AUSTRALIA · CHAPTER 15
Working whileyou study in Australia.
Student visa holders can work 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. You have the same workplace rights and minimum wage as Australian workers.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
Source review: · How to use our guides
Rules
- 48 h per fortnight in session
- Unlimited during official breaks
- Same pay and rights as local workers
- Report underpayment to the Fair Work Ombudsman
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Your rights at work
- You have the same workplace rights as Australian workers
- Minimum wages and award rates apply — cash-in-hand underpayment is illegal
- Keep payslips and records of hours
- Fair Work Ombudsman helps without affecting your visa if you report exploitation
- Superannuation is paid by your employer and can be claimed when you leave Australia
Tax on what you earn
Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) online from the ATO as soon as you arrive; without one, employers withhold tax at the top rate. The tax year runs from 1 July to 30 June and you lodge a return through myTax by 31 October. International students on courses longer than six months are often residents for tax purposes, but the ATO decides on your facts; use its residency tool.
Employers must also pay superannuation for you. When you leave Australia for good, you can claim it back as a departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP), taxed at a set rate.
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Yes. Apply online with the ATO after arriving; without a TFN your employer must withhold tax at the highest rate.
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