Your student visa in Australia allows you to work 20 hours a week on a casual basis. All types of work including volunteer, unpaid and paid work are included in this 20 hours.

Some conditions do apply to the work you can do:
Your work can not commence until you have started studying
The 20 hours a week does not apply to any work experience you undertake in order to complete your studies

Unlimited working hours are allow during your educations institutions’ holidays

Remembering that your main focus in Australia should be your studies, so it might be best to start working just a couple of hours a week, until you know you are sure you can handle all the work load.  Possible jobs may include retail, hospitality and administration, also tutoring other students in a common job for international students.


Tax Returns

In order to work in Australia you will need a Tax File Number (TNF) which is attainable from the Australian Tax Office website, or you can fill in a form from your local post office.  It may take up to 14 days to receive your TNF.  This will help you to get some or all of your tax back when you leave Australia.


Superannuation

When earning over $450.00 in a calendar month you are entitled to superannuation.  This is usually organised by your employer, but you can choose your superannuation provider.  You may be eligible to have your superannuation funds paid to you before you leave Australia permanently, check that your provider offers DASP (Departing Australia Superannuation Payment).


Finding Work

When looking for a job it would be best to start with local newspapers, as well as friends and other people you know.  Then you can start checking out the websites, a few to get you started are are seek, mycareer and careerone.  Let as many people as possible know you are looking for a job, also your educational institute may be able to help you.


Applying for a job

To apply for a job you will need your resume or CV (curriculum vitae) to inform the potential employer of your skills and knowledge. Chronologically organise your resume, make sure it has your contact details on it, list your completed education etc, as well as a reference or two; ensuring everything is clear and easily read by other people.  It may be best to write this up at home and make a few photocopies of it to pass around several employers.  There is no need to include such details as height, weight, marital status etc, some people may include their age, but it isn’t necessary along with your photo and the rate of pay you are expecting.  As references and job experience listed is often checked it is not wise to lie on your resume.

If your application and resume have been short listed for an interview.  Make sure that you dress formally and business like and your appearance is neat and tidy.  The interviewer will ask you a serious of questions that you will need to answer to the best of your ability.  Try to remain calm and relaxed, as few nerves are expected, but if you can’t control them the interview may not go smoothly.  The interviewer is trying to get to know you, why you should be hired and what qualities you will bring to the business.  If your interview is successful, they will offer you the job; if it was unsuccessful then you have gained a valuable experience and will know what to expect next time you have an interview.


Your Rights and Responsibilities

Before starting your new you job you need to know your rights as a worker in Australia. Even as an international person, you have rights while you are in Australia. 

Your visa permits you to work 20 hours a week to earn a some money while in Australia; you should not rely on this money to live off while you are in Australia, it should be considered a bonus.  To find out more about these rights you should visit the Australian Government workplace website. 


Here are few helpful tips to start with:

• You should be paid the correct wage for your age and work type for every hour you work
• You must be paid on a regular basis, e.g usually weekly or fortnightly
• Your employer should give you a pay slip, stating the business/company ABN (Australian Business Number), number of hours you are being paid for, the tax you have paid, superannuation and the total amount you receive
• There should be no money withdrawn from your pay for such things as customers’ leaving without paying
• ‘Trial work’ should be paid for
• Weekend and public holidays you should receive a higher hourly rate
• When working for longer then 5 hours consecutively, you are entitled to an unpaid break
• You arrive and leave according to the times on the pre-determined roster; hours worked outside of this will need to be approved by the manager and paid extra for
• Know what your duties are and how much you will be paid and information about meal breaks, what to do if you can’t make it to work etc

When ending your employment you are required to give at least 2 weeks notice to the manager, sometimes longer.  If you have been fired, the employer need to have a lawful reason for doing so, not because you were off with an injury or any discrimination reason.  If you think you have been fired unlawfully contact the workplace ombudsman.

As teaching styles may vary between Australia and your country, we have prepared the following guide so you know what to expect at an Australian school and the services available to you.