Australia is a country that allows exchange students to work and study at the same time. But how do you reconcile the two? Which jobs can fit in with your study routine? Check out 5 tips from Good Day
Often, those who want to study in another country also need to work to make ends meet in foreign lands. The Australian government allows students to work while attending courses - and for this reason, the country ends up being a great exchange destination option. But to study and work in Australia, you need to plan ahead because, after all, you need to combine these two activities.
To help exchange students on this mission, we spoke to Roberta Fernandes, Good Day's Student Experience specialist. She gave valuable tips for students who want to finding a job while studying in Australia.
Find out below what Australian law is like for working and studying at the same time, what types of employment contracts are available, which jobs might fit in with your study routine and much more!
1. Keep an eye on the fortnightly hours
There is a limit of fortnightly hours that students can work in Australia. This measure is currently suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it will come back into force on July 1, 2023.
According to the law, students can only work a maximum of 48 hours a fortnight - on average, that would be almost 3.5 hours a day.
Roberta points out that most jobs for newcomers in Australia, such as cleaners and hospitality, don't have fixed working hours.
"We call these 'casual' jobs. In these cases, the person usually works when there are tasks to be done," he says. "That's why it's very important to keep an eye on the number of hours you work, because there are days when you'll work 10 hours and others when you'll work three."
2. Check the employment contract model
When it comes to signing an employment contract, it's important to pay attention not only to the salary, but also to the terms of employment.
In Australia, there are two most common types of contract. One is the TFN (tax file number), which is similar to the CLT regime in Brazil. "In this contract, the employee has some deductions from their salary, which are related to taxes," explains Roberta. "At the end of the fiscal year, always on June 30, you have to file your income tax return, and you may receive a refund."
The second contractual model is called ABN (Australian business number). In this, the employee is a service provider - something very similar to the MEI (individual micro-entrepreneur) in Brazil. "In this case, the student issues an invoice for the services rendered and receives the full amount of the salary. But at the end of the fiscal year, they have to pay taxes, just like a company," explains Roberta.
3. Always write down your work expenses
This tip is especially important for students working under the ABN model: keep receipts for work expenses, as they can be deducted from your income tax.
"When it's time to file your tax return, it's important to show these receipts," says Roberta. "Let's say the student works on construction sites and needs to buy uniforms, tools... all these expenses can be deducted from their tax bill."
4. Choose a job according to your level of English
The so-called "casual" jobs tend to be very popular with students who arrive in Australia. As well as choosing an occupation that can be combined with the course, students need to consider the level of English required for the position.
For some jobs, basic English is enough - this is the case for cleaners, construction workers, removals assistants or meal delivery.
"Another very common job for those arriving in Australia, but one that requires at least intermediate English, is hospitality," says Roberta. "In this area, the student needs to serve the public in bars, cafés, restaurants, concerts, stadiums... As hospitality work depends on events, students usually work more on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays."
5. It's cool to work and study in Australia, but always prioritize your course
"The most important tip I give students is: studies must be the priority," says Roberta. It's worth remembering that one of the requirements of the student visa is to attend at least 80% of the total hours of the course.
"It's essential to organize your routine according to your classes. We know that this can be difficult at first, so you need to plan ahead," advises Roberta. "Research the distances you need to travel between school or university and your job, think about the time you'll need to make this journey."
Roberta also gives another valuable tip: it's important to have as much contact with the English language as possible in order to develop the language more quickly and get better jobs. "In everyday life, you can make an effort to have even more contact with English. If you're cooking, for example, read the packaging of the ingredients. If you're taking a shower, read the label on the shampoo. If you're watching something on streaming, watch it with English audio and English subtitles - or, better still, without subtitles!"
