One-line direct answer
International students on Subclass 500 can work 48 hours per fortnight during semester (since July 2023) and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks, typically earning AUD 23–27/hour in hospitality, retail, or university roles.
Work-hour limits and when they apply
From July 2023, Australia lifted the cap from 40 to 48 hours per fortnight (14 days) during the semester. This is a significant increase that allows students to earn more while studying part-time.
During the semester (teaching weeks): You may work up to 48 hours per fortnight. A fortnight is defined as 14 consecutive days from your first hour of work. If you work 24 hours in week one and 25 hours in week two, you’ve used 49 hours and have breached the limit by 1 hour. Home Affairs takes this seriously; a breach can result in cancellation of your visa.
During scheduled course breaks: You may work unlimited hours. Scheduled breaks include semester breaks (typically 2–4 weeks between semesters), study breaks (a week before exams), and official university-wide closures (e.g. Christmas/New Year). If your course finishes in June, the break from late June to late July is a scheduled break; you can work full-time then.
Before your course starts: If you arrive in Australia but your course hasn’t begun yet, you cannot work until your course formally starts. This is a common mistake; many students arrive early, try to work, and breach their visa conditions.
After your course ends: Once your course ends, you can only work if you hold a subsequent valid visa (e.g. Subclass 485 or 407). If your 500 expires before your 485 is granted, you cannot work in that gap period.
Typical wages and award rates
Australian employment is governed by the National Employment Standards and, for most sectors, by Modern Awards. The minimum hourly wage as of April 2025 is AUD 23.23/hour for full-time or part-time employees. Casual workers typically earn a loading (15–25% above the minimum) to offset no paid leave.
Hospitality: Casual café baristas, waitstaff, and kitchen hands earn around AUD 23–26/hour plus superannuation, plus a 25% casual loading. A rosters at popular venues (CBD locations, universities, shopping centres) offer consistent shifts.
Retail: Supermarket shelf-stackers, checkout operators, and shop assistants earn AUD 23–25/hour. Casual rates vary by company; large chains (Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings) often pay at award rates plus the casual loading.
University roles: On-campus work (library desk, admin, tutoring) often pays AUD 24–28/hour. Universities prefer to hire international students for these roles because they’re available during Australian business hours and less likely to leave mid-semester. Competition is moderate.
Freelance and gig work: Delivery platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats) pay per delivery plus small hourly boosts, typically netting AUD 18–22/hour after vehicle costs. Tutoring via platforms like Wyzant or Care.com can pay AUD 20–35/hour but is sporadic.
Superannuation and tax
Superannuation: If you earn AUD 450 or more in a calendar month, your employer must pay 11.5% of your gross salary (as of 2025) into your superannuation account. This is not taken from your pay; it’s an employer obligation. When you leave Australia, you can apply to withdraw your superannuation as a Temporary Resident’s Superannuation Payment (TRSP), but there are conditions and delays.
Income tax: You must register for a Tax File Number (TFN) before working in Australia. If you earn more than AUD 18,200 in a financial year (July–June), you must pay tax. The tax rate for 2024–25 is 19% on income between AUD 18,200 and AUD 45,000. You can claim a tax return at the end of the financial year (30 June) and may receive a refund if too much was withheld. Download the ATO’s “Tax for workers” guide for international students.
| Gross hourly rate | Hours per fortnight | Fortnightly gross | Monthly gross (approx) | Annual (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUD 24 | 48 | AUD 1,152 | AUD 4,992 | AUD 59,904 |
| AUD 25 | 48 | AUD 1,200 | AUD 5,200 | AUD 62,400 |
| AUD 26 | 48 | AUD 1,248 | AUD 5,408 | AUD 64,896 |
Note: These figures are gross (before tax). After tax (~19%) and superannuation (11.5%, employer-paid), net take-home is roughly 70–75% of gross for a student on AUD 25,000/year.
Finding work and understanding visa conditions
Most Malaysian students find work via:
- University job boards (each campus has a careers or international-student portal).
- Seek.com.au, Indeed.com.au, Jora.com.au (Australia’s main job sites).
- Walk-in applications to local cafés, restaurants, and supermarkets.
- Uni student Facebook groups where employers post shifts.
- Employment agencies that place casual staff (Kelly Services, Hudson, Manpower).
Critical point: Your visa label will state your work restrictions in Condition 8303 or 8304. Condition 8303 typically allows work during the course and scheduled breaks; Condition 8304 (added in July 2023 for some cohorts) specifies the 48-hour fortnight limit. Before accepting a job, check your CoE and visa grant notice to confirm your exact work rights.
Breaching work-hour limits: consequences
Working more than 48 hours per fortnight during semester is a breach of visa conditions. Home Affairs can:
- Cancel your visa immediately.
- Initiate deportation proceedings.
- Prevent you from reapplying for an Australian visa for a set period (often 3 years).
A breach is serious, even if you exceed the limit by a few hours. Some students work without realising they’ve miscounted hours (including unpaid breaks, shifts that ran over, or shifts accepted from multiple employers in the same fortnight). Keep a work diary and check your hours weekly.
Malaysian pathway
SPM and STPM students often arrive in Australia with limited understanding of work regulations. Before accepting work, read your Condition 8303 or 8304 on your visa grant letter. If your course starts in February, you may have a month before semester begins; that period is not a scheduled break, so you cannot work. Wait until your course officially starts.
Foundation-year students should note that foundation courses are formal courses; work-hour limits apply. Some students wrongly believe foundation years are exempt from restrictions. They are not. You can work 48 hours per fortnight during teaching weeks.
Bachelor’s and master’s students have the same 48-hour limit. Do not assume that post-graduate study allows more work; it does not. The limit is per visa holder, regardless of study level.
Students approaching course completion should plan ahead. If your course ends 30 June, you’ll have a scheduled break (no teaching) from July onwards where you can work full-time. However, on 1 September, your Subclass 500 will likely expire. If you want to continue working in Australia, you must apply for and be granted a Subclass 485 before your 500 expires. A gap without a valid visa means no work is permitted.
Common questions
If I work 24 hours one fortnight and 24 hours the next, have I breached the limit? No. The limit is 48 hours per fortnight, not per week. If you work 24 hours Mon–Wed of week one and 24 hours Mon–Wed of week two, you’ve complied (each fortnight is 48 hours). However, if you work 30 hours in week one and 20 hours in week two, you’ve still complied.
Can I work during my semester break if I’m studying part-time? Yes. Scheduled breaks are separate from your term-time work limit. Work as many hours as you like during official course breaks, even if you study part-time. The 48-hour limit applies only during teaching weeks.
Do unpaid internships count towards my 48-hour limit? Generally, no. Unpaid internships or volunteer work not deemed “employment” under Australian law may not count. However, to be safe, ask your university’s international-student office whether your internship is classified as work. If it is, the hours count towards your 48-hour fortnight.
If my employer doesn’t check my work hours, can I work more than 48 hours? No. You are responsible for complying with your visa conditions, regardless of what your employer does. Home Affairs audits work records (via payroll submissions to the ATO) and can detect breaches. A breach can result in visa cancellation.
Can I work on weekends? Yes. Weekend work counts towards your 48-hour fortnight limit, just like weekday work. Some students avoid weekday work during heavy study periods by loading weekend hours; this is legal as long as the fortnightly total does not exceed 48 hours.
Do I get paid for public holidays? As a casual employee, you are typically not paid for public holidays unless you work on that day. If you work on a public holiday (e.g. Christmas Day), you’ll receive a penalty rate (typically 150–250% of the normal rate) for those hours.
Sources
- Home Affairs — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (international student work-hour conditions and Subclass 500 requirements)
- Fair Work Ombudsman — fairwork.gov.au (minimum wages, casual loadings, and modern awards)
- Australian Taxation Office — ato.gov.au (tax for workers, TFN application, TRSP for superannuation)
- Study Australia — studyaustralia.gov.au (work rights and student visa information)
Visa rules change regularly. Confirm current work-hour limits and conditions at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before accepting employment.