If you are coming to Australia for study or work, you will find that the Australian workplace culture is quite different from your home country.
Would you like to know what’s the difference?
If the answer is YES!, then let’s get started.
In this article, we are going to talk about Australian workplace culture and some other work requirements. We will cover the details of them in the different sections.
Work hours in Australia
Work hours will vary depending upon the arrangements you have with your employer and the industry you are working in as well.
Typically speaking, most full-time workers are expected to work 38 hours per week. But in some cases you could be asked for additional overtime work hours as well.
Usually you expected to get paid for those additional hours (look at your employment contract).
Now if we are generally talking about office hours, it’s between 9 AM to 5 PM from Monday to Friday. Most offices are closed on the weekends.
However, some businesses may open till late like Hospitality venues such as bars, pubs, restaurants, etc. can be open till late night. Many of these venues start late afternoon from 5 pm, and they can be open till 10pm or later (depending on the venue).
Some workplaces may be doing an overnight work as well which means that you could be working late night to early morning shift. For example, some supermarkets have night shifts that start at 10 pm and finish at 6 am.
Your work hours will vary depending upon the industry, the type of job and employment contract.
Your work hours will include brakes as well depending on the length of the work hours. If you are working for 4 hours or more, then you will get a 10-minute rest break. If you are working for more than 5 hours, then you could be getting one 10-minute rest break and 30-60 minutes meal break.
Usually, you tend to get longer break if you’re working for longer hours.
We suggest you check your meal breaks from the Fairwork Australia website as they specific information for each industry about the break between shifts.
The table below shows an example of meal breaks for Retail sales staff in Retail industry.
Please note that breaks are different for each industry, and you can check that for each industry from this link here.
Salary and wages
Australian employers are expected to usually pay their employees a minimum wage as set out by Fairwork Australia or Industry award rates.
Fairwork Australia is a government body that makes sure that the workplaces are treating their employees fairly which includes your work rights and your pay rates.
The minimum wage set out by FairWork Australia gets reviewed every single year, and usually it gets updated on the 1st of July each year.
The financial year in Australia starts from 1st July each year.
At the time of writing, the current minimum wage is $21.38 per hour for the financial year 2022 -2023.
From 1st July 2023, it is expected that there will be a new minimum wage.
Apart from getting a minimum wage, if you’re working late night or doing overtime, you are expected to get paid a penalty rate (overtime rates) for the work you do during those hours.
You are also expected to get penalty rates if you are working on public holidays or over the weekends.
Communication style
Most of the time, Australians use direct communication in workplaces.It means they like to get to the point without going around in circles to communicate things.
So whenever you have something to ask or clarify, you can go directly to the person and have a conversation about it.
Australians also prefer to have clear and concise messages which means they try to keep the things as brief as possible and making sure that it’s clear enough for the person to understand.
Australians are usually very friendly, honest and open-minded people, and they expect the same sort of thing from you when you’re working here.
During verbal communication, you will see Australians using slangs at the workplaces.
As you might know that Australians like to abbreviate everything, so they will try to use their slang during the work hours as well.
It can make things very interesting, especially if you don’t understand their slangs and if that’s the case don’t hesitate to ask back again.
Australians are also known for their humor too. They tend to make jokes and have a bit of fun during their work hours, which can be quite difficult when you are new to this workplace culture.
Australian workplace hierarchy
Typically, Australian workplaces are less formal in their hierarchy.
In many organisations, you could see a horizontal hierarchy, where there may not be lots of layers of management, supervisors and so on.
Obviously some workplaces will have a traditional sort of hierarchy as well, but a lot of them are moving toward a flat or a horizontal hierarchy.
It means teamwork and collaboration are highly encouraged in Australian workplaces among colleagues.
You can provide your input regarding work or ideas freely and is usually encouraged by team leaders in the workplace.
Colleagues are respectful toward each other regardless of the country, culture or background they come from; everyone is treated equally.
Social norms
Here are a few social norms you need to be mindful of when working in Australia:
Australia is a multicultural country with 29.1% of the Australian population born overseas. It makes the Australian workplaces diverse and very multicultural as well.
It is very likely that you will be working with people from different backgrounds, genders, races, religions, ethnicities and cultures.
When greeting someone in Australia, it is ideal to do a firm handshake.
Eye contact is a very important thing in Australian workplace culture as well, so make sure to look into the eyes of a person you are speaking with.
When speaking with someone, you usually call them by their first name. Even when speaking with your supervisor, line manager or boss, you call them by their first name.
It doesn’t mean that you are disrespecting them, but it is just a common thing as everyone is treated equally.
One other important thing is punctuality, which means you need to be on time when you’re starting your work, and usually you finish on time as well.
So let’s say your work starting time is at 9 o’clock, you are expected to start work by 9 and if it’s 5 o’clock finish means you finish at 5. Unless you are requested to stay back and in that case you usually get paid extra money for that.
Let’s talk about dress code, shall we?!
During work hours, you have to usually wear a formal dress as per the requirement of the organisation.
Some businesses may have their own specific dress. For that you will have to wear a specific shirt or t-shirt and a black pant and formal shoes.
But if you are working in an office environment, you expect to dress professionally by wearing a shirt, pant and formal shoes. Some workplaces encourage the staff to wear a suit and a tie.
For females, it’s expected that they wear formal dresses to work. But sometimes semi-casual dresses are also acceptable in certain workplaces for both males and females.
Australians also like to socialise after work. So people tend to go for a drink or even catch up during lunchtime with their co-workers. It’s just an Australian thing to do.
If you are living in a city like Melbourne, where Coffee Culture is such a big thing, you could be going out for a coffee with your workmates.
As multicultural Australia’s society and workplaces are, it is still expected that you speak English during work hours with your colleagues even if they come from similar backgrounds.
As other colleagues from different backgrounds may not understand your language. It can offend people as they might think that you’re talking bad about them in your own language.
Workplace issues
It is important to note that any sort of discrimination, harassment or bullying is not acceptable in Australian workplaces.
It’s important to be respectful toward others if you even have differences in opinions, backgrounds and beliefs. It is important to treat everyone fairly and equally, and you can expect the same from them.
It’s very important to know about your work rights in Australia. If you face any sort of workplace issue, bullying or harassment, then reach out to the senior management of your workplace for help.
But if they are unable to help you, then you can look to get some external help from organisations like Fairwork Australia.
In Australia, there are a variety of high-income skills that do not require a traditional college or university degree.
These skills can be acquired through vocational training, on-the-job experience, or self-study, and they can lead to high-paying careers in different industries such as business, marketing, writing, information technology, etc.
In this article, we will explore some of the high-income skills to learn in 2023 and beyond in Australia.
Copywriting
What is Copywriting?
Copywriting is a high-income profession in Australia, with many opportunities for skilled writers to earn a substantial salary.
Copywriting involves creating persuasive and compelling written content for a variety of mediums, such as websites, advertising campaigns, and sales letters.
The profession has seen significant growth in recent years as businesses have shifted their focus to online marketing and advertising.
With the rise of digital marketing and e-commerce, the demand for skilled copywriters has increased, making it a lucrative career option.
To become a copywriter, you can undertake a short courses like Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing or Certificate IV in Marketing and Communications.
Copywriting job data in Australia
Copywriting in Australia is lucrative career with only 2000 employed workers in the industry. Also, about 59% of people who work as copywriters work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined.
The average age in the industry is recorded to be 36 years, having a 60% female share of the total population of copywriters.
Duties of a copywriter
Here are some of the major responsibilities of a copywriter:
Writing clear, persuasive copy for advertising and marketing materials.
Creating headlines, taglines, and other promotional text.
Developing ideas for ad campaigns and marketing strategies.
Collaborating with art directors, designers, and other creative professionals.
Researching to understand target audience and industry trends.
Revising and editing copy as needed to ensure it meets clients’ goals and guidelines.
Keeping up with industry news, trends and best practices.
Writing for various mediums, such as print, television, radio and digital.
Meeting deadlines and working within budget constraints.
Proofreading and fact-checking copy before it is published or aired.
How much does copywriter earn in Australia?
The average pay in this high-income job ranges from $65,000 to $85,000 per year. With senior copywriters can earn more than $100,000 per year.
Keep in mind that the pay in this industry is highly dependent on experience and the skill set of the person.
Social Media Management
What is a Social Media Management?
Social media management is a high-income skill profession in Australia due to the growing importance of social media in the business world.
Companies and organizations of all sizes are realizing the importance of having a strong presence on social media to reach and engage with customers, increase brand awareness, and drive sales.
According to the Labour Market Insights website, the employment of marketing and advertising professionals, including social media managers, is expected to grow strongly in the next five years.
To become a social media manager, you don’t need a degree. These days many students are doing a Diploma of Social Media marketing to become an SMM.
Here are some of the major responsibilities of a social media manager:
Developing a social media plan that aligns with the overall marketing and business goals of the company.
Creating and managing content for various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others.
Writing and editing posts, creating graphics and curating visual content to be shared on social media platforms.
Building and engaging with a community of followers, responding to comments and messages, and moderating user-generated content.
Running social media campaigns and promotions to increase brand awareness, website traffic, and sales.
Measuring and analysing the performance of social media campaigns using tools such as Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, and Hootsuite.
Collaborating with other departments such as marketing, sales, and customer service to ensure that the social media strategy is aligned with the overall goals of the company.
Keeping up-to-date with the latest social media trends, algorithms, and best practices to ensure that the company stays ahead of the competition.
Creating engaging and shareable content that will perform well on different platforms.
Social media managers in Australia typically have a background in marketing, communications, or a related field, and have a strong understanding of the various social media platforms and how they can be used for marketing and advertising purposes.
How much does a social media manager earn in Australia?
The average age in the industry is recorded to be 40 years, having 61% female share and 39% male share of the total population of social media managers. The average weekly pay for this job is $1,029 per week.
UI/UX Design
What is UI/UX Design?
UI/UX Design is a high-income profession in Australia due to the growing importance of user-centered design in the tech industry.
UI/UX Designers are responsible for designing and creating user-friendly interfaces for digital products such as websites, mobile apps, and software.
They play a critical role in the development process by ensuring that the products are easy to use, visually appealing, and provide a seamless user experience.
To become a UI/UX designer, you should consider completing a short course in graphic design, web design or UI/UX.
Duties of a UI/UX Designer
A UI/UX designer’s duties may include:
Conducting user research and analysing user feedback to understand user needs and preferences.
Creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes of digital products.
Developing and maintaining design systems and style guides.
Collaborating with development teams to ensure that designs are implemented.
Creating visual designs for digital products such as websites, mobile apps, and software.
Ensuring that designs meet accessibility and usability.
Continuously testing and iterating on designs to improve the user experience.
Staying up-to-date with the latest design trends, technologies, and best practices.
Communicating design decisions and rationale to stakeholders.
Participating in product development meetings and providing design input on new features and functionality.
Creating and delivering presentations to clients and stakeholders.
UI/UX job data in Australia
There are over 46,000 graphic and web designers in Australia, including UI/UX designers. About 66% of social media UI/UX designers work full-time hours in all their jobs.
The average age in the industry is recorded to be 35 years, having 51% female share and 49% male share of the total population of UI/UX designers.
How much does UI/UX designer earn in Australia?
The average salary of a UI/UX designer in Australia ranges from $105,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on the level of experience and the size of the employing company.
UI/UX Designers with more experience and a proven track record of creating successful designs tend to earn higher salaries.
Audio Editing
Who is an audio editor?
An audio editor is another high-income profession in Australia, due to the growing demand for audio content in various industries such as film, television, podcasting, and music production.
Audio editors are responsible for shaping audio recordings and ensuring they sound professional, clear, and polished.
They use specialised software to edit, mix and master audio tracks, remove unwanted noise, and add sound effects. As audio content becomes more prevalent, the demand for audio editors is expected to grow.
In order to become Audio editor, you can take short courses in Audio editing and build your portfolio.
Duties of an Audio Editor
The duties of an Audio Editor include:
Recording, editing, and mixing audio for film, television, podcasting, music production and other audio-based projects.
Using specialised software to manipulate and enhance audio recordings, such as Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, Logic Pro and others
Removing unwanted noise, such as background noise, hums or clicks and pops.
Synchronising audio with visual elements such as video or animation
Adding sound effects and background music to enhance the audio production
Mastering audio recordings to ensure they meet industry standards
Collaborating with other members of the production team, including directors, producers, and other audio engineers
Staying up-to-date with the latest audio technologies and industry trends
Maintaining and organising audio files and backups
Troubleshooting and solving technical issues related to audio equipment and software.
Companies are increasingly recognising the importance of audio quality to stay competitive in the market and provide a positive user experience. This makes audio editing a high-income profession in Australia.
Drone Operator
Who is a Drone Operator?
Drone operator skills are quite technical and yield a high income when employed in different fields. Although you might not need a degree to become a drone operator, you are required to have certain certifications, licenses and experience to be relevant in the industry.
In Australia, the use of drones has become increasingly popular for a wide range of applications such as aerial photography, videography, inspection, surveying, and mapping.
With this growing demand for drone services, becoming a skilled drone operator has the potential to be a high-income skill.
Also, the mining and construction industries, agriculture and emergency services are some of the sectors that rely heavily on the usage of drones for several activities, thus providing a vast number of job opportunities for drone operators.
In order to become a drone operator in Australia, you are required to be trained and certified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Duties of a Drone Operator
The duties of a drone operator can vary depending on the specific industry or application they are working in, but generally, their duties are:
Planning and preparing for flights: This includes conducting site assessments, reviewing weather conditions, and creating flight plans that adhere to safety guidelines and regulations.
Operating the drone: This involves flying the drone to perform tasks such as aerial photography, videography, inspection, surveying, and mapping.
Maintaining the drone: Performing regular maintenance and repairs on the drone, as well as ensuring that the drone is in good working condition before each flight.
Analysing data: This involves reviewing and interpreting data collected by the drone, such as images and video footage, to identify any potential issues or areas of concern.
Working closely with other members of the team, such as photographers or engineers, to ensure that the drone is used effectively and efficiently.
Adhering to safety guidelines and regulations: This includes following the guidelines set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and other regulatory bodies, to ensure that the drone is operated safely and responsibly.
Keeping updated with the latest technologies and advancements in the field.
How much does a drone operator in Australia?
The average pay of a drone operator is $80,000 per year. Australia is globally recognised for drone operation and is considered to have a great prospect with a projected growth of 51.1% for drone service industry globally.
Short Form Video Editor
Who is a Short-Form Video Editor?
A short form video editor is a professional who is responsible for creating and editing short videos, typically less than 90 seconds in length.
They use various tools and techniques to craft engaging, visually appealing videos that can be used for marketing, entertainment, or educational purposes.
This includes trimming footage, adding special effects, music, and text, color correction, and more.
Examples of some popular short form video editing software include Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Capcut, Inshot and so on.
In order to become a short form video editor, you will need to learn the basics of video editing software and build a portfolio by working on your own or client projects.
Duties of a Short Form Video Editor
Here are some roles of a short form video editor:
Sourcing and organising video footage: The editor is responsible for finding the best footage to use in the final video. They may be working with raw footage from a camera crew or existing video content.
Video Editing: The editor uses editing software to arrange the footage and create a cohesive video story. They will make cuts, add transitions, and adjust the sound and color to make the video look and sound professional.
Story boarding: The editor may be involved in the story boarding process, which involves creating a visual plan for the video. This involves deciding on the visual style, shots, and pacing of the video.
Sound Design: The editor may add music, sound effects, and dialogue to the video. They will also be responsible for adjusting the levels and timing of the audio to ensure it fits well with the visuals.
Special Effects: Depending on the project, the editor may need to add special effects to the video, such as animation or green screen effects.
Collaboration: The editor will often work closely with the director, producer, and other members of the production team to ensure the final video meets their vision.
Generally, the short form video editor is responsible for bringing the vision of the director, producer or employee to life, creating an engaging and visually stunning video that tells a compelling story.
How much does short-form video editor earn in Australia?
On average, a video editor can earn $60,000 to $75,000 per year in Australia. But since short-form editors are in high demand, you can scale this up fast.
At the moment, there is no specific data on how much short form video editors are earning in Australia.
AI Content Specialist
Who is an AI Content Specialist?
An AI content specialist is a professional who specializes in creating, managing and optimising marketing content using artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
AI content specialists create various content pieces for the business like blogs, social media captions, website copy, video scripts with help of AI.
Since the rise of AI softwares like ChatGPT, many jobs are evolving and one of that will be the content specialists that know how to use AI to maximise the content quantity and quality for the business.
The role of this job is not only to use AI to produce content but rather use it for making content creation process smoother, efficient and faster.
In order to become an AI content specialist, you need to know the basic of content marketing and knowledge of AI softwares. You can undertake a Diploma in Marketing and Communications to get basic marketing knowledge.
Duties of an AI Content Specialist
Here are some roles of an AI content specialist:
Content creation: Developing and producing engaging and high-quality content for businesses
Checking the AI produced content: Fact checking, citing the research sources and grammar issues for the content produced.
Doing keyword research: Finding the keywords that businesses can create content for.
SEO: Making sure that content is user and SEO friendly, which means it is not getting penalised for using AI assistance.
Stay up-to-date with the latest AI technologies and trends, and continuously improve their skills to stay at the forefront of the field.
How much does AI content specialist earn in Australia?
As AI content specialist is a fairly new job role, we found out the average earning of the content specialists is $75,000 to $95,000 per year in Australia.
Big Data Analyst
Who is a Big Data Analyst?
A Big Data Analyst is a professional who is responsible for analyzing large and complex data sets to extract insights, identify patterns, and support decision-making processes in organizations.
They use various data analysis tools and techniques such as machine learning, statistical analysis, and data mining to process and interpret big data.
The goal of a Big Data Analyst is to turn raw data into meaningful and actionable information that can drive business strategies and improve organisational performance.
While some jobs might require Big data analysts to have degree, others may not. So having a degree is not a must when working as a Big Data analyst.
In order to become a Big Data Analyst, you can get started with the Data Analyst certification courses. These courses are foundation courses to get into the industry without a degree.
Duties of a Big Data Analyst
Here are some roles of a Big Data Analyst:
Collecting and processing large and complex data sets from various sources such as databases, cloud platforms, and social media.
Cleaning, transforming, and preprocessing data to ensure its quality and accuracy.
Using various data analysis tools and techniques such as machine learning, statistical analysis, and data mining to uncover insights and patterns in the data.
Visualising data to support data-driven decision-making and communicate findings to stakeholders.
Building predictive models and forecasting trends based on historical data.
Identifying and addressing data quality issues and recommending solutions to improve data accuracy.
Developing dashboards and reports to monitor key performance indicators and provide ongoing updates to stakeholders.
Collaborating with cross-functional teams such as data engineers, software developers, and business leaders to ensure that data analysis aligns with business objectives.
Staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in big data technologies and tools, and incorporating these advancements into data analysis processes.
The general role of a Big Data Analyst is to convert vast amounts of raw data into meaningful information that can be used to make informed business decisions and drive organizational success.
How much does big data analyst earn in Australia?
According to Seek, on average, Big Data Analysts can earn $90,000 to $110,000 per year. Again, your income will vary based on expertise, qualifications and employer.
Cloud Engineer
Who is a Cloud Engineer?
A Cloud Engineer is a professional who designs, develops, implements, and manages cloud-based systems and applications.
They are responsible for implementing and maintaining cloud infrastructure, ensuring that cloud services meet business requirements, and performing ongoing administration and maintenance tasks. The cloud engineer must have a deep understanding of cloud computing and its underlying technologies, as well as experience with cloud services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
They must also have strong experience with virtualisation, network security, and data management.
To become a cloud engineer, you will need to undertake foundation courses like a Diploma in information technology and complete the certifications like AWS etc., and build your portfolio.
Duties of a Cloud Engineer
Here are some roles of a Cloud Engineer:
Design and implementation of cloud architecture: Cloud Engineers work with stakeholders to design, implement, and manage cloud computing systems that meet the organization’s needs.
Deployment and management of cloud infrastructure: Cloud Engineers deploy and manage cloud-based infrastructure, including virtual machines, storage, and networking, to ensure the availability and scalability of cloud services.
Automation of cloud infrastructure: Cloud Engineers automate the deployment, configuration, and management of cloud infrastructure using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, or CloudFormation.
Security and compliance: Cloud Engineers ensure the security and compliance of cloud services by implementing security controls and policies, performing regular security audits, and ensuring that all cloud deployments are in compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Performance monitoring and optimization: Cloud Engineers monitor the performance of cloud services and identify and resolve performance issues to ensure that cloud services are fast and reliable.
Technical support: Cloud Engineers provide technical support to users of cloud services, troubleshoot issues, and resolve problems to ensure the smooth operation of cloud services.
The general role of a cloud engineer is to manage and ensure cloud services are running optimally.
So these are our pick of Top high-income skills to hone in 2023 and beyond.
Although a degree isn’t necessary to explore these career options, you must have the appropriate skills and experience for these jobs to successfully enter and maintain relevance.
Also, regularly updating your knowledge in a related field or industry can help increase your chances of getting high pay.
Many international students usually have this question in their mind that
“Can I start a business in Australia as an International students?”.
Short answer to that question is Yes!
BUT.
There are requirements and other things you need to be mindful of when starting a business in Australia.
So in this blog, we are giving you detailed information about starting a business in Australia as an international student.
Requirements to start a business in Australia as an international student
In order to start a business in Australia, these are some of the basic requirements:
ABN
As most of the international students start a business in Australia as a Self-employed Person or a Sole Trader, for that you would need an ABN.
ABN stands for Australian Business Number.
It is a 11 digit number issued by Australian Business Register in order to recognise you as a business.
Basically anyone running a business in Australia must have an ABN.
You can register an ABN under your name like for example John Smith or you can register a business name as well like Overseas Students Australia.
If you want to register a separate name for your business, then you can do it via ASIC.
It’s free to get an ABN to get started with your business in Australia.
If you want to know more about how to get an ABN we got a really useful video regarding that on our channel. Check the video below for more details
If you’re still unsure after watching the video, then you can use the services of an accountant and apply for an ABN with them as well. It usually cost some money.
TFN
It is important that get a TFN as well.
TFN stands for Tax File Number.
This 9 digit number will be used for lodging your personal tax returns.
It is also free to get a TFN. You can watch the video below if you want to get a TFN.
ACN
If want to run a business as company, then you need to register a company in Australia.
For that you will need to get an ACN.
ACN stands for Australian Company Number.
As an international student you can register a company also it is important that one of the directors in the company must be an Australian resident. That person can be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
Getting an ACN is not free as there is a fee that need to be paid when registering an ACN.
The cost of setting up a company in Australia can start from around $500 onwards.
You can read more about registering a company from the ASIC website.
Popular types of businesses for international students in Australia
There are not many limitations in regards to what type of business you can run as an international student in Australia.
It will depend upon your skill set and your interests as well.
You can also look for a gap in the market for a product or service that needs to be fulfilled.
Here are some common types of businesses that International students run in Australia.
Ride sharing services
One of the most common business type is ride sharing services.
It is about providing ride services for driving passenger from point A to point B.
There are some popular apps in Australia like Uber, where you can register yourself as a self-employed person and can choose your own hours to provide these ride sharing services.
Food delivery services
Another popular type of business is food delivery services.
One of the most popular platform for food delivery services is Uber Eats where you can work as a self-employed person to deliver food from the food outlets to the customers.
You can sign up for Uber Eats using this link here.
Cleaning
Cleaning is one of the most popular type of business that many International students run in Australia.
You can get a cleaning franchise or you can get some cleaning contracts yourselves in order to start a business as a cleaner.
You can choose to work in residential or commercial cleaning.
There are many popular apps like Airtasker in Australia for finding cleaning work as well.
Tutoring
Tutoring is another popular business among students where you can provide tutoring services to other students.
It could be providing tutoring services to high school students or for university students.
Freelancing
You can also provide services as a freelancer in Australia. Some of the popular freelancing businesses in Australia includes:
social media management,
digital marketing,
video editing
photography
Influencers
Some international students also run their businesses as an influences in Australia. Influencers provide advertising services to different brands in Australia or overseas.
Influencers promote the services use different channels like
YouTube
Instagram
TikTok
Trade services
You can also provide Trade Services as a business like
Plumbing
Painting
Carpentry
Bricklaying
Just keep in mind that when providing some of these services, you will need to have the right certification and licenses.
Selling products
You can also start selling some products as a business in Australia.
You can set up an online business or an offline business by renting a shop.
So, there are no limitations on the type of business you can run as an international student in Australia.
Want to know how you can make money online in Australia? Check more than 16 ideas here.
Work hours when running a business as an international student
Next very interesting question that get asked quite often is.
“Can I work more than 40 hours per fortnight if I’m running my own business?”.
As you know the international students are required to abide by their student visa conditions and one of that condition is regarding the work limitation.
This visa conditions requires students to work no more than 40 hours per fortnight during their study terms.
However, students are allowed to work unlimited hours during their official school holidays.
Currently, International students are allowed to work unlimited hours until 30th June 2023.
But once those unlimited work hours finishes, regardless of whether you’re working on TFN (as an employee) or an ABN (as a business) you will need to abide by the work hours conditions on your visa.
So you need to make sure that you don’t work more than 40 hours per fortnight even if you are running your own business.
As an employee, your employer have a responsibility to make sure that they give you work hours as per your visa condition
But as a business, it is your responsibility to make sure that you do not exceed the amount of hours you are legally allowed to work, especially when your study is in progress.
Read more about work hours conditions and other work hour requirements here.
Dealing with taxes when running a business in Australia
The next important question is.
“Do I need to pay taxes when I’m running my own business in Australia?”.
Like any other business owner, you will be responsible for managing your own taxes.
You will need to pay your shares of taxes depending upon your income.
In certain businesses, you are required to pay additional taxes like GST (Goods and Services Tax) as a part of meeting your tax obligations.
so it’s very important that you Lodge your tax returns within the time frame allocated
If you are unsure about taxes as a business, we suggest you speaking to an accountant as they can provide you with advice regarding that and many other things.
And that’s pretty much it in regards to starting a business in Australia as an International students.
We hope that information provided above helped you understanding the requirements for registering, taxes, work hours and some popular type of businesses among international students as well.
If you are planning to start your own business, we would love to hear about it. Let us know in the comment section below.
All the best with your journey of starting a business in Australia as an international student.
Many international students are usually aware of the work restrictions on a student visa when studying in Australia.
But there are still some common questions about work restrictions like
“How many hours can an international student work in Australia?”
“Can a student work unlimited hours in Australia on a student visa?”
“Until when international students are allowed to work unlimited hours in Australia?”
So, in this article, we are going to discuss everything about work hours restrictions for international students in Australia.
Before we get started, here is a quick cheat sheet of the changes that are coming into effect from 1st July 2023.
Can International Students Work Along with Their Studies in Australia?
The cost of studying abroad is significant. The benefits of working while studying are numerous, and international students studying in Australia are usually permitted to work on their student visas.
During the academic year, students with a valid student visa are permitted to work 40 48 hours fortnight (every two weeks), and they are allowed to work an unlimited number of hours during breaks.
This is done to guarantee that students may maximise their earnings while they are not in school while still focusing on their academics when their study is in progress.
How Many Hours Can Students Work During Their Study in Australia?
In the past, International Students could only work up to 40 hours per fortnight (every 2 weeks) when their study is in progress.
But since the new update from the Department of Education, international students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight from 1st July 2023. There is exception to this as students working in aged care sector can continue working unlimited hours until 31st December 2023.
There are many international students that might think they have unlimited work hours. But, this is not completely true. Usually, students can only work unlimited hours during their official study vacations.
International students studying Masters by research and Doctorate programs can work unlimited hours even when their study is in progress.
Students studying with the Australia Awards scholarship or Defence students are also required to follow the 48 hours per fortnight work limitations during their studies and unlimited work hours during their official school holidays.
But the Australian government has offered a temporary easing of working hours due to worker shortages. As a result, students are now permitted to work more than 48 hours every two weeks until 30th June 2023.
Can Students Work Unlimited Hours In Australia?
From 1st July 2023, with a valid student visa, international students in Australia are allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight (or 24 hours every week) while courses are in session. There are no limitations on how many hours they can work during officially recognised school breaks.
However, as per the new update in the budget 2023 announced on May 9th 2023, international students already working in the aged care sector on 9th May 2023 can continue to work unrestricted hours until 31st December 2023.
To avoid confusion about the work week, in Australia, the work week starts from Monday and ends on the next Sunday.
But currently, these work restrictions have been lifted which means students can continue to work unlimited hours until 30th June 2023.
Until When International Students Can Work Unlimited Hours In Australia?
To help with the labour shortages, the restrictions on student work hours on visa have been temporarily relaxed. These relaxed rules for unlimited work hours will expire on June 30, 2023.
All current students, new student arrivals, and secondary candidates (arriving along with students) are permitted to work over 40 hours per week in any industry until June 30, 2023.
A student visa holder’s ability to work will be limited to a 48 hours per fortnight after June 30, 2023 (except students working in the aged care sector, as noted above) as the Australian government wants students to prioritise getting a high-quality Australian education and credential.
International students must ensure that they are informed of any changes to visa requirements, including work restrictions and hours.
Can International Students Come And Work In Australia Before Their Course Commencement?
Australian government relaxed rules regarding students commencing work before their course commencement during the pandemic period. Students were allowed to come before the start of their course and start working even before the course commencement.
But since last update from the Department of Home Affairs, there is no mention regarding this on their website and students are advised to confirm this change regarding starting work before course commencement with their university, agent or the department.
Students can check their visa conditions also to see if they can or can’t commence work before the course commencement.
But after 30th June 2023, as the restrictions on work hours will be back, students can only commence work after the start of their official study period.
In the past, students were not allowed to begin working until after their studies had begun, and they were allowed to arrive in Australia up to 90 days prior to the commencement of their degree.
Can Students Work After Completing Their Studies in Australia?
Students who are studying in the major city areas, i.e. Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, can get up to two-year post-study visa work.
Students studying in regional areas can obtain a three to four year post-study work visa, allowing them to remain in Australia after their graduation.
But the new suggested changes by the government mean there will be additional time for post study work visas for international students studying in the areas of verified skills shortages.
Students completing eligible qualifications and in high demand occupations will be able to apply for additional 2 years of post study work visas. You can read more details about these eligible qualifications here.
Apart from that, you can also keep an eye on the website of the Department of Home Affairs for further details on this.
How Many Hours Can My Dependent Family Member Work on My Student Visa in Australia?
Currently, the dependent family members of the student visa holders (subclass 500) can work unlimited hours until 30th June 2023.
Usually, the dependents of some student visa holders are required to follow the work hours restrictions as well.
However, if you are studying a Master’s degree (by coursework or research) or Doctorate degree in Australia, then your dependents are allowed to work unlimited hours even when your study is in session.
Dependents of the students studying other courses (than the listed above) will need to abide by 48 hours per fortnight work restrictions after 30th June 2023.
Can International Students Work Unlimited Hours During Holidays?
Yes, international students are allowed to work unlimited hours during their official holiday or term break.
Sometimes employers may ask you to provide a letter regarding your official term break while studying on a student visa.
In that case, you can ask your university or school to provide you with a letter or certificate for official school term break.
How Many Hours Can International Students Work in Australia After 30th June 2023?
As per the latest news update from the Department of Home Affairs, international students can only work 48 hours per fortnight after 30th June 2023 (except students working in the aged care sector, as noted above).
It means the work restrictions for new and existing student visa holders will restart from 1st July 2023.
International students visa holders are expected to abide by these work restrictions during their study period.
What Happens if Students Work More Than 48 Hours per Fortnight After 30th June 2023?
International students (except students working in the aged care sector, as noted above) will be required to follow the 48 hours per fortnight work limits after 30th June 2023.
Any students working more than the work restrictions will be in a breach of their student visa conditions. It can also lead to the cancellation of the visa.
So, we recommend that you always abide by the student visa work restrictions.
Can International Students Work 40 Hours?
Until 30th June 2023, international students can work more than 40 hours per week on a student visa in Australia.
After 1st July 2023, if international students work 40 hours in a week, then they must ensure that they are not in breach of their 48 hours per fortnight work restrictions in the fortnight.
It is a student’s duty to keep regular account for how many hours they are working in a fortnight.
Why Australian Government is Bringing Back the Work Restriction For International Students?
In January 2022, Australian government announced unlimited work hours for international students in Australia to address the labour shortages due to pandemic.
Since then the slow economic growth and opening of Australia’s international borders has helped to reduce the labour market shortages. And government wants to also make sure that student focus on getting a quality Australian education and qualifications.
While student visa holders can work during their study and holiday period, the main aim of the student visa is to get a high quality education.
So Australian government has decided to bring the work limitation of 48 hours per fortnight for international studenyts from 1st July 2023.
Comparing Work Hours For International Students in Australia, Canada, UK And USA
Now let’s look at the comparison of work hours for international students in some of the most popular study abroad destinations.
Australia
While classes remain on, international students in Australia with a valid student visa are permitted to work up to 40 hours per fortnight, with no restrictions on how many hours they can work during officially recognised school holidays.
There are no such restrictions on the level of study when it comes to work hours for international students in Australia. The student visa holder dependents can also have work rights as mentioned above.
Students can also work as a self-employed person like Uber Eats in Australia.
United Kingdom (UK)
In the UK, during the academic year, you are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week with a student visa for full-time degree-level study. There is a weekly cap of 20 hours for any work—whether it is paid or unpaid—done for one or more organisations.
If you are studying qualifications below degree level, then you can work only 10 hours per week during study term.
There are also restrictions on type of work like you can’t be self-employed or engage in any business activity and many others.
Canada
International students in Canada can work 20 hours a week during their study term. During scheduled study breaks, students are allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. Although students in Canada are allowed to work as self-employed people.
If you work more than that, then you are in breach of the terms of your study permit. If you do this, you risk losing your student status and risk having future requests for a study or work visa denied. You could even be asked to leave the nation.
United States of America (USA)
International students who are enrolled for full-time studies and holding F-1 status in the USA, are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during study period and up to 40 hours during vacations.
Students who hold a valid F-1 status cannot be employed off-campus without meeting eligibility requirements and obtaining official authorisation. International students also need to agree that the position they are taking on campus doesn’t replace a job for the US resident.
There are more terms and conditions on what students can and can’t do in the US when they are on their student visa. You can read more details here.
Overall Summary of Work Hours in Australia
Here is a quick summary of work hours for international students in Australia before and after 1st July 2023:
Timeframes
When The Course Is In Session
When The Course Isn’t In Session
Until 30th June 2023
Unlimited work hours
Unlimited work hours
After 1st July 2023
48 hours per fortnight
Unlimited work hours
So, this is what you need to know about student work hours in Australia. If you want to know more about work in Australia for international students, then you should check this guide here.
If you are planning to work in Australia, you will need either a TFN or an ABN or maybe both.
As an international student, it is very important to understand the difference when working with TFN and ABN.
In this article, we are going to be discussing the difference between ABN vs TFN.
What is TFN?
“TFN” stands for Tax File Number. It is a 9-digit number that identifies you as an employee and a taxpayer in Australia.
Anyone who wants to work in Australia will need to have a TFN. It is a unique number for everyone, and you only get it once in your lifetime.
Learn how to apply for your TFN here
What is an ABN?
“ABN” is an abbreviation for “Australian Business Number.” It is an 11-digit number that identifies you as a business in Australia.
Every business operating in Australia must have an ABN. You can work as a sole trader using ABN as well.
Learn how to apply for your ABN here:
ABN vs TFN
1. Employment Status
When you are working with TFN, you’d have to sign a contract that signifies you as an employee of the business.
If you are operating under an ABN, either as a contractor, freelancer, self-employed, or gig-economy worker, you will be considered a self-employed business in Australia.
2. Pay
With TFN, the employer pays you salary or wages every week or every fortnight, which usually goes directly into your bank account.
As an ABN holder, you don’t get paid a salary or wages. You will have to create your own invoice and send it to the business, and they will pay your invoice.
With an ABN, you get paid based on the contract of agreement you have with the business.
3. Taxes
When working under TFN, your employer deducts taxes from your salary before it gets paid into your bank account.
And at the end of the financial year, you receive a payment summary in MyGov that includes the amount of money the employer paid you during the financial year and the amount of taxes deducted from your salary.
This information in MyGov will help you with your tax return. Here’s a tax return guide for international students in Australia:
For ABN holders, the businesses you work with will pay you the invoice in full. They don’t deduct any taxes from that, and if your business is registered for GST, you will have to charge that to your customers.
So, you are required to pay and manage your own taxes when working with an ABN.
4. Superannuation
When you are working under TFN, your employer is responsible for paying you superannuation, which is added to your wages and salary.
At the moment, it is 10.5% of your salary and that goes directly into your superannuation fund account.
If you are working with ABN, you do not get any superannuation paid by the businesses you work with. However, as an ABN holder, you can contribute money to your own superannuation.
5. Insurance
If you are working under a TFN arrangement, your employer will cover you for work cover and personal indemnity insurance.
They have to pay an insurance premium for having you work with them. It is to make sure that you are covered for any accident or any other personal indemnity issues that might occur at the workplace.
However, with an ABN, you are responsible for getting your own insurance, whether it is work cover insurance, or personal indemnity insurance or any other relevant insurance..
6. Leave
If you are working as a casual employee, there is no leave entitlement for you, which means there is no annual leave or sick leave. But if you are working on a part-time or full-time basis, you are entitled to annual and sick leave.
If you are working with an ABN, you are your own boss, so there are no holiday entitlements for you.
Can you work with ABN and TFN at the same time?
One of the very common questions among international students is, Can I work on both ABN and TFN at the same time?
The answer is Yes!
Let’s explain that using this example:
James, an international student, came to Australia with a student visa and got a part-time job in a local restaurant as a kitchen hand.
Due to the restrictions on his visa, he got 40 hours per fortnight and he and his boss signed a contract.
Now he works as an employee with TFN, and he gets paid based on the hours he works.
His boss has to deduct taxes from his salary, pay him superannuation, and give him annual leave or sick leave, insurance, and other entitlements as well.
Now let’s say due to the pandemic, James lost a few work hours in the restaurant, so he decided to become an Uber Eats delivery person.
When doing Uber Eats, he is not an employee of Uber Eats, but rather you work as a delivery partner with them.
So basically, he is running his own business as he chooses his own work hours and does deliveries when it suits him.
James is now working part-time with a restaurant, and he is self-employed as a partner with Uber Eats.
There is no superannuation paid by Uber Eats and there are no taxes deducted from his payments. He also doesn’t have any leave entitlements or insurances either.
He can work on both ABN and TFN at the same time, but no more than hours allowed on his student visa.
Sham Contracting
It is very important to understand the difference between working with an ABN or TFN because some employers may ask you to get an ABN when you should be working as an employee on a TFN.
That is known as Sham contracting.
A Sham contract is when an employee tries to disguise an employment relationship as an independent contracting arrangement.
Some employers try to do that so that they won’t have to worry about your taxes, superannuation, insurance, annual or sick leave, and other entitlements.
A resume is one of the most important documents for any job application.
Most recruiters and employers receive thousands of resumes each day for job applications. And every single applicant tries their best to stand out.
But still we notice that many students don’t pay attention to these common student resume mistakes when submitting their job applications.
So in this article, we are going to talk about the 9 most common resume mistakes to avoid in Australia.
1. Typos and Grammatical Errors
The majority of international students in Australia are from non-English-speaking countries, and while many students are confident in their English levels, there is always the possibility of some minor errors or mistakes in their resume.
We have seen local students who are well versed in English language making these mistakes as well.
The best way to avoid grammar and spelling errors is to proofread your resume before sending it for any job application. Make sure you read every single line in your resume and check it thoroughly.
If you are not confident enough, you should get someone else to proofread your resume for you before submitting it for any job application.
If you need help, you can ask your tutors or support staff team in your university or institution.
2. Not Customising Your Resume
Most students, when they apply for jobs these days, use ready-made resume templates for their job applications.
That is perfectly fine as a starting point, but many students use this same resume for every job application.
That is certainly the wrong thing to do.
If you are really serious about getting a job, you should be customising your resume for each job application.
This is important because these days, resumes are not first read by human beings; they are usually first read by automated machines and software, and if your resume passes the test by the software or machine, then it gets passed to the Human Resource Manager.
It is critical to understand that your resume must be tailored to the job advertisement you see on the website.
We recommend that you read the job advertisement thoroughly, go through some of the keywords that are in the job advertisement, and make sure you customise your resume based on those keywords.
That would certainly give you an edge over other applicants.
Highlight the keywords in the job advertisement and include them in your resume
3. Including Unnecessary Information
Your resume should not be more than 2 or 3 pages. In those 2 or 3 pages, you want to highlight the best things possible on your resume.
Try to avoid any unnecessary information that is not relevant to the job you are applying for.
For example, if you have already completed graduation, then you don’t need to include information about your Year 8 or Year 10 information.
And when it comes to adding experience to your resume, add only experiences that are applicable to the job application.
For example, if you are applying for an IT job, then including all of your previous experience in hospitality jobs might not be a big help.
If you don’t have any experience in the IT industry, then you might include the most recent experience in the hospitality industry.
Try to look for some volunteer or internship opportunities, so you can include relevant work experiences.
4. Wrong Sequence of Information
Most students already know that they should always include their experience first in their resume, followed by their educational background and other information.
One of the things you should always keep in mind when it comes to experience is that you should always consider what type of job you are applying for.
For example, you might be applying for a job as a graduate accountant, and your recent job experience might be working as a cashier at McDonald’s, while you also did an internship last year at an accounting firm.
In this case, you should highlight your internship experience even though it might not be your most recent work experience, as long as it is relevant to the job application.
That experience should be listed first in your experience section, and you can include your McDonald’s experience after that.
That sequence of information is very important when applying for a job.
5. Ignoring Volunteer or Unpaid Work
As an international student in Australia, it is very difficult to get a job right away in your own industry or field.
One of the mistakes that students make in their resume is that they might have done some unpaid work or volunteer work in Australia, but they do not include that in their resume.
Volunteering could include helping the local charity or the local football club, or any of the other volunteer work that you have done in Australia. It is always good to include that in your resume.
Not only does it demonstrate that you are a person who loves to help the community, but it also shows your ability to work with teams, your communication skills, and many other soft skills.
So, when it comes to unpaid work or volunteering, it is highly recommended that you include it in your resume; Australian employers love to see it, especially if you have no work experience at all.
And if you are looking for some volunteer work, then we suggest you check websites like Seek Volunteer and Go Volunteer.
6. Not Having a Visually Appealing Resume
Many international students don’t pay attention to their resume aesthetic, that is, the layout, spacing, font, or colours in their resume.
There are plenty of applications available for you to create your resume for free. You can also download a free resume template from our website here.
We make sure our resume templates stand out in terms of aesthetics, and they are visually appealing as well.
Before you submit any resume for any job application, make sure it follows the basic formatting standards.
In a standard Australian Resume, you do not need to include your photos or personal information; your culture, your religion, the country you come from, your gender, etc.
If you make your resume stand out visually, that would definitely give you an edge over other job applicants.
7. Providing Wrong Contact Information
This is one of the biggest sins you can commit on your resume, that is, providing wrong contact details on your resume.
It is very important to provide your contact details on the resume. Your contact details usually include:
Your postal address
Your phone number
Your email address
LinkedIn profile URL (optional)
Your website (optional)
If any of the contact details you are providing on your resume is wrong or outdated, then it could mean that you might miss out on the job.
Imagine an employer picking up the phone to call you for an interview to only find out that the number is wrong, it might put them off contacting you as they might consider it a very negligent act on your part.
So, make sure to check your contact details before submitting your resume for any job application.
8. Not Providing Any Data or Statistics
Gone are the days when employers will accept any generic resumes for the job applications.
These days you need to stand out among thousands of job applications.
Including specific numerical data or statistics or results you achieved in your previous jobs are going to make a clear statement about yourself as an applicant.
So let’s say you worked in the hospitality job as a supervisor, and you want to include some recognition from that job role in your resume.
In that case, you can use some specific quantified data or numbers like “I helped to increase the restaurant sales by 15% by introducing Instagram influencers into our social media strategy”.
You can talk about statistics or numbers regarding customer satisfaction rates, sales, profit, cost savings, etc.
9. Not Including Academic Achievements
It is quite fair to say that students who just completed their graduation recently will not have a ton of experience on their resume.
The good thing is that employers and recruiters know that too.
So while there might not be many work-related achievements on the resume, it is critical to include any academic achievements in the resume. Which is often underestimated by many students.
Academic achievements could include:
High grades
Specific subject achievements
Certificates of recognition from school or teachers
Testimonials or reference letters from lecturers or tutors
Group project achievements
Other academic achievements
Summary
In the summary, we can conclude that doing any of the common student resume mistakes we discussed above could mean getting rejected for your job applications.
So, our suggestion is to pay attention to these mistakes, and before you submit your resume for any job application, proofread it and check that you are not making these mistakes.
