Working while you study in Australia can help complement your study and living experience. There are a number of reasons you might want to undertake part time work while studying in Australia, including assisting with living expenses and gaining work experience in your study area.
Part Time:
$ 15 + per hour
Can you work? :
Yes
What kind of work can you do?
Many companies hire international students with no questions asked, especially if you are looking at retail, hospitality, tourism, agriculture, and administration jobs. You could also get an apprenticeship with a tradesman, or you may even be able to find a job at the university that you are attending.
Work Rules for International Students
International students in Australia on a valid student visa can work for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and there is no limit on the number of hours an international student can work during recognized school vacations. A work week in Australia is considered to be Monday through the following Sunday. Although they are allowed to arrive in Australia up to 90 days before their course begins, students are not allowed to begin working until after their courses have begun.
The 20-hour-per-week limit does not extend to any work the student is required to undertake as a component of his or her studies or training.
Tax: In order to work in Australia, international students need to get a Tax File Number (TFN). Students who wish to work during their studies in Australia should first visit the Australian Taxation Office to get their TFN.
Working after graduation
Unlike in some other English-speaking countries, there is no automatic right associated with your student visa to stay on and work for a period of time in Australia after you complete your degree. When you receive your student visa, the government lets you in on basis of temporary entry for study with the understanding that you will leave upon completion of course and before the visa will expire. However, Australia continues to have demand for foreign workers, and students that have earned a degree in Australia have a special work visa category. There are also several other visa categories open to international students, and Australia has a very straightforward path to permanent residency using a point of systems. If you want to stay and work after you graduate, you must apply and obtain a work visa.
Here are a few of the categories of visa that are available:
485 Skilled Graduate Temporary Visa
This visa is the most common option available to international students after graduating. With a 485 visa, you are allowed to stay in Australia for 18 months to gain work experience only if you have just completed at least two years of study in Australia.
402 Training and Research Visa
Another option for international students, the 442 visa is for students to improve their work skills for up to two years while being sponsored by an employer.
487 Regional Sponsored Visa
This visa provides a pathway for permanent residency while allowing you to work for 3 years and work in a specialized regional area
887 Skilled Regional Residence Visa
The 887 visa awards you permanent residency and with this you can live and work in Australia permanently. You must have already lived in Australia for two years, have a year of work experience and have sufficient points.
885 Skilled Independent Residence Visa
The 885 visa allows you to live as a permanent resident and work without needing to be sponsored.
886 Skilled Sponsor Resident Visa
The 886 visa allows an overseas student to apply for permanent residency and work while being sponsored by an employer.
How to find a job?
Career Services
Your university will offer a range of career support services to students, including some for international students such as yourself. They will be able to help you with your job search, resume, and applications. You should also be able to attend workshops that focus on skills that will help you to improve your employability, such as interview and communication skills. Your university may also offer special career events, such as expos or lectures where you can hear from employers in your area of study.
Networking
Keeping in touch with your classmates and instructors may be vital in finding a job, especially if they have connections to a particular employer and can recommend you. This way you will be more likely to hear about employment opportunities and receive advice about working in your field. A good way to start networking is to join clubs and societies on campus that are related to your field; this will also help you to gain valuable skills such as effective communication, teamwork, and accountability.
Average Salary?
A$ 45, 000 – A$ 55, 000 per annum