Work for Students in Australia: Where to Look and How Much You Can Earn

A student on a temporary visa in Australia can work anywhere and in any role, except for certain positions that require citizenship or residency, such as driving public transport in New South Wales. Working here is not just possible but advisable: according to the author, there’s no reason to sit idle without a job in the country. You can be hired as an employee, work on a casual contract, or start your own business.

Where and in What Roles You Can Work

A student on a temporary visa can work in an office, a shop, in marketing, IT, or accounting departments, on a construction site, in restaurants, or operating machinery. The restriction applies to certain positions. For instance, you won’t be hired at an investigations bureau on a temporary visa: those roles are open only to citizens and, in some cases, residents of certain countries.

The same applies to drivers transporting passengers on public transport. According to the author, in the state of New South Wales such positions are available only to citizens or, in some cases, residents. However, working as a driver for private companies is allowed.

Casual, Part-Time Work, and Running Your Own Business

Casual work means a person can be hired, for example, for three to five hours a week. The scope of work is defined in advance, so it’s clear from the start how much time is required from the employee. If a candidate performs well, such arrangements often lead to a more substantial offer, provided the company is reliable.

Part-time work shouldn’t be dismissed either: many Australians work part-time. In some immigration processes, this experience counts as work experience. For example, for the Australian Computer Society, full-time experience is considered to be 20 hours a week.

At the same time, nurses and nursing assistants working through HCare face a government-imposed limit on hours: contracts, as far as is known, specify up to 38 hours per employer.

There’s also the option of working for yourself. People register an Australian Business Number, which is the equivalent of sole proprietorship. Self-employment income is capped: up to 70 thousand, above which you need to register for GST, the equivalent of VAT.

What People Say About Job Hunting

Students often complain that finding a job is impossible. The article challenges this view: if a person has spent a year or two in Australia without finding work, by the third year, in the author’s opinion, it’s time to leave. An example given: newcomers were employed roughly a week after arriving.

The main point is that job hunting requires willingness to take the first offer that comes along. Labor law, according to the author, is structured so that an employer can’t afford to treat an employee unacceptably.

Language, however, remains a barrier. A foreigner not born in the country is almost always more limited in English in some areas than others, so effort will be required at the start.