Working While Studying
If you decide to work a part-time job while studying there are a few things to consider. It's important to make sure the extra workload doesn’t negatively affect your studies, to be aware of student visa conditions surrounding work, and to make sure you're being treated fairly and legally by your employer.
Visa work restrictions
Check your visa conditions and read information from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) regarding restrictions on your work.
- You can check your conditions on your visa grant letter or use DHA's Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)
- Department of Home Affairs - check visa details and conditions
Coursework students are generally limited to 40 hours work per fortnight (two week period). This means that:
- If you work more than 20 hours in a given week, you must make sure you work less than 20 hours in the week before and the week after.
- You can only work over 40 hours per fortnight during official University breaks. If your dependants intend to work, make sure they understand their visa conditions and stick to them.
- The following table demonstrates an example of what '40 hours per fortnight' means:
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best | 20 hours | 20 hours | 20 hours | 20 hours | 20 hours | 20 hours |
Not OK | 30 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
OK | 10 hours | 30 hours | 10 hours | 30 hours | 10 hours | 30 hours |
Not OK | 10 | 30 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 10 |
- Please see DHA's website for more comprehensive information: Department of Home Affairs - check visa details and conditions
Your work rights
In addition to your visa conditions, there are also working conditions you need to be aware of if you are going to work in Australia. Before agreeing to work anywhere, it's important to know a few things.
- You will need to obtain a tax file number and provide this to your employer.
- The FairWork Ombudsman offers an excellent overview of your rights at work in Australia.
- There are State and Federal awards to protect workers' entitlements. Most pay rates and working conditions are set down in these awards.
- SafeWork SA provides information and advice on wages and conditions of employment in South Australia for both State and Federal systems.
- We also recommend that you consult the work rights information maintained by the Department of Home Affairs - check visa details and conditions