Working while you study in Australia
Most international students work part-time while they study. It helps with living costs, improves your English and gives you Australian experience for your CV. Here's what you need to know.
How many hours can I work?
- Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session (a fortnight is any two weeks starting on a Monday).
- No limit during official course breaks, such as holidays between terms.
- All paid work counts, including casual jobs, delivery and freelance work.
Working more than allowed can lead to your visa being cancelled, so keep a record of your hours.
What jobs and pay can I expect?
Typical student jobs: cafés and restaurants, bars, retail, supermarkets, cleaning, warehouses, delivery, events, hotels, childcare and aged-care support (with the right certificate), and construction labouring (with a White Card).
Pay: the national minimum wage is A$26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, and many jobs pay more under their award. Casual jobs include an extra loading (usually 25%) instead of paid leave. Weekend, night and public-holiday rates are higher.
Your rights: you have exactly the same workplace rights as Australians – minimum wage, safe workplace, superannuation and payslips. Cash-in-hand jobs below the minimum wage are illegal; the Fair Work Ombudsman can help if something isn't right.
Before you start work
- Tax File Number (TFN) – apply online for free once you're in Australia. Without it you'll pay more tax.
- Australian bank account – your wages are paid into it.
- Superannuation – your employer pays it; you can usually claim it back when you leave Australia.
- Certificates some jobs require – RSA (serving alcohol), White Card (construction sites), food safety, first aid.
- An Australian-style CV – see below.
How to find your first job
- Prepare a short, clear Australian CV (1–2 pages) and a few lines of cover text.
- Apply on job sites (Seek, Indeed, Jora) and on Facebook groups for your city.
- Walk in with printed CVs – cafés, restaurants and shops still hire this way.
- Tell everyone you meet you're looking – many jobs come from personal contacts.
- Be flexible with days and times at the start; weekends are the easiest shifts to get.
Need help with your CV?
An Australian CV looks different from a Czech, Slovak, German or French one – no photo, no date of birth, short and focused on skills and results. Many good applicants get no replies just because of the format.
Our CV service:
- We rewrite your CV in Australian style, in English.
- We tailor it to the jobs you want (hospitality, retail, trades, office).
- We add a short cover letter you can reuse.
- Optional: interview tips for your first job interview.
Plan your study and work
We'll help you choose a course and city where you can study and find work – and explain your work rights for your exact visa. Your first consultation is free.
Work conditions are set by your visa and can change. This is general information only; we check the current rules for your situation. Pay rates are approximate and depend on the award and the employer.