FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Ok so you’ve arrived in Australia with your student VISA and you’re keen to get cracking on earning some extra cash while you study. Below are some common questions we’

ve been asked that may be of interest to you.

I have my student VISA, what other documents do I need get before I can start working in Australia?

If you were granted your student VISA before 26 April 2008, then you will need to apply separately to the

Department of Immigration for permission to work in Australia. You cannot seek permission to work or commence working until the teaching period has commenced for the year and you will need to provide evidence of enrolment. For more information on how to apply go to:

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/working_while_studying/how-to-apply.htm

If you have been granted a student VISA after 26 April 2008, then your VISA will already contain your permission to work clause.

You will also need a Tax File Number to work in Australia. Contact the Australian Taxation Office about the requirements and processes to gain one. www.ato.gov.au

What are my working rights on a student visa?

You can work up to 20 hours a week whilst your course is in session. This excludes any work you might need to do as a component of your study or training. During the holiday periods you can work unlimited hours.

If you have other family members travelling on your VISA, they also must wait until your course commences before applying or commencing employment. They are allowed to work a total of 20 hours per week regardless of holiday times etc. Family members of students who have started a masters or doctorate course may work unlimited hours.

If you undertake any volunteer or unpaid work, this also counts towards your 20 hours per week entitlement.

What’

s the difference between casual, part time and full time employment?

In casual employment, there is no expectation that the work you do will be an ongoing arrangement. Casual employees therefore, are typically paid by the hour and are not eligible for any sick or holiday leave. Casual employees can legally refuse a specific work opportunity at any time and both parties, (either the employee or the employer) can terminate their agreement on the spot. No notice periods are necessary.

Part time employment is a fixed number of hours worked per week and you are eligible to accrue annual leave and sick leave on a pro-rated basis. You are also required to provide a notice period for terminating employment. This will be outlined in your contract of employment.

Full time employment entails working a standard number of hours per week, usually between 37.5 and 40 hours. You will also be entitled to accrue holiday leave and be compensated for any sick leave. Similarly with part time work, you are also required to provide a notice period for terminating employment. This will be outlined withing your contract of employment.

For more information on types of employments and your rights in each capacity contact www.jobwatch.org.au

How do I apply for jobs? What’

s the process look like?

Once you have obtained permission to work in Australia and you have been delegated a Tax File Number, you’re now in a position to apply for a job. In order to do so, you’

ll need to provide potential employers with a resume that outlines your skills and experience, along with a covering letter. By using MyJobWizard to prepare these documents, you can rest assured that your details will not only be presented in a professional manner, but they will also contain the specific information requested by several leading companies, thereby giving you the very best chance for success.

Upon submission of your covering letter and resume, if you are eligible for the role, you will then be contacted by the employer and asked to attend an interview. Sometimes you might need to attend more than one interview for a job and you may meet with several people from an organisation before you will be offered the role. MyJobWizard also run interviewing workshops that can help you develop the confidence and skills necessary to make a lasting impression and further strengthen your chances of success.

Finally, you will need to provide referees who can vouch for your experience and skills. If you are employed on a casual basis, there will not usually be a contract given, but for part time or full time employment, you should receive a contract that outlines your requirements and the company’

s policies on key issues.

How much can I expect to earn per hour?

Casual hourly rates will vary according to the type of work being performed. Some employers will also pay extra for public holidays and weekend work.

The current federal minimum wage, as at 1 October 2008 is $14.31 per hour and this rate applies to casual employees, but there are instances when it is not applicable.  To learn more about rates of pay and given that employment conditions and wages can change at short notice, you should contact the Workplace Infoline on 1300 363 264 for the most up to date information or follow the link below.

www.workplaceauthority.gov.au

How will I get paid?

In the majority of cases, you can expect to be paid per hour and that money to be directly deposited into your bank account. This usually happens on a weekly, bi weekly or monthly basis. Therefore, you will need to make sure you have a bank account set up.

Along with your pay, you will receive a pay slip outlining relevant information about your employment, such as the number of hours and dates worked, total pay, the amount paid into tax and your superannuation fund etc.

In some circumstances you might be offered work that is paid as “cash in hand”

. This method of employment refers to an arrangement where the employer does not declare you as an employee. There are major risks associated with this type of payment and you should contact Workplace Infoline on 1300 363 264 to learn more if you are offered this type of work.

How do I set up a bank account?

When you arrive in Australia you’

ll want to set up a bank account so that you can earn money and be paid. Some of the major Australian banks have very useful websites that will walk you through the process of setting up a personal account.

Follow the links below to the Commonwealth Bank or the Westpac Bank to learn about the process for opening an account. Alternatively, you can visit a local branch of any bank to open an account. You will need to provide identification, and also evidence of your student visa.

Commonwealth Bank

Westpac Bank

What is Superannuation?

Superannuation is money invested for your retirement. In other countries, this is often referred to as a pension fund. If you are earning $450 or more per month, then your employer is legally required to contribute 9% of your gross wage towards superannuation on your behalf. This payment is made in addition to your wage, not deducted from it. It’

s important to note that you cannot normally access your superannuation until you retire, however International students may be able to access their superannuation payments upon permanently leaving Australia.

You are not entitled to receive superannuation payments if you are:

• paid less than $450 in a month;

under 18 years of age and working for not more than 30 hours a week; or

• performing work of a domestic or private nature for not more than 30 hours a week for a non-business employer.

What about Tax? How does that all work?

When you start a new job, you will be required to complete a Tax File Number (TFN) Declaration form and give this to your employer. It enables your employer to calculate how much tax needs to be deducted from your pay. The employer is responsible for passing on your deducted tax to the

Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If you do not complete the TFN Declaration form, you will be taxed at the highest marginal rate (currently 48.5%).

Information that you need to declare on your TFN Declaration form:

• Your Tax File Number
• Any HECS, PELS or SFSS (Student Financial Supplement Scheme) debts

If you end up earning more than $6000 in the financial year (1 July to 30 June) then you will need to lodge a tax return. If your income was less than $6000 but you had tax deducted from your earnings, then you will need to lodge a tax return to get a tax refund.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) runs a tax help program each year. If you need to use the tax help program, call the ATO on 13 2861 to find where your closest Tax help office is.

What’

s a tax free threshold?

You can elect to claim the tax-free threshold, which means that you do not pay tax on the first $6000 of earnings each year. If you are receiving Youth Allowance or Austudy, then you cannot claim the tax-free threshold for a part-time job, as the tax-free threshold is already taken into account for those payments. If you have two or more jobs, then you can only claim the tax-free threshold on one job only.

If you are not an Australian resident, you are not eligible to claim the tax-free threshold. However, international students who are studying in Australia for more than six months are considered to be residents for taxation purposes. This means that the tax-free threshold can be claimed.

What happens if I think I am being treated unfairly in my job?

If you are having problems at work, you don’

t need to go it alone. There are resources on hand to help. The three key contacts are:

Workplace  Infoline
The Workplace Infoline provides information on wages, working conditions, awards and certified agreements.
Phone: 1300 363 264
Web: www.workplaceauthority.gov.au

Workplace Ombudsman

The Workplace Ombudsman can assist you if you have been underpaid by an employer. It might be worthwhile ringing the Workplace Infoline initially to clarify whether you are being underpaid.

Phone: 1300 724 200
Web: www.wo.gov.au

JobWatch

Free advice if you have been improperly treated by an employer (e.g. unfairly dismissed, bullied or harassed). Job Watch can also help with queires on employment contracts.
Phone: +61 3 9662 1933 or 1800 331 617 (outside Melbourne)
Web: www.jobwatch.org.au/

Disclaimer

The information contained on this website is provided as a guide only. Immigration rules and employment laws can change rapidly. MyJobWizard recommends that you contact the relevent authorities listed below for the most accurate and current information.

Below is a list of the recommended government websites and organisation to find important information about working in Australia.

If you have any questions that you couldn’t find in the list above please feel free to asks us in the comment section provided.