Opting for the right degree program in Australia can turn out to be truly rewarding in terms of a handsome salary and satisfying perks. By using a temporary work visa, international students can reside in Australia for about two to four years after completing their graduation. The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) allows international students to stay for pursuing either further education or work anywhere in Australia.

However, if you wish to work while studying, there can be a number of options to support your living expenses. International students can work up to 40 hours for two weeks when in session, and can work for an unlimited number of hours during the holidays.

In this post, we have listed a few jobs that will help international students in Australia fetch good income.

Why work while you study in Australia?

Working in Australia can help you gain valuable work experience as an international student. You get more familiarised with the working environment in a country foreign to you, and the standards you’ve known back home. There are several other benefits of working while you study in Australia.

If you aren’t a native English speaker, working in an environment where everyone around speaks in English will help you. You will be able to refine your English speaking and listening abilities, including reading and writing.

You will also get to earn an income that can help support travel and other living expenses. The income you earn may not entirely support your stay, but it will cushion some expenses. While working, you develop a wider perspective of interaction with other people compared to studying in a confined environment at the university. The more people you interact and communicate with at work, the more confident you are of what to expect when you begin your professional career.

There are various other benefits associated with working while studying in Australia. Meanwhile, let’s begin exploring the types of jobs you can take up as an international student.

Seven types of jobs for working while studying in Australia as an international student

 1. Security Jobs

International students in Australia can take up the work of security guards or security officers. If you desire to become a security officer, you will first need to complete a certification course to acquire a certificate with the title “Certificate II in Security Operations”. It is a short-term course which will cost the students approximately $499 to $1100 for its completion.

The pay per hour for working as a security guard in Australia is nearly $25. As a security guard, a student can work at commercial places such as shopping centres, construction sites, supermarkets and the like.

If a student is working as a security guard at the events, you can expect to get paid more than $35 per hour. This is the same, in case you are working at night.

 2. Cleaning jobs

It can be a certain possibility that you may work as a cleaner during your studies in Australia to earn extra income. As a cleaner, you have many options to work in different settings. It can be both residential settings like private homes or commercial settings like offices.

You also have the choice to start your own cleaning business in Australia, this can surely get you good earnings too. As a cleaner, you can earn up to $35 per hour. On certain occasions, you can even charge a higher amount, more than $35.

International students do not require any specific certificate for working as cleaners in Australia. They can receive the training at the place of work and start working without any delay.

 3. Construction Jobs

Construction is another job that international students can carry on while studying in Australia. They can work at various construction sites such as commercial building construction, residential building construction sites, etc.

Most international students prefer to work as construction cleaning and casual labourers. These jobs do not require any specific certificates. All you need to have is ‘white card training’ before entering the construction industry. White Card Training course costs around $150.

Working in the construction industry involves a lot of physical work, yet most international students prefer working in these industries as it can pay them well. You can earn around $30 per hour.

 4. Specialised Hospitality Jobs

Next on the list is a specialised hospitality job. Applying for this job implies that you have certain special skills that will accomplish the needs of the hospitality industry. This job gives you the opportunity to work as a waiter or waitress. 

Specialised hospitality jobs do not require any specific certificate. However, it will be an advantage for you if you get specialised training in this domain to earn well.

RSA is the course that international students can pursue to earn around $25 to $30 as a bartender or any other work in the hospitality industry.

The RSA course will cost you $49.

There is a possibility that you can earn well in situations when there is a shortage of staff in this industry. Even basic jobs like waiter or kitchen staff can get you $25 per hour.

 5. Personal Trainer

The personal trainer also known as PT is another interesting job for international students in Australia. As a personal trainer, your job will be to provide training and give instructions to people concerning their healthy living and well-being.

You can earn up to $35 per hour as a personal trainer for people in Australia. You need to complete Certificate IV in Fitness course to become a Personal Trainer. If you want to work as an indoor fitness instructor, then you will need Certificate III in Fitness qualification.

 6. Delivery Services

This job can be divided into two categories, namely; food and non-food delivery services.

• Food Delivery Persons:  There are several online food delivery platforms in Australia, where international students can sign up and start working as food delivery persons. Working during peak hours can get you good money. You can partner with Uber eats to deliver the food.

• Courier Delivery Person:  In order to deliver non-food items, international students can become courier delivery persons.  For pursuing this job, they will need a bike, for which they will need to have a driving licence too. As a courier delivery person, you will be responsible for delivering posts, parcels, letters, etc. this job can get you $25 to $30 per hour.

 7. Dog Walker and Pet Sitter

This profession will interest international students who love pets. As people’s lives are getting busier with the passing of time, they need their pets to be cared for and looked after by someone in their absence. This job is most in-demand for various households in Australia.

You do not need to have a formal qualification to get this job. However, having Certificate III in Animal Services can help you get the job easily.

Therefore, these are some of the jobs that can help international students in Australia earn an extra income. Students can both work and study in Australia to cover their basic financial expenses. If you are planning to study in Australia, you must not miss out on these opportunities to work there.