Are you an international student in Australia looking to earn some extra income while studying?

Getting a part-time job is a way to add more money to your pocket and gain Australian work experience while still maintaining your academics.

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Australia like many other countries allows international students to work part-time as long as they keep to their academic schedule.

The most important rule here is that your part-time work must not replace your academics, you have to find a balance between the two.

And if you can’t find a balance, then one must go and it has to be the job.

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If you are ready to maintain the work rule for international students, you can work till you graduate.

What are the new work rules for students in Australia?

As an international student in Australia who holds a subclass 500 Student Visa, you are allowed to work part-time during your studies.

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Below are some rules you must obey while you work.

• Your work limit: As a student with a subclass 500 visa, you are allowed to work up to 40 hours per fortnight (14 days) during the regular academic semester.
• You can have unlimited work hours: Yes, you are allowed to work unlimited hours too. During scheduled course breaks like semester breaks or summer vacations, you can work unlimited hours.

Other work conditions

There are other conditions you must also follow if you are working

• • Before you start working part-time, you must have started your program – meaning, you can’t work before resuming your studies.
  • Your work must not interfere with your study obligations – your primary aim of being in Australia is to study, working is the secondary target, and you must not let your part-time work interfere with your studies. If your work does interfere with your studies, then you have to let the work go and focus on your studies while looking for a better job.
  • The work you are doing must be legal and comply with Australian employment laws.
• Family members: If your family members (like your spouse or dependent children) are included in your visa application as dependents, they also have the same work rights.
• Workplace rights: As an international student with a subclass 500 visa, you are entitled to the same workplace rights and protections as Australian workers. Like the right to minimum wage, working conditions, and workplace health and safety.
• Taxation: The income you will earn from part-time work is subject to Australian taxation laws. You are required by law to get a Tax File Number (TFN) and comply with tax obligations.

Part-time jobs in Australia for international students

Below are part-time jobs you can do as an international student in Australia

• Be a retail sales assistant: You can work in retail stores, assisting customers, managing inventory, and maintaining store cleanliness.
• You can become a hospitality staff: Go for jobs in cafes, restaurants, and bars like waitstaff, baristas, and kitchen hands.
• You can become a customer service representative: As an international student, you can work in call centres, retail outlets, or service industries, handling customer inquiries and resolving issues.
• You can also be a tutor: As a tutor, you will provide tutoring services in subjects you are good at, either privately or through tutoring centres.
• Be an administrative assistant: Here, you will assist with administrative tasks like data entry, filing, scheduling appointments, and customer service.
• Be a childcare assistant: In this job, you will work in childcare centres or as a nanny. Your work is to care for children, organize activities, and make sure that they are safe.
• Be a sales representative: You will sell products or services, either in person or through telemarketing.
• Event staff: As an event staff, you will assist in setting up events and serving guests. You will also provide customer support during events.
• Delivery driver: This is one of the high-paying part-time jobs in Australia, you can work as a delivery driver for food delivery services, courier companies, or local businesses.
• Become a social media manager: In this role, you will manage social media accounts for businesses, create content, engage with followers, and analyse performance metrics.
• Content writer: If you can write content, you can work for companies and help write articles, blog posts, or website content.
• Graphic designer: If you are good with design, you can work as a designer, creating visual content like logos, banners, and graphics for website owners or business owners.

Read also: Is it easy to get PR in Australia after study?

Other Part-time jobs in Australia for international students

• Research Assistant
• Data Entry Clerk
• Tour Guide
• Freelance Photographer
• Virtual Assistant
• Language Interpreter
• Retail Merchandiser

How to find part-time jobs in Australia for international students

There are many ways to find a part-time job in Australia as an international student but before you start looking for a job, ensure that you put your CV in order.

• Update your resume

This is the first step you need to take, it helps make getting the right job easier. Tailor your resume to the Australian job market.

Ensure you highlight your education, skills, and any relevant work experience.

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You should also add any certifications, language proficiency, and extracurricular activities you have been involved in that can add weight to your resume.

• Search job portals

One of the best places to search for part-time jobs is in job portals. There are many of them, you have Seek, Indeed, and Gumtree.

These platforms list part-time jobs that are open to students.

When you start searching, narrow down your search by location, industry preferences, and job type (casual, part-time).

Use specific keywords related to your field of interest to make your search easier.

• Make use of university resources in your search

Visit your university’s career services or job board, you will find job opportunities that are open to students.

In addition, attend career workshops, resume clinics, and networking events organized by your university to increase your chances of getting a job.

Potential employers do come for these events and you can get a job from there.

• Network with potential employers

When it comes to searching for a job, networking is a powerful tool for finding job opportunities.

Attend industry events, seminars, and alumni gatherings, connect with people in your field of interest, and you can be referred for a job opening.

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Join student clubs, societies, and volunteering programs related to your field of study to build connections and increase your chances.

• Search online

Aside from job portals, you can check Google and other search engines and social platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter (now X), and Facebook.

These are great places to find part-time jobs in Australia.

• Apply for hospitality and retail positions

Keep your search open for hospitality and retail jobs. These sectors have a high demand for part-time workers, especially during peak seasons.

You can check restaurants, cafes, bars, retail stores, hotels, and entertainment venues in your area for open job opportunities.

• Check On-Campus Jobs

Many universities have on-campus job opportunities for students, they have roles like library assistants, tutors, administrative support, and research assistants.

You can check with your school.

In addition, check with your university’s student employment office or career services for available on-campus positions and apply for them.

Furthermore, you contact local job agencies or recruitment firms that specialize in placing temporary or part-time workers in your area.

Register with them and allow them to help you search.

Can I work more than 40 hours a week in Australia international student?

No, international students in Australia are not allowed to work more than 40 hours per fortnight (14 days) during the regular academic semester. This is to make sure that students can focus on their studies while working part-time.

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Job search in Australia can get hard sometimes, especially part-time jobs, however, if you take advantage of these openings, you will increase your of finding the right job.

Good luck with your job search!