The short answer
On an Australian student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term and unlimited hours in study breaks. To find part-time work, get a Tax File Number and a bank account, prepare a short resume, then search your university careers portal and job boards like SEEK and Indeed, and apply in person for hospitality and retail roles. Pay and work rights are set by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
A part-time job helps with living costs, builds local experience and grows your network — and Australia is a good place to do it, with a high minimum wage and plenty of student-friendly roles. This guide is the practical “how to find one”: the hours you’re allowed, getting set up to work legally, where to look, and how to apply so you actually get hired. For the work rules and how jobs feed into your longer-term plans, see working while studying.
How many hours can you work?
On a Subclass 500 student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled study breaks. Staying within the cap is your responsibility — going over can put your visa at risk. Your work must not get in the way of your studies, since course progress is a visa condition.
Work-hour conditions are set by the Department of Home Affairs (Subclass 500); pay and workplace rights by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Verify current limits before you start.
Zoe Craydel, Senior counsellor, Craydel Australia
Get set up to work (before you apply)
- Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office once you arrive — free, online, and required so you’re taxed correctly (without it you’re taxed at the highest rate).
- Open an Australian bank account for your wages.
- Know your rights and pay. Australia has a high national minimum wage (around AUD 24 an hour in 2024–25 — check the current rate), plus casual loading for casual work. The Fair Work Ombudsman sets and explains these.
- Prepare a one-page resume tuned to Australian style, and line up a couple of references.
Where students find part-time jobs
- On campusLibrary, student services, labs, events and research assistant roles — flexible around classes and used to student schedules.Easiest first job
- Your university careers portalMost universities run a jobs board and career service for students — start here.Free
- Job boardsSEEK, Indeed and Jora list casual and part-time roles; set alerts for your suburb.SEEK · Indeed
- In person (hospitality & retail)Cafés, restaurants, supermarkets and shops often hire by resume drop-in and a quick chat.Walk in
The jobs students actually do
Common part-time roles include hospitality (barista, waiter, kitchen hand), retail (shop assistant, supermarket), customer service and delivery, tutoring in a subject you’re strong in, and on-campus jobs. Roles that use your degree area (an internship or a casual role in your field) are worth chasing — they double as experience for your CV.
Planning your budget and study-work balance?
Craydel helps you pick a course and city where part-time work and living costs add up — free counsellor session, no cost to you.
How to apply and stand out
- Tailor a short resume to each role; lead with availability, any customer-facing experience and your right to work (student visa with work rights).
- Apply early in each semester and just before holiday peaks (retail/hospitality hire hardest before summer).
- For hospitality and retail, go in person — hand your resume to the manager and be ready for a short chat on the spot.
- Prepare for a quick interview: be on time, presentable, and clear about your class timetable and the 48-hours-a-fortnight limit.
- Line up references — a tutor, a previous employer, or after your first Australian job, your supervisor.
Don’t rely on part-time work to fund your studies. It helps with day-to-day costs, but the government still requires you to show you can cover tuition and living costs up front (the Subclass 500 proof-of-funds). Treat wages as a top-up, not your funding plan.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours can international students work in Australia?
Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is running, and unlimited hours during scheduled study breaks, on a Subclass 500 student visa. Keeping within the cap is your responsibility and a visa condition.
What do I need before I can work?
A Tax File Number (TFN) from the ATO so you’re taxed correctly, an Australian bank account for your wages, a one-page resume, and awareness of your pay and rights under the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Where can I find a student part-time job?
Start with on-campus roles and your university careers portal, then job boards like SEEK, Indeed and Jora, and apply in person at cafés, restaurants, supermarkets and shops. Tutoring and roles in your field are also worth chasing.
How much do part-time jobs pay?
Australia has a high national minimum wage (around AUD 24 an hour in 2024–25 — check the current rate), with extra casual loading for casual roles. Actual pay varies by job and state; the Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the current rates.
Can part-time work pay for my studies?
No — treat it as a top-up for living costs. You must still show you can cover tuition and living costs up front for the student visa (proof of funds), and your studies must come first.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs — student visa (Subclass 500) work conditions. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Fair Work Ombudsman — minimum pay, casual loading and workplace rights. fairwork.gov.au
- Australian Taxation Office — Tax File Number for workers. ato.gov.au
Want this built around your grades and budget?
A Craydel counsellor will shortlist Australia universities that fit what you can actually afford — free.
Was this helpful?
Thanks — your feedback helps us improve this guide.
Get the Australia study guide by email
Fees, deadlines and scholarship tips — a couple of times a month. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Check your inbox to confirm
We've sent a confirmation link to . Click it to finish subscribing — then the Australia guide lands in your inbox a couple of times a month.
