The rules
- No work before your course starts.
- Up to 48 hours in any fortnight while the course is in session.
- Unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks, such as the summer break between semesters.
- No limit for students enrolled in a master's by research or a doctorate.
- All paid work counts towards the limit, including shifts through an app or agency.
Free counselling
Get your subclass 500 file and GS answers right
Expect a call or a WhatsApp message from an Edumapple adviser within one working day. You pay nothing for that first consultation.
- Courses your marks and degree qualify for
- Tuition and the visa living funds, counted in rupees
- GS answers, visa timing and your 485 plan
Pay
From 1 July 2026 the national minimum wage is ₹1,770 (A$26.44) an hour. Most student jobs, in retail, hospitality, cleaning and warehousing, fall under industry awards that set higher rates, plus a casual loading if you are employed casually. Your employer must give you a payslip within one working day of paying you. If you are paid below the award, the Fair Work Ombudsman handles complaints from visa holders.
What 48 hours earns
At the minimum wage, 48 hours a fortnight is about A$1,270 before tax, roughly A$2,750 a month. That covers a shared room and food in most cities, but it cannot replace the funds the visa requires up front, and a first job often takes several weeks to find.
Tax and superannuation
Students staying longer than six months are usually tax residents and pay no tax on the first A$18,200 earned in a financial year. Employers pay superannuation on top of wages once you earn more than A$450 a month, and you can claim it back when you leave Australia permanently. File your return by 31 October each year.