Working with Student Visa

The most common industries students work within include:

• Retail – various department stores
• Hospitality – cafes, bars, restaurants
• Tourism – hotels and motels
• Agriculture – fruit harvesting and farming, and various seasonal works
• Administrative and office works
• Building industry and construction works

With relevant study and working experience, you may have the opportunity to find a suitable job accordingly.

Internship opportunities

Internship programs in Australia are widely known and fully recognized. There are also paid and unpaid traineeships. Both are a great opportunity to make acquaintances and gain relevant experiences for your future.

Volunteering

Besides internship, volunteering is also a popular and accepted form of gaining work experience in Australia. There are plenty of charities all over Australia who are in continuously in need of volunteers.

However, working as a volunteer you cannot get paid, but you will have the opportunity to gain more friends and invaluable working experience. Last but not least, employers value volunteer work experience when viewing an applicants CV.

Your rights

Everyone who works in Australia is entitled to basic employee rights. These are the following:

• at least the minimum wage
• annual leave and rest periods
• healthy and safe work environment
• sick leave and health insurance

Job Search

There are many ways to find a suitable job in Australia:

• newspapers and online platforms
• message board of the educational institutions, you can also seek for help from Student Representative or Marketing Manager
• it is also worthwhile to send your resume to the job-hunting firms, do not forget to re-write your CV in accordance with the Australian requirements
• seek the widest possible range of acquaintances – the majority of the jobs will never be advertised
• it is also worthwhile to send your resume to the targeted firm/companies even though have not advertised for a job availability

Possibilities of your relatives if you are a student visa holder

Your family members / dependants can also travel with you to Australia on your student visa. You will need to declare through your student visa procedure they will be traveling with you. Furthermore, in relation to your family members all requested information needs to be provided before entering into Australia.

Your family members also have the same rights as you have, as a primary visa holder; for example, work permission allowances. They can also work up to 40 hours per fortnight at all times unless the primary visa holder – you – has commenced a course towards a masters or doctoral degree and holds a Student visa (subclass 500). In this case there is no limit on the number of hours a family member may work.