Universities Call: No Time Limits on Study-Related Work Experience

Since January last year, Australia lifted the 40-hours-per-fortnight work restriction, allowing international students to work full-time with no hours cap. However, from 30 June 2023, work hour limits for international students in Australia will be reinstated.

Many Australian universities have welcomed this change, particularly the Group of Eight (Go8), which argues that "unrestricted work hours risk distracting students from their studies" and have to some extent affected academic completion rates.

Some educators, however, believe the policy could reasonably apply to work that is directly tied to a student’s programme of study. The University of Melbourne has stated that students enrolled in work-integrated learning programmes should be exempt from the work hour limits.

Universities Australia noted that the fortnightly work hour cap applies only to paid work. CEO Peter Chesworth stated that "removing the fixed work hour limit for international students was always a temporary measure to help address labour shortages." Universities understand this policy will be phased out as the country opens up, but argue that work experience directly linked to academic programmes should not be subject to any time restriction.

Heading Back to Australia? Grab Your Free Airport Pickup!

With most universities about to start the new semester, many international students are preparing to return to Australia. One of the biggest questions for students — especially first-timers — is: how do I get from the airport to my accommodation?

Here is a heads-up about your university’s free airport pickup service!

First up — University of Sydney (USYD)——

USYD is offering a limited-time free airport pickup for students returning in S1 & S2 this year!

To use the free shuttle bus, you must arrive within the following windows:

2023 S1: Arriving in Sydney between 6 January – 31 March

2023 S2: Arriving in Sydney between 8 June – 31 August

You will also need to:

– Be enrolled in a USYD programme

– Book at least 3 days in advance

Booking link:

https://redy2go.hudsonltd.net/rwd?USERIDENTRY=10425&LOGON=GO

UNSW——

UNSW Terminal 1 offers a free airport pickup service for all new and returning students. Check the link below for details:

https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/airport

University of Wollongong (UOW)——

UOW is providing a free airport pickup for all first-time international arrivals this year. Simply fill in an online form at least 72 hours in advance. See the link below to book:

https://www.uow.edu.au/study/international/pickup/

These are not the only options — other universities may charge a fee, so check your university’s official website. For example, Macquarie University——