As an international student on a student visa, you are limited to 48 hours of work per fortnight during semester and unlimited hours during holidays. You won’t be able to work until after your course has commenced.
If you have dependent family members included on your student visa, they are also eligible to work.
Make sure you are aware of all the working conditions for international students on the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website.
If you are working in Australia, you will need a Tax File Number (TFN) so that your employer can pay you and you can pay the right amount of tax. This is a number – unique to you – that stays the same even if you change your job, personal details or residency status.
When you start work, your employer will ask you to fill out a Tax File Number declaration to provide them with your TFN.
Everyone who works in Australia, including international students, is protected by a set of workers’ rights. For example, it is illegal for an employer to pay you in cash with no payslip. Other rights include working in safe conditions, being paid the correct rate and feeling comfortable at your workplace.
If you’re enrolled to study at Curtin College, you will be regarded as an Australian resident for tax purposes. This means:
It is important that you provide your employer with your Tax File Number and that you receive payslips detailing the amount you have earned and the tax you have paid.
The Australian Government’s Education Services for Overseas Students Act, or ESOS Act, provides consumer protection for international students on a student visa, aims to enhance the quality of the student experience and protects the student visa program.
Your rights and responsibilities as an international student under the ESOS Act