Working in Australia

From the 26th of April 2008, your student visa allows you to work up to 20 hours a week on a casual basis. All types of work hours are included, on a paid, volunteer, or casual basis counts towards the 20 hours a week.

Working and student visa conditions
Your working visa requires you to meet certain conditions, like

• You cannot commence work until you have started your course
• You can work up to 20 hours per week while your course is in session. This does not include work experience
• You can work unlimited hours during the holidays when your course is not in session

Types of work for international students

International students can find work in retail, hospitality, and administration. Your wage will depend on the kind of work undertaken and your age. You may be paid more for working Sundays or Public Holidays.

Tutoring younger students is another good way to make money. Student tutors can earn up to $40 per hour.


Tax returns

Now you are living in Australia, you will be attached to Australia’s taxation system.

Before you work, you need to obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Department (ATO) if you are going to work in Australia. A TFN is also needed to open a bank account. The required forms are available from your local post office or ATO website. You need to provide your name, current address and date of birth.

Also needed is your date of arrival into Australia, current overseas passport, and proof of enrolment (such as a student card, or Confirmation of Enrolment issued by your educational institution).

If you work in Australia you will have to lodge an income tax return, either through a registered tax agent, or by yourself. If you decide to fill out your tax return yourself, e-tax is the quickest way to obtain your refund. In most cases this will be within 14 days. You can download e-tax from the ATO website.

If you have any issues or queries you can contact the ATO on 13 2861.


Superannuation

If you work in Australia for any period of time as an international student, and are paid $450 or more per month, you may be entitled to superannuation. Superannuation is paid by your employer, which is required by law to pay money into a superannuation or retirement fund. The legal requirement for this is called the Superannuation guarantee.

Your employer will usually have an existing arrangement as a superannuation provider, but you, the employee, can decide to choose whatever superannuation provider you wish. For more information on superannuation providers and how to switch funds, rollover an existing fund, or any other queries, you can contact your local ATO, or your superannuation fund provider.

If you eligible, you may be entitled to your superannuation payment when you depart our country permanently. The Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) is an. You can apply for a DASP payment inline at the ATO website.


Finding work

Employment is advertised on websites such as “Seek” and “Careerone”, in newspapers, at job agencies, and some institutions have notice boards with assorted information.

Also let your friends and people around you know that you are looking for a job. Word of mouth is an excellent way of getting employment. They might know of a friend looking for an employee. Your new friends can also tell you of positions that are advertised that you might apply for.


Applying for a job

Once you find an advertised position that you wish to apply for, you will have to send a resumé or curriculum vitaé (or CV), along with a cover letter. You resumé is a summary of your employment history, skills, referees and qualifications. It is designed to sell your skills to a potential employee.

You will have to make your resume stand out above the rest, so you are selected for the job. Potential employers will only spend a few seconds reading your resumé before they decide to read further.

Here are a few steps you can follow to ensure yourself a job.

• Organize your details in a logical order. First, put your personal details and contact information, followed by your work history, education and skills. Add information that will gain the employers attention, like a truck license or if you can speak a language other than English.
• Use headings for each subject, so the reader can quickly locate the information required.
• Provide only enough information to attract the employer to give you an interview. Try to make the document brief, the more the employee reads, the less interested they will be in giving you the position. Just give them the facts.

Most advertised jobs have a deadline to meet for applications. Late applications usually are not accepted by employers. Try to tailor your resumé to what position you are applying for. A cover letter is a letter sent with your resumé and is designed to specifically address the skills that the employer is looking for. References can be tricky if you have just arrived to Australia. You may have to provide your contact details, so the employer can contact your referee overseas.

Use basic font styles such as Arial, or Times New Roman, so the employer can easily read the letter. If the employer can’t read what you have written easily, the employer will be deterred from reading the resumé any further.

What not to include in a resumé
Some things to be aware of when designing a resumé include:

• Don’t include your height, weight, marital status or religion.
• You don’t have to include your date of birth or age, but that is entirely your decision.
• Don’t include a photo of yourself.
• Don’t discuss payments of any kind.
• Be honest and truthful about your information and details.

The interview

If the potential employer has received your resumé and decided he/she would like to meet you, they will organize an interview. An interview is a formal meeting between yourself and the potential employer to introduce yourself and become familiar with the manager of the business. The next step is to attend the interview and secure the position in which you applied. How do we do that?

The first step is to get yourself prepared. Do research on the business or company which is advertising the position. Find the address and know where the interview is held, if you don’t know, go there before the interview and find exactly where it is.

At the interview you will have to look professional. Remember, your first impressions are critical when meeting people. Try to stay as calm as possible, you will expect a few nerves at an interview. Listen carefully to each question, and if you don’t understand, politely ask to repeat the question again. This is important if English is your second language. Shake hands when greeting and departing at an interview, and manners will always add to your first impression.

Hopefully, the interview will be successful and the job will be offered to you. If you are unsuccessful, the employer will let you know. Don’t get too discouraged if you are unsuccessful, jobs are readily available. Consider it an experience that you can take on board for the next interview.


Your rights and responsibilities in the workplace

Your student visa card allows you to work 20 hour per week while studying in Australia. Many international students find that finding a part time job allows them to earn a little extra cash, and the freedom to spend a little cash on entertainment or to save for an unexpected bill.

Do not rely on the wages from your part time job to support your life during your stay in Australia. It will not be enough money to live, and you may lose your job at short notice, or become injured and cannot work anymore.

Before you start work at your new position, make yourself aware of your legal rights as an employee and your responsibilities to your employer. If you have any problems or questions with your workplace rights, you can get in contact with your local Workplace Ombudsman, or you can call 1300 363 264.


Payment

You are entitled to receive payment for the work that you have completed for the employer, which is at least a basic rate depending on your age and job classification. Your employer can pay you above the basic rate of pay. It is entirely their decision how much to pay you, but it has to be more that the basic rate of pay. Your employer must also provide

• Pay for the correct amount of hours you attend work.
• Pay you on a regular basis. This could be weekly, fortnightly or monthly on a regular day for the work undertaken during that time.
• A pay slip. This must include information such as how much money you have been paid, number of hours worked, amount of income tax and superannuation paid. Also additional information on your employer is needed, such as the businesses ABN number, name, address etc.
• Never take money out to cover costs for their own business, such as broken stock, and stolen items
• Pay if you undertake “trial work”.
• Pay for extra rates on public holidays, weekends, and loading for shift workers.

Shifts

Your “shift” is a certain amount of time that you spend at work. This means that you will be required to attend work at a required time, for a required period of time.

• You should receive an unpaid break if you work more than five consecutive hours at a time.
• You are required to start and finish work at the specified times according to your roster. If you are required to work extra hours, your must have approval from your manager first, and be paid for the hours worked.

Starting a new job

Before you start work for your new employer, it is important that you know what your duties are, and to keep these duties in priority. You will need to know what is expected of you, and what is the amount that you will be paid. Feel free to ask your employer questions, such as lunch breaks, timesheets, lockers and toilets. If you have any issues, like if you cannot make it to work, or can make it but will be late, talk to your supervisor or manager before the situation arises. If you have any issues or problems with your supervisor or manager, you can contact your local Workplace Ombudsman on 1300 363 264. If you need an English translator, you can contact the Translating and Interpreting Services on 131 450.


Ending your employment

If you decide to terminate your employment, you must give prior notice to your supervisor or manager before you leave. This length of time will vary greatly, depending on your employment conditions. This time is for the employer to arrange a suitable replacement for your position.

If your employer decides to terminate your employment, they must do so for a legitimate reason. You cannot be fired because of

• Absence of work for illness or injury. A doctors certificate from your local GP is required from your employer if you are absent from work for a certain period of time
• Making a complaint against a certain person
• Your gender
• Your race
• Your country of origin
• Your religious beliefs
• Your marital status
• A physical or mental disability

When you leave your place of employment make sure that you have been correctly paid for all the hours that you have worked. If you need any help on this matter, you can contact your local Workplace Ombudsman on 1300 363 264.