Work and Study in Australia
Work and study — as the name suggests — means pursuing your education in Australia while working part-time outside study hours. Alongside improving your professional skills and English proficiency, you can also use your spare time to earn an income. For those considering a work-and-study programme, Australia is an outstanding choice. Australia is one of the world’s most liveable countries, celebrated for its natural beauty and consistently recognised as one of the most scenically stunning nations on earth. Cities such as Melbourne and Sydney regularly rank at the top of the “World’s Most Liveable Cities” lists.
Australia is also one of the countries with the highest hourly wages in the world. The pandemic created a significant labour shortage — blue-collar and trades jobs are now everywhere. As a migration destination with abundant resources but a relatively small population, the Australian government has introduced a wide range of migration pathways. However, work visas can be difficult to obtain, so the student visa — which has a lower eligibility threshold, a higher approval rate, and allows part-time work — has become the preferred choice for most people looking to both study and work overseas.
Australia’s education system comprises three levels: primary education, secondary school (junior and senior secondary), and higher education (universities and vocational colleges). Work-and-study programmes typically involve enrolling in a vocational college in Australia, such as TAFE. TAFE diplomas are issued by the Australian Government and are equivalent in level to higher vocational education in China. TAFE is also a vital part of Australia’s higher education system — a large-scale network jointly funded and managed by the federal and state governments. There are also many private vocational colleges; these institutions generally award certificate and diploma qualifications, with a smaller number also offering bachelor’s degree programmes.
When to Apply for Work and Study
Chinese passports have been elevated to the highest visa risk category — Level 1 — which is excellent news for work-and-study student visa applicants.
Newstars has a strong track record of successful student visa grants for offshore work-and-study applicants, and we have shared many of these success stories through our social media channels.
Australia’s borders are now fully open, and entry is essentially unrestricted. Provided you have received two approved vaccine doses, no negative COVID test result is required before departure, and no hotel or home quarantine is required upon arrival.
To address the pandemic-related labour shortage, Australia relaxed work hour restrictions for student visa holders, including those on work-and-study programmes. The policy allowing unlimited work hours has been confirmed to continue until further notice.
Work-and-Study — English Requirements
The answer is: not necessarily. There are two options.
First, all Australian vocational colleges offer a placement test — essentially an internal English assessment. If you pass the college’s English test at a level sufficient for diploma-level study, you can enrol directly in your core programme without needing to provide an IELTS or PTE score.
Second, if you sit the college’s English placement test but do not pass, you can be enrolled in the college’s designated English language course. The duration of the language programme is determined by your current English level.
Work-and-Study — Practical Courses
Work-and-study programmes are well known for their affordability, flexible timetabling, and the right to work legally. Australia has a wide range of vocational colleges, and students can choose schools and programmes that offer great value and scheduling flexibility. There are many schools and courses to choose from, with the most popular including English language, business, early childhood education, translation, management, automotive, commercial cookery, and massage therapy.
Students can choose a city, college, and field of study based on their personal interests.
If you love a vibrant, bustling city, Sydney is an excellent choice — a thoroughly modern metropolis with a thriving business scene, leafy parks, and stunning harbour views. It is undisputedly Australia’s most developed city, with a dynamic energy reminiscent of New York. If you prefer culture and a more relaxed pace of life, Melbourne is more artistic and laid-back, clean and comfortable, with a rich cultural scene and plenty of entertainment and sporting events. Fans of Formula 1 and the Australian Open will love it — Melbourne has a distinctly European character, much like London. Other popular choices include Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Adelaide.
Work-and-Study — Health Insurance in Australia
All international students in Australia — including those on work-and-study programmes — are required to hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). OSHC is a health insurance product specifically designed for international students studying in Australia. It covers the following categories of medical expenses: hospital cover, general medical services, prescription medicines, and ambulance cover.
After a medical consultation or hospitalisation, the insurer pays all or part of your medical expenses in accordance with the reimbursement rates set out in your policy. As required by the Department of Home Affairs, you must maintain continuous OSHC cover throughout your entire period of study in Australia. If you extend your student visa, your insurance policy must be extended accordingly. If your spouse or children under 18 are accompanying you in Australia, they are also required to hold health insurance.
Work-and-Study — Bringing Your Spouse and Children
The answer is: yes.
The Australian Government allows international students to bring their spouse and minor children while studying. This means your spouse and children can come to Australia on a dependent visa and live here with you. Your spouse is also permitted to work — dependent visas for work-and-study programmes carry work rights of up to 20 hours per week. One person studies, and the whole family comes to Australia! Due to the impact of the pandemic, the Australian Government has removed the 20-hour weekly work limit — including for secondary applicants (spouses) — allowing unlimited work hours.
Work-and-Study — How Long Can You Stay in Australia?
The length of time you can apply for depends on your age, academic background, and previous work history — these factors together determine whether you apply for 1, 2, 3 years, or longer. Based on our past application experience, we typically apply for a 2-year student visa for first-time applicants. Students arrive in Australia and begin their studies, and after 2 years when the course ends, they can continue in Australia by renewing their student visa for a further 2–3 years.
Work-and-Study — Work Opportunities
In the post-pandemic era, Australia has entered a period of significant labour shortage. Over the past two years, many international students and workers were unable to enter the country due to the pandemic, leaving more and more employers struggling to find staff. With Australia in economic recovery mode, more and more employers have been raising wages — some restaurant owners are now offering AUD $30 per hour for a dishwasher.
This makes it one of the best times ever for students to find work — better than any previous era. As is well known, international students in Australia have an enormous range of job opportunities. Australia is truly a paradise for blue-collar workers. Australians have long favoured blue-collar work for its lower stress levels and higher pay. In the post-pandemic era in particular, the government predicts that demand for such roles will increase significantly. Common jobs within the Chinese-Australian community include bubble tea shops, construction work, factory work, removals, food delivery, restaurants, and cooking.
There are also many ways to find work.
For example, there are several major Chinese community websites in Australia where job listings come primarily from Chinese-owned businesses, covering a wide variety of roles. Common listings include delivery drivers, food delivery, bubble tea shops, hairdressers, cafes, factory work, and fruit picking. Students who have just arrived in Australia often find it easier to land their first job through these platforms — success rates tend to be higher than on English-language job sites.
Work-and-Study — Can You Migrate to Australia?
The answer is: yes.
However, it is not straightforward — you need to plan from the very beginning, especially in your choice of programme. In today’s Australian migration environment, using a work-and-study pathway to migrate requires the right timing, circumstances, and preparation. In short, after completing your studies, you need to apply to an assessing authority for a skills assessment, and once that assessment is approved you need to gain relevant work experience before you can pursue migration.
For example, if you study early childhood education, you need to find work in that field; if you study commercial cookery, you need to work in a kitchen.
Success Stories
Ms CHEN, a 34-year-old from Shandong, China, submitted her work-and-study student visa application from within China and received her grant extremely quickly after completing her medical examination. During the pandemic period, applicants who had previously held any Australian visa — whether a visitor visa, student visa, or working holiday visa — generally found it easier to obtain approval.
Furthermore, Chinese passports are currently rated at Level 1, meaning even offshore applicants are not required to provide IELTS scores or proof of funds. Once the visa application is lodged, simply print the medical examination request letter, attend a designated hospital in China for your health check, and good news will arrive in no time!
