At Sage College of Australia, we pride ourselves on being a premier institution dedicated to empowering students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in their chosen fields. Located in the vibrant city of Melbourne, we are committed to providing an exceptional education experience that prepares you for success in a globalized world.
What you need to start work
Before starting work in Melbourne, you need to have a valid visa that allows employment, such as a student visa with work rights or a working holiday visa. You must also obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to ensure you are taxed correctly. Additionally, setting up an Australian bank account is essential for receiving your salary, and depending on your job, you may need specific licenses or certifications, such as a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) for hospitality roles.
Finding work
Job opportunities in Melbourne can be found through various platforms, including online job boards like Seek, Indeed, and Gumtree, as well as Facebook job groups and university career services. Networking is crucial, so attending industry events or asking friends for referrals can increase your chances of securing a job. Many international students find part-time work in hospitality, retail, or customer service, while professional roles may require a strong resume and relevant experience.
Workplace rights
All workers in Melbourne, including international students, are protected by Australian workplace laws. Employees have the right to fair pay, safe working conditions, and protections against unfair dismissal or discrimination. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides resources to help workers understand their rights, including the minimum wage and penalty rates for overtime or public holidays. If you experience unfair treatment or underpayment, you can seek support and report the issue confidentially.
To get a job, you need to apply for a tax file number at Australian Taxation Office so that you and your employer can pay tax.
Please be aware that no matter what visa you are on, you should not work without a tax file number and without your employment being registered with the ATO and you and the employer paying tax.
You will also need a bank account so your employer can pay you. Jobs that pay cash, are often not 100% legal and you need to be very careful that you are a registered employee and being treated fairly and legally. See the details below about workplace rights. If you’re unsure, come talk to us.
All UEC students are welcome to come to job club. In job club, you will learn how to write a resume, where to look for job vacancies, practice what to say at job interviews, discuss experiences relating to applying for work or to your work experiences. For more details and how to sign up for job club, please ask at reception.
A great place to look for work is on the website. This is the biggest job search website in Australia and it offers a special service for international students in Sydney. When you go to the website enter #NSWJobsConnect into the search field and you will see a list of jobs that has been checked by StudyNSW, the government organisation that supports international education in the state of NSW. One of the most common ways that students find jobs is by talking to one another and on social media. There are many groups on social media platforms where international students share information, including jobs. Of course, the groups are changing all the time so the best way to find them is by talking to other UEC students.
All workers, including Student Visa and Working Holiday Visa holders have a broad range of rights under Australia’s laws. UEC does not have any lawyers who can give legal advise, but we can help you understand your rights as they are explained on Australian government websites and we can help connect you with services to support you if needed. If you feel you are not being treated fairly, by an employer, please come to reception and talk to student services.
Most important is to know that Australia has a lot of laws to protect employees and they apply to every worker. A very important website is the FairWork Australia website. It has lots of information explaining your rights and the obligations of employers. Sometimes, employers aren’t sure about the specific rights and obligations of non-Australia workers, including Student and Working Holiday visa holders. For details of your work rights according to your visa, please visit the government website. The Fair Work Ombudsman Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) provides information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements and notice and redundancy entitlements.
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© 2024 SAGE COLLEGE OF AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD. RTO CODE: 46308 CRICOS CODE: 04308C ABN: 44 674 754 744
