The rights of international students at work

International students have the same workplace rights and protections as anyone else working in Australia.

Here’s what you need to know before starting to work in Australia:

• You must be paid at least the minimum wage​
• ​You must pay tax on your income
• You must receive a payslip
• You can work up to 40 hours every two weeks during term time (unless you are a PhD student), and unlimited hours during your holiday breaks
• Casual work means you don’t have a fixed number of hours every week.

International students can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for help if they’re having workplace issues, without fear of their visa being cancelled. This could be for issues such as not getting the right pay or other entitlements, like leave or notice.

Check out the video below to see how the Fair Work Ombudsman can help international students.

Case Study – Felipe’s story

Felipe shares his story about how the Fair Work Ombudsman helped increase his awareness of workplace rights, including busting a common workplace myth. Felipe’s story is based on a true story.

Are your work rights at risk?

• ​International students have the same workplace rights and protections as anyone else working in Australia, but sometimes your work might not feel right.
• How do you know if your rights are at risk? How do you know if your rights are at risk? Download this flyer to learn about the warning signs of workplace exploitation.
• If you think you are not being treated fairly at work, talk to your boss or contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for help. There is free advice in multiple languages for anyone working in Australia. Phone - 13 13 94  Online - Fair Work Ombudsman

Go to the following pages to see this information in other languages:

• Hindi [हिन्दी]
• Indonesian [Bahasa Indonesia]
• Portuguese [Português]​
• Simplified Chinese [简体中文]
• Traditional Chinese [繁體中文]
• Spanish [Español]
• Thai [ไทย]
• Vietnamese [Tiếng Việt]

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