily require a relevant bachelor's degree. The University of Melbourne, for example, states its general master's-by-coursework entry requires an undergraduate degree or equivalent, with work experience being optional or simply a factor that can strengthen an application rather than a hard requirement.

MBA and Executive MBA Programs

Your 5 years meets or is close to the threshold at all three, though ANU and RMIT specifically ask for management or leadership experience within those years, not simply 5 years in any role.

A Visa Consideration Worth Knowing

Your work history is not automatically a problem for the student visa either. Under Australia's current Genuine Student requirement, the Department of Home Affairs actually reviews your employment and economic circumstances, why you chose the specific course and provider, and how the course connects to your future plans, which experienced applicants can generally support with payslips, contracts and a CV.

My Advice

If you are targeting a general master's, do not worry about your experience at all, focus on meeting the academic and English requirements instead. If you want an MBA or Executive MBA, check whether the program specifically requires management experience within your 5 years, not just total years worked, since ANU and RMIT both ask for that distinction explicitly in their entry criteria.