Living and working in australia guide

Tips for living and working in Australia
as an international student

Living and working in Australia | 2
Contents
Living
Visa information
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Financial assistance
Accommodation in Australia
Tenants’ rights information and
support options
Working
Work experience while studying in Australia
Employment rights for international students
Skilled Occupations List (SOL)
Handy links and resources
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Living and
working in
Australia
So, you are getting closer to your goal of
studying in Australia.
Now it is time to take a look at what you’ll
need to live as a student in Australia and
gain work experience while you study.
There are a number of things to consider
when making the move to Australia
and embarking on your exciting journey
– visa, insurance, financial support,
accommodation and work opportunities.
Although it may seem overwhelming, IDP’s
counsellors are dedicated to supporting you
throughout your journey.
We have put together this ebook with
practical tips and advice to help you find
your feet in your new country.

Living and working in Australia | 4Living and working in Australia | 4Living and working in Australia | 4
Visa information
The student visa (subclass 500) allows
international students to study full-time
in Australia at a recognised education
institution. To qualify for this visa, you
must apply and be accepted to study in a
registered full-time course that takes place
in an Australian education institution.
If you are under the age of 18, you are
required to make appropriate welfare
arrangements for the duration of your
intended stay within Australia. Refer to the
official Australian Government website to
get accurate and up-to-date information
on visas.
Please note, visa policy and conditions
are regularly updated. Your IDP Education
counsellor can help you with your visa
application and queries.

Living and working in Australia | 5Living and working in Australia | 5
Overseas Student
Health Cover
(OSHC)
As a visa condition, the
Department of Immigration
and Border Protection requires
all students holding temporary
student visas to maintain
Overseas Student Health Cover
(OSHC) for the full duration of their
study in Australia.
OSHC, which students are
encouraged to purchase before
they leave their home country,
is specifically designed to cover
the medical costs and hospital
care for international students
studying in Australia.

OSHC is either purchased by your education
provider, or you can select your own OSHC
approved provider from the following five
registered health insurance companies that
provide OSHC either on your own or through
your academic institution:
• Australian Health Management;
• BUPA Australia;
• Medibank Private;
• Allianz Global Assistance; or
• NIB OSHC.

Why do I need OSHC?
It’s crucial for all international students
undertaking formal studies in Australia to
have OSHC while they remain on student
visas, mostly because foreign students
are not covered under the Australian
Government’s Medicare public health
insurance system. This makes medical care
hugely expensive for foreign students. In
the event of accident or sickness, an OSHC
provider is able to reimburse some, or all, of
the costs of expensive medical treatments,
depending on the cover’s inclusions.

How do I choose OSHC?
When buying any health insurance,
it’s important to ensure that the
coverage is suitable to your needs.
Below are some tips that might help.
1. Do your research.
While it’s tempting to go for the cheapest policy,
make sure you read the product disclosure
statement so that you know what you are
actually covered for.
2. Contact each OSHC provider.
Since the coverage will depend on your chosen
plan, it’s important that you talk to each OSHC
provider to make sure that you get the right
coverage, and maybe even a better price. While
you’re at it, ask about waiting periods, limitations,
restrictions, and other exclusions of the policy.

Living and working in Australia | 9Living and working in Australia | 9
3. Understand your policy.
You will want to know what you
can claim and what you can’t. Not
everything will be covered in full and
some things may not even be covered
at all. Hospital costs for overseas
students are generally higher than
$1000 per day.
4. Consider ‘extras’ cover.
Normally, insurance does not cover
dental or optical services. In case you
already have a health issue in any of
these areas, you should have ‘extras’
cover. Otherwise, you may have to
pay the full amount when you need
to seek services such as getting new
glasses or visiting a dentist.
5. If you are uncertain, just ask.
Remember, we are here to help.
Don’t hesitate to speak to your
IDP Education counsellor, or your
education provider for advice.

Financial
assistance
Although the cost of studying
in Australia may seem like a
big outlay at first, you might be
surprised to learn that there are
some opportunities that might
be available to you as a foreign
student wanting to study in
Australia.
Subsidised financial aid
from your home government
It’s important for you to know
what your options are to receive
financial support. In some cases
you may be able to access
financial aid from your home
government to help fund your
study abroad program. However,
as a student, you must ensure
that your chosen institution
qualifies for the particular type of
financial assistance since not all
Australian institutions are eligible
for overseas financial aid.

Scholarships from
Australian institutions
You also may be able to find a
scholarship in Australia that’s
specifically offered to help foreign
students afford their study. Given
that many Australian universities
offer scholarships, it may be
worthwhile making further
enquiries to see whether your
chosen institution offers any other
financial incentives.
Student loans
Scholarships aside, most students
can fund their education through
student loans. When applying
for a student loan, ensure that
your chosen institution is eligible
for study abroad loans. It is also
important that you consider
carefully the cost, interest and
length of the loan to make sure
you can manage it long-term.

Combination of multiple
financial supports
Don’t limit yourself to just
one—some students are able
to make it work with a
combination of student loans,
scholarships and part-time work.
This enables them to earn their
degrees and at the same time
gain work experience that can
create a competitive edge in the
workplace. This also helps them
pay off their loans, too.

Accommodation
in Australia
It’s no secret that suburbs surrounding
education institutions have some of the
highest costs of living in Australia.
Why? Because they are convenient for
students to travel to class every day, plus
the environment and lifestyle surrounding
campuses are generally very lively with
facilities targeted towards students. This
makes these suburbs attractive and in high
demand, which makes them expensive.
So, as a student, how can you find the right
accommodation?
Although it is sometimes competitive, the
cost of living near your education campus
doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are some
of the main options that cater specifically
for international students.

On-campus housing
Traditional halls of residence
inside universities are a popular
option for international students
coming to Australia for the first
time. Depending on the campus,
these usually range from $100 to
$700 per week. Students wanting
on-campus housing should apply
well in advance.
Advantages
Living on-campus conveniently
places you near everything you
need. Meals, computer facilities,
laundries and cleaning services
are sometimes also included in
the package. Plus, if you do need
any other form of assistance,
your accommodation is part of a
broader university community.
Disadvantages
Residential halls may not be the
best option if you’re the type of
person who loves their peace and
quiet. Also, you may not get to
choose the people you’ll be
living with.

Homestay
Homestay programs are a
popular accommodation option
for foreign students enrolled in
short-term courses that give them
the opportunity to stay with an
Australian family. Homestays can
have single or shared rooms, with
costs that vary from $110 to $370
for each room per week. This cost
typically includes three meals a
day, laundry facilities, cleaning
services, and utilities such as
internet and phone.
Advantages
A homestay experience provides
an environment most like a home.
For students whose English skills
are limited, it’s a great way to
practise the language everyday
in a safe, casual environment.
Living with a host family will also
allow you to learn the culture and
traditions of an Australian family
and integrate into the Australian
way of living.

Disadvantages
For some foreign students, a
homestay may not give them the
independence they need. This
means respecting the rules and
expectations set by your hosts,
including curfews, rules about
guests, and ‘checking-in’. If you
want to explore your environment
in your own way, this option may
not be ideal for you.

Private accommodation
Living in a privately-rented
property can be very attractive,
especially as a student in a new
country! It enables you to decide
who you would like to live with
and where. Students who choose
this type of accommodation may
either move into pre-furnished
houses on a room-by-room basis,
or apply to lease the place
as a whole with friends they
already know. Private housing
rates usually range from $100
to $400 per week and shared
accommodation usually costs
$70 to $350 per week.

Advantages
Living off-campus in shared rental
accommodation enables you
to have total control over who
you’ll be living with, plus you
can ‘handpick’ a place that suits
your needs. Because you have
housemates to share the utility
bills with as well, you can save on
the cost of living.
Disadvantages
Securing a place in private
accommodation in Australia is
usually less competitive, however,
you need to deal directly with
a landlord or leasing agent.
Managing bills and keeping within
a budget can also prove to be a
headache.

O
Tenants’ rights
information and
support options
Tenants are required to pay accommodation
expenses on time and complete household
cleaning and maintenance. All tenants
have the right to feel secure in their
property, which should be maintained
with working facilities. Any problems with
accommodation should be brought up
with the agent or landlord (if renting), an
international student support staff member
or the service used to find homestay.
organisations such as tenants unions and
consumer advocates can also provide
assistance. This information can be found
under relevant government fair trading
agencies for each Australian state/territory.

Work experience while
studying in Australia
With changes to the student visa, it is now
easier for overseas students to work in
Australia. Many student visas allow up to
40 hours’ work for every two weeks while
classes are in session, as well as full-time
hours during holidays. There are several
types of visas though, so please make sure
you check the conditions of your visa.
Your IDP Education counsellor can help
with your questions.
If you are looking for a job to gain valuable
work experience while also earning money
to cover your daily expenses, here are some
ideas you should consider.

Paid work
There is an array of industries
offering part-time employment
for both local and foreign
students, including retail
(supermarkets and department
stores), hospitality and tourism
(hotels, restaurants and cafés),
sales and telemarketing, and
clerical and customer service
roles. Casual positions are great
starting points to gain some
experience in the area of your
study while earning some money.

Volunteer work
If you are interested in working
with a non-profit organisation,
you will find there are a lot
of charity groups and non-
government organisations in
Australia. In fact, Australians love
to encourage people of any age,
especially international visitors,
to volunteer as a way of giving
back to their community. The
good thing about volunteering for
the community’s benefit is that
the hours rendered will not count
towards the 40 hours of permitted
work under your student visa.
Plus, it’s an excellent way to gain
friends and get some hands-on
experience.

Internship programs
Either paid or unpaid, applying
for an internship program is a
smart move to gain exposure to
a professional environment, gain
real industry experience, and
build your prospects. You can find
internship roles in your institution
or through private recruitment
and internship placement firms.
However, do take note that
internships are often competitive
and many students can’t secure a
position immediately.

Finding a job in Australia
There are myriad job opportunities for
foreign students, as well as ways to find
them. To start off, read through newspaper
ads, visit employment agencies or check out
websites of national employment services
or job networks to search for positions
that might suit you. You can also find job
openings on your institution’s notice boards.
You can speak with your institution’s
international student affairs representative
to ask what options might be available
for you.
As with anything else, keep in mind that
as an international student your studies
must come first. While your job can help
meet your basic living costs, this should
never hinder you from pursuing your degree.
Failure to maintain your academic grades
can also sometimes affect your visa, which
is very serious.

Employment rights for
international students
During your studies
Most student visas allow you to work for
up to 40 hours every two weeks during
semester and unrestricted hours during any
scheduled course break. However, before
you undertake any paid work you need to
make sure your visa allows you to work.
Your IDP Education counsellor can provide
you with advice on work rights while
you study.

After your studies
Having an Australian tertiary
qualification is highly regarded
around the world.
If you have completed a bachelor,
master or PhD degree, you may
be eligible for the Post-Study
Work stream of the Temporary
Graduate (subclass 485) visa.
This may enable you to stay in
Australia following your studies to
gain practical experience working
in your field.

Skilled
Occupations List
(SOL)
If you intend to apply for an
Independent or Family Sponsored
Points Tested visa or a Temporary
Graduate visa (subclass 485)–
Graduate Work Stream, you must
nominate an occupation from the
Skilled Occupations List (SOL).
The SOL covers a wide range of
industries including engineering,
trades and medicine. View the
full list online at the Australian
Government Department of
Immigration and Border Protection
website,
border.gov.au.

Handy links
and resources
Working while you study in Australia
http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/global/
live-in-australia/working
Working in Australia
after-graduation/employment
Fair Trading New South Wales
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/
Fair Trading Northern Territory
http://www.consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au/
Pages/default.aspx
Fair Trading South Australia
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-
industry-and-trade/licensing-and-
regulation/fair-trading-laws

Fair Trading Tasmania
http://www.consumer.tas.gov.au/
Fair Trading Queensland
https://www.qld.gov.au/law/fair-trading/
Fair Trading Victoria
https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/
businesses/fair-trading
Fair Trading Western Australia
https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/
Skilled Occupations List (SOL)
https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/
Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-
authorities/skilled-occupations-lists/SOL
Visa information
apply-to-study/visas
Student visa (subclass 500)
https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/500-

Have any questions?
We are here to help
As a world leader in student placement
services, it has always been our goal to
make it easy for international students to
find, and apply for, their desired courses and
institutions in Australia.
With more than 45 years’ experience,
nobody understands the needs of
international students in Australia quite like
we do, which is why international students
come to us to get the best advice on all
aspects of studying and living overseas.
We are here to help you. With more than
90 offices in 30 countries around the world,
our counsellors are ready to speak with
you to help you achieve your international
education goals.
Speak with us today
1800 664 700
www.idp.com/australia

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