Australia: Work Permissions on Student Visa

Australia is a famous study abroad destination for international Students across the world. An internationally acclaimed quality education system is one of the many attractions. The education is cheaper in comparison to USA and UK (top choice for students planning to study abroad). The country offers more than just permission to work while studying in Australia. Before deciding to go to study masters in Australia, students should also understand the visa conditions regarding work in Australia.

Work Permissions on Student Visa

Students going to Australia under Visa Subclass 500 are eligible to work for up to 40 hours in a fortnight while the course is in Session and for unlimited hours when the course is not in session (during breaks).

Also, a fortnight refers to a period of 14 days starting on a Monday and ending on the Sunday of the following week. The hours can be divided as per student’s convenience. For example, a student may work for 10 hours in week one and 30 hours in week 2 or 15 and 25 hours respectively. Students must, however, note that in the above example, if the student works for 30 hours in week 2, then he/she can only work for 10 hours in the following week or else the condition of 40 hours in a fortnight would be breached – which in turn can lead to cancellation of Visas. Ideally, a student looking for continuous part-time work must limit their working to about 20 hours a week.

A few things to remember:

Students cannot work until the session begins. For example, if your course begins from January 2020 then you cannot take up employment till your session begins that is in January. In case work is a normal part of the curriculum of the course you are enrolled for then this limit does not apply. This is usually considered in case of compulsory internships of integrated courses.

Also, students that fall under the Post Graduate Research Sector can work for unlimited hours when the research work or doctoral thesis begins. Also, in case there are any preliminary courses that the student has enrolled into, the student is eligible to work as per the 40 hours per fortnight rule mentioned above.

Students completing the Australia Study Visa Requirements can apply for a Post Study Work Visa. However, students enrolled in an ELICOS cannot apply for a Post Study Work Permit for Australia.

What laws apply to International Student for working while studying?

The Australian government allows all the students the same privilege when it relates to working while studying. As such you have the right to

·         Minimum wage as specified under the Fair Work Act 2009

·         Challenge of unfair dismissal from the job

·         Breaks and rest periods

·         A healthy and safe work environment

Types of Part-Time Work Options Available

In case you are a professional who is taking up further education from Australia, you can apply for and get a job commensurate with your qualification. Apart from that, usually students get part-time jobs in the following sectors

·         Retail sales jobs in supermarkets, departmental stores

·         In restaurants, cafes, and bars

·         Hotels (in the kitchens, administration and housekeeping)

·         Farming and related activities

·         Sales and telemarketing

·         Administration or Clerical roles in different companies

·         Tutor or Educator (both personal as well as professional)

To conclude, Australia offers excellent part-time working opportunities for international students. Hence, if you are planning to study in Australia, be assured there is more to it than just quality education.

All the best!