Australia is a melting pot with a variety of nationalities and cultures due to the increasing number of international students, reaching up to an average of 45% every year. Life in Australia as an international student can be a life-changing experience. It is also a step closer to endless future possibilities. One of the reasons why international students are so intrigued by Australia is because of its close-to-perfect college rankings and modern lifestyle. Australia is also home to flawless beaches, nature parks and wildlife. But more importantly, Australia provides international students with various financial support opportunities like part-time work.
International students in Australia on a valid student visa can work for up to 40 hours per fortnight (40 hours every 2 weeks) while school is in session. There is no limit on the number of hours an international student can work during recognised school vacations. It amazes international students because working part-time can be used as an opportunity to learn valuable skills, and the income gained can be used for transportation, food and entertainment purposes.
Here are some of the best part-time jobs suited for international students in Australia:
FAST-FOOD SERVER / WAITER
A good training ground for students who are in the Commercial Cookery courses. International students will be paid to do a job they like. But this isn’t a job limited to students studying cookery courses, if you have a penchant for service and speaking with people, there are many restaurants and fine dining establishments that require your skills.
Furthermore, the average salary of a fast food attendant is $25.87 per hour in Australia. So you will be well compensated for your work. *This information is updated as of 02-05-2022.
ADMIN OFFICER / SECRETARY
This is for international students who are more into clerical work. Working as an admin secretary will help you hone your organisational skills. You will also learn how to pay attention to detail, work under pressure and be a better verbal and written communicator among others. Being an admin officer will help you learn skills and enhance your abilities in a way that will be of benefit to you in the future.
BARTENDER
A bartender, on the other hand, works in bars and other social and cultural activities, serving different types of beverages. From creatively mixing mocktails here and there to serving exquisite wine to patrons, bartenders do more than serve drinks. They deliver warm and welcoming customer service and ensure that guests enjoy themselves. To work in this field, you should be personable, creative and able to work under pressure.
BARISTA
Cafe culture is so important to Australians and getting a job serving coffee is arguably one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture. There are about 1.3 million coffees sold every day and brews around 1.26 billion cups a year in Australia, amounting to total coffee sales of more than $3 billion. This is a booming industry.
To work as a barista, you need to have strong customer service skills and be proficient in English. You will also need to be familiar with popular coffee orders and how to make them (although your workplace will likely also train you).
FAST-FOOD SERVER
This type of job requires you to have great communication skills so you can deal with customers properly. The idea is to keep a perpetual smile on your face as you respond to customer queries (and complaints) and ensure customer satisfaction. It’s a great part-time role to enhance your communication skills and learn how to properly communicate with the locals.
CASHIER
A cashier’s responsibilities include receiving payments, issuing receipts, gift-wrapping packages and keeping track of all cash and credit transactions. As a cashier, you can work in grocery stores, shopping malls, retail outlets, boutiques or entertainment venues. A cashier needs to understand basic maths, have good interpersonal communication, be patient, pay attention to detail and more. This is a wonderful job that will certainly pay dividends in school and the workplace.
MAKEOVER ARTIST / STYLIST
Creativity is the name of this game. Makeover artists and stylists need to be creative, have an eye for designs/details and be great listeners. The best artists are those who listen to their clients and understand their needs. If make-up is your hobby, you can turn it into a profitable venture. Working part-time as a makeover artist will also give you the experience you need to start taking on your clients in the future if you wish to follow this path.
RETAIL ASSISTANT
Due to its shift-based nature, retail jobs are extremely popular with international students. Whilst you will need a core knowledge of the products you are selling, working in retail isn’t a job you have to take home with you, allowing students to freshen up away from the classroom. You can check out, Wool Worths, Kmart, and Target for part-time job vacancies.
DELIVERY DRIVER
Another option for those who like to drive is to work as a delivery person. Some international students prefer using their vehicles over public transportation; working as a delivery driver means you can use your car or bike to deliver passengers or products on your way to and/or after school. This might be the easiest part-time job because you can pick your work hours.
Some part-time job vacancies for delivery drivers include Uber, DoorDash, and Deliveroo.
If you’re an international student who wants to make money while studying, there are plenty of part-time jobs out there that can fit your timetable and help you earn some extra income.
This information has been accurately researched and is correct as of the date of publishing.