Australia guide · Part-time work · 4 min read
Working while you study in Australia: the rules, the pay and the jobs Nepali students get.
On a student visa you can work 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours in scheduled breaks. The national minimum wage is AUD 26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, and casual jobs pay a 25% loading on top. At 20 hours a week that's about AUD 2,290 a month before tax: enough for rent and food in most cities, never enough for tuition. Most students take 4 to 8 weeks to find the first job.
The short version
- 48 hours a fortnight in term; unlimited in scheduled breaks. Count fortnights the way your visa does: Monday to Sunday, two weeks at a time.
- Minimum wage AUD 26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026. Casual roles add a 25% loading; weekends and nights often pay more.
- Typical first jobs: aged care, hospitality, retail, cleaning, warehouse and delivery. Aged care pays best and helps nursing students most.
- Your employer must pay super (12% on top of wages) and give you a payslip. Cash-in-hand jobs below the minimum are illegal and common.
- Bring 3 months of living money. Plan the job as a help with living costs, not as how you'll pay tuition.
The rule, exactly
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| During term | 48 hours a fortnight (each two-week period, Monday to Sunday) |
| During scheduled breaks | Unlimited, between semesters and in official holidays |
| Before your course starts | No work, except some volunteer or unpaid placements that are part of the course |
| Work that’s part of your course | Placements and internships that are part of the course don’t count towards the limit |
| Two jobs | The 48 hours is the total across all jobs |
Keep your own record of hours. If you have two employers, neither of them is counting for you.
What you’ll earn
| Pay item | Rate from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| National minimum wage | AUD 26.44 an hour |
| Casual loading | Usually 25% on top of the base rate |
| Weekend, night and public holiday rates | Higher under most awards (the industry pay rules) |
| Superannuation | 12% of your wages, paid by the employer into a super fund, on top |
Many of our students end up between AUD 27 and AUD 35 an hour, depending on the job and the shifts.
What that looks like a month, at 20 hours a week:
| Hourly rate | Monthly, before tax | In rupees |
|---|---|---|
| AUD 26.44 (minimum) | about AUD 2,290 | about Rs 2.4 lakh |
| AUD 30 | about AUD 2,600 | about Rs 2.8 lakh |
| AUD 34 | about AUD 2,950 | about Rs 3.1 lakh |
At Rs 105.97 per AUD (18 Oct 2026). Compare it with rent: a shared room costs about AUD 900 to 1,750 a month depending on the city.
The jobs our students get first
| Job | Typical pay | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged care and disability support | Often above minimum, higher on weekends | Nursing and health students; long-term careers | You’ll need a police check, first aid and sometimes a short certificate |
| Cafes, restaurants, kitchens | Minimum plus casual loading | Fast to find | The most underpayment cases we hear about |
| Retail and supermarkets | Award rates, regular rosters | Steady hours | Competitive in December |
| Cleaning | Minimum or above | Early mornings around classes | Cash offers below the award |
| Warehouses and logistics | Often above minimum | Night shifts pay more | Physical; check your class timetable |
| Delivery and rideshare | Depends on hours and the platform | Flexible | Not always an employee; read the terms |
Finding the first job
Most of our students take 4 to 8 weeks to find their first job, longer in January and February when many students arrive at once. What helps:
- A one-page Australian-style CV, with your availability written clearly.
- Your tax file number (apply online after you arrive), a bank account, and an Australian phone number.
- Short certificates that open doors: responsible service of alcohol for bars, food safety for kitchens, first aid for aged care.
- Asking in person, with a CV, at quieter times.
- Your university’s careers office and job board.
Getting paid properly
Look, underpayment of students is common, and Nepali students are no exception. Protect yourself:
- Get a payslip every pay cycle. It’s the law.
- Check your rate against the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay calculator for your job.
- Ask for super to be paid into your fund. It’s on top of your wage.
- Refuse cash-in-hand below the minimum. It’s illegal, and if something goes wrong at work you have no record.
- Report problems to the Fair Work Ombudsman. Your visa isn’t cancelled for reporting underpayment; there are protections for visa holders who come forward.
Tax and your TFN
Apply for a tax file number (TFN) online after you arrive. Give it to your employer, or tax is taken at the highest rate. Lodge a tax return each year after 30 June. Whether you’re treated as a resident for tax purposes depends on your situation; most full-time students staying more than six months should check with the Australian Taxation Office.
Work and study together
A full-time course is about 20 hours of classes and study a week, more near assignments. Add 20 hours of shifts and your week is full. If a unit starts going badly, tell your university and us early: failed units can put the visa at risk, and no job is worth that.
From our files. Prakash Tamang from Chitwan worked in aged care while studying his Bachelor of Nursing in Adelaide. The shifts paid more than his friends’ cafe jobs, counted as experience for his graduate applications, and fitted around placements. He now works in a hospital there.
Your first-month money plan
- Arrive with 3 months of living costs in your Australian account
- Apply for your TFN in week 1
- CV ready, and two or three short certificates booked
- A budget that works if the first pay comes in week 8, not week 2
