Australia has reopened its borders and the economy is slowly recovering. However, many employers are now finding it very difficult to hire staff — what everyone is calling the‘Australian labour shortage’.
Many savvy people back home have seized this opportunity — coming to Australia todevelop skills and gain work experience! After all, Australia is one of the highest-paying countries in the world, and the legally mandated minimum hourly wage increases every year.
So for young people looking to advance their careers, Australia is genuinely an exciting opportunity!
Today we’d like to share some insights about the study-and-work pathway in Australia, along with some of our recent success stories~
What is the Australian study-and-work pathway?
The study-and-work pathway means studying in Australia to improve your skills and qualifications,whileworking part-time outside of class hours to cover your tuition fees and living expenses. Generally speaking, those pursuing this pathway tend to focus primarily on the ‘work’ side.
As everyone knows,wages in Australia are high, and they increase every year.
Based on the current Australianminimum wage of AUD $21.38 per hour— if you work full-time for 38 hours a week (and due to the labour shortage, study-and-work visa holders can currently work full-time) — you would earn the minimum weekly wage of AUD $812.60, which converts to over RMB 3,900 per week,giving a monthly income of approximately RMB 16,900. Study, gain skills, and earn RMB 16,900 a month — does that sound good?
Some people may be wondering: what if the labour shortage ends and student visa holders’ working hours revert to the previous limit of 20 hours per week? Wouldn’t that significantly reduce their earnings? However, a reduction in working hours doesn’t necessarily mean a significant drop in income.
The figures above are calculated at the minimum hourly wage. As you gain work experience, your pay will increase accordingly. And even if the policy reverts, student visa holders can still work full-time during school holidays — just put in a bit of extra effort during the holidays to earn more!
What kinds of work suit the study-and-work pathway?
The Australian labour shortage is primarily in blue-collar roles. These jobs have low language requirements for applicants — for example: bubble tea shop staff, restaurant and café workers, construction workers, tradespeople, delivery drivers, chefs, massage therapists, beauty therapists, and more.
Overall, finding a job with decent pay is not difficult in any of Australia’s major cities.
Who is the study-and-work pathway suitable for?
Group One:
Recent high school, diploma, or undergraduate graduates who are not yet confident about passing an English language test in the short term, but are eager to come to Australia and experience life here — and the timing is perfect right now. Currently, visa approval speed and success rates for offshore recent graduates are very encouraging.
Mr Huang had just completed his diploma in China. His English wasn’t very strong, but he was eager to come to Australia as soon as possible for the study-and-work experience and a fresh start in life;
Timeline:
1 August — Initial consultation
2 August — Agreement signed
4 August — School application submitted
8 August — COE received
17 August — Visa application lodged
19 August — Medical examination completed
24 August — Visa granted
30 August — Arrived in Australia
Group Two:
People who are already in Australia — whether on a visitor visa, working holiday visa (WHV), student visa, or a work visa that is about to expire — and who wish to remain in Australia legally to work and live. The study-and-work student visa requires no mandatory English test score, has low costs, flexible timing, and a relatively high approval rate, making it the top choice.
Group Three:
People who already have several years of work experience in their home country but, for various reasons, want to make a fresh start in a new environment as soon as possible. The study-and-work visa is also an excellent option for this group.
Mr Lee had completed a diploma overseas and then worked as an office clerk at a company. After several years, he realised the job market was actually extremely competitive. He was later made redundant during the pandemic. In a moment of despair, he happened to come across a friend’s study-and-work life in Australia on social media. He was inspired by the idea of furthering his education abroad, and reached out to us to enquire about the study-and-work pathway.
In just 10 days, Mr Lee successfully received his visa grant. It was Mr Lee’s first Australian visa application, and he hadn’t expected it to be approved so quickly. If you’re thinking about building a future in Australia, get in touch with a migration agent to arrange your student visa — as long as you meet the criteria, Australia’s door is always open for you.
What programmes and courses can you study on the study-and-work pathway in Australia?
For the study-and-work pathway, you can consider the following fields of study:
– Business
– Translation
– Automotive
– Commercial cookery
– Carpentry
– Building and renovation
and more
Once you complete the above programmes/courses and add Australian work experience, it’s like having a gold standard on your résumé — making it easier to find work back home with a higher salary too!
If you’d like to stay and migrate to Australia after graduation, there are opportunities to do so — the key is to get professional migration advice and planning when first choosing your study-and-work programme!
If you’re planning to apply for the study-and-work pathway, send us a message and we can help you plan your study, work, and migration pathway!
