You can work up to twenty hours a week on a casual basis during course time and full-time during vacation periods. Some institutions offer a job placement service. If work is available you will need to obtain a tax file number from the Australian Government. Under certain circumstances dependents of students are permitted to work.

Most students take part-time or casual jobs at some time during their studies whether during the semester on their vacations or throughout the year. Some jobs are closely tied to courses of study (such as formal cadetships and informal arrangements such as part-time work by law students in solicitors’ offices). Some students get jobs on campus in the canteen, the bookshop, in the institution’s offices and as laboratory assistants. Some jobs are entirely outside the education community such as bartending, babysitting, gardening, checkout work or fruit-picking.

Budgeting

You should work out a budget covering accommodation, food, transport, clothing and entertainment. Travel costs and child care, if applicable, should also be taken into account.

As a guide you will need between A$7000 – A$12,000 a year for living expenses. Married students need about A$5000 more a year for a spouse and A$3000 more a year for each child.

Money and Banks

Australian currency is the only legal tender in Australia. Money from other countries can be changed at the exchange facilities located at international airports, banks and major hotels. Travellers cheques are easier to use if already in Australian dollars, however, banks will cash travellers cheques in virtually any currency. Major hotels and some shops, depending on individual store policy, will cash travellers cheques.

Banking services in Australia are extremely competitive. Over twenty local and numerous international banking groups are represented in Australia. All major banks have many branches in each city and regional centre. Normal trading hours are 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. Most shopping centres have Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) facilities. These machines can be used for deposits and withdrawals 24 hours a day. Many department stores, supermarkets and specialist shops have electronic transfer terminals (EFTPOS) where cash withdrawals can also be made in addition to purchasing goods.

Credit Cards

The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Bankcard, Diners International, Mastercard, Visa and their affiliates.