Part-Time Jobs in Australia for Indian Students in 2026

How Many Hours Can Indian Students Work in Australia: 2026?

On a student visa (Subclass 500), you can work 48 hours per fortnight during a semester. That’s roughly 24 hours a week. All your jobs count together, so track them as one.

During semester breaks? Work as much as you want.

Two exceptions worth knowing:

Find out your ideal university

0%

Choose your dream country

Please select a country

UK

USA

Germany

Australia

Ireland

New Zealand

Canada

UAE

France

Sweden

Italy

Other

When do you want to study abroad?

Please select an option

May 2026

Sep 2026 (Recommended)

Jan 2027

Sep 2027

What's your highest level of education?

Please select an option

Bachelor's

Master's

MBBS / MD

Diploma

12th Grade

10th Grade

Select you current city

Please select your city

 

Please Enter Your Name

 

IN +91 UAE +971 QA +974 SA +966 KW +965 OM +968 BH +973

Please Enter a Valid Number

 

Please Enter Your Email

How Leap will help you

Personalised University Shortlist

Express Applications with Quicker Admits

End-to-End Application Support

Continue

• PhD/Master's by Research students have no cap once their research begins.
• Mandatory WIL placements (internships, clinical hours) don't count toward your 48 hours.

One thing that shocks Indian students: You can't work at all before your course officially starts, even if you're already in Australia.

Counselor insight: The most common compliance mistake we see from Indian students is not tracking hours across multiple employers. A student might work 28 hours at a restaurant and then pick up 25 hours of delivery shifts in the same fortnight, not realizing that the combined total of 53 hours is a breach. Use a simple spreadsheet or a free time-tracking app. Your payslips alone are not enough if shifts are casual and irregular.

How Much Do Part-Time Jobs in Australia Pay?

From 1 July 2025, the Fair Work Ombudsman sets the National Minimum Wage at Rs. 1,641 (AUD 24.95) per hour before taxes.

As a casual employee (which most students are), you get 25% extra on top, bringing it to ₹2,051 (AUD 31.19) per hour.

Below are the most common part-time jobs in Australia based on industry award rates:

What does this mean for your monthly budget?

At 48 hours per fortnight (roughly 96 hours a month) at minimum wage, here is what you are looking at:

Counselor insight: Students in aged care and tutoring consistently earn above the minimum wage from month two onwards. Typically, the initial weeks involve on-the-job training at the base rate. Students who anticipate earning AUD 35 per hour from day one often face disappointment. Start with the base rate, build your reputation, and the better-paying shifts will follow.

Best Part-Time Jobs in Australia for Indian Students

The jobs listed below are beneficial for Indian students at different stages, whether or not they have worked in Australia before.

Hospitality: Cafes and restaurants

Many Indian students land their first part-time jobs in Australia at a cafe. Indian students often adapt quickly to café work because the high-volume, customer-facing pace is familiar. The Starbucks and campus café hiring cycle peaks in February (Semester 1 start) and July (Semester 2 start); applying in the two weeks before the semester begins gives you the best chance at on-campus placements. Weekend penalty rates (AUD 35–40/hour, Rs.2,302–2,630) apply from Saturday 00:00, making a Saturday morning shift worth significantly more than a mid-week one.

Tutoring in private

Tutoring pays well and lets Indian students with strong academic backgrounds, especially in math, science, and coding, set their own hours. Websites like Tutor.com.au, Cluey Learning, and university noticeboards are excellent places to start. There is also a lot of demand for IELTS and PTE coaching, and knowing how Indian exams work can help you here.

IT and technology

If you're studying computer science, data science, or something similar, you can start working at a campus IT helpdesk or as a tech support person for a small business starting in the second semester. These jobs offer higher pay than those in hospitality and provide experience directly related to your field. Most campus IT jobs are posted on the university's student employment portal.

Research and teaching assistant

These roles are primarily for postgraduate students. If you are doing an MPhil or PhD, ask your supervisor about paid RA positions in your first semester. Many departments have a small pool of paid assistant positions that are filled before they are formally advertised. Reaching out early matters.

Delivery and gig work

Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Menulog are flexible but require either a bicycle, scooter, or car, plus an Australian Business Number (ABN) for tax purposes. Income varies significantly by city, time of day, and platform. Do not rely on delivery as your primary income source; use it to supplement other work during your first few weeks.

Part-Time Jobs in Australia: Documents Required

Do not wait until you have a job offer to sort these. Every document below should be in place within your first two weeks of arriving.

Part-Time Jobs in Australia: Which Path Makes Sense for You?

If you are a first-year BTech student from Bengaluru who arrived in Sydney in February 2026 with no prior work history:

Your fastest entry point is hospitality or retail. In your first week, set up your TFN and bank account. In weeks two and three, apply to at least ten cafés and supermarkets near your campus. Walk in directly with a printed copy of your résumé during off-peak hours (2 pm to 4 pm on weekdays works well). Your course starts in late February, which means your work rights begin then. By week four of your semester, a first shift is realistic. Aim for 20 to 22 hours per week during the semester so you have a buffer below the 48-hour fortnightly cap.

If you are an MSc Data Science student from Hyderabad starting your second semester in Melbourne and you have tutoring experience from home,

You are well placed for private tutoring, which pays significantly above the minimum wage. Register on Tutor.com.au and post on your university's student services notice board. Your Indian board examination background and strong quantitative skills are assets. You can also apply for a teaching assistant position through your faculty. Speak to your course coordinator directly in the first two weeks of the semester.

If you are a PhD student enrolled at the University of Queensland starting your research phase:

Your work-hour situation is different. Once your doctoral research begins, the 48-hour fortnightly cap does not apply to you. You can work full-time alongside your research if you choose to. In practice, most PhD supervisors expect substantial research hours, so balance matters. Paid RA roles within your department are the most practical option. Check with your graduate school whether the university's casual academic pay rates apply to your work. Pay is often higher than general minimum wage.

How to Land Your First Part-Time Job in Australia?

Finding your first part-time job in Australia takes a bit of patience, but it is very doable. Here is what actually works:

Start Applying

Start with your university's student employment portal. Most universities list on-campus and local casual roles that are specifically open to international students. These are often the easiest to land at first.

Use Job Platforms

Use Seek, Indeed, and Jora for off-campus roles. Set up job alerts for your city and check daily; try to start with casual roles in hospitality and retail, which fill fast.

Walk-in Interviews

Walk in directly. Many cafés and small shops in Australia still hire through walk-ins. Go during quiet hours (2 pm to 4 pm on weekdays), bring a printed résumé, and ask to speak to the manager.

Alumni Connect

Tap your university network. Seniors who arrived a semester before you often know which employers are student-friendly and which ones to avoid.

Application Process for Part-Time Jobs in Australia

Keep your resume to one page, lead with your skills, and write a cover letter that actually mentions the role you are applying for. That alone puts you ahead of most applicants.

• Any Australian experience counts, like volunteer work, internships, and campus roles.
• Use a lecturer or academic supervisor as a reference if you have no local employer yet.

Know Your Rights at Work

Australia takes worker rights seriously. As a student employee, you are entitled to:

• Minimum wage of ₹1,641 (AUD 24.95) per hour from July 2025.
• Protection under anti-discrimination and workplace safety laws.
• Sick leave and superannuation contributions from your employer.

If something feels wrong at work, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman directly. Your student union also offers free guidance, so use it wisely.

What to Do When Things Go Wrong While Finding Part-Time Jobs in Australia?

Situation 1: Accidentally worked over 48 hours?

Don't panic. You may receive a formal notice (NOICC); respond in writing within the deadline and keep all your pay slips and rosters as proof it was unintentional. One mistake is manageable. Repeated breaches are not. Beyond the immediate notice, repeated breaches show up in your immigration record and can complicate or disqualify your Subclass 485 (Post-Study Work Visa) application. If a future in Australia is part of your plan, every hour over the cap is not just a visa compliance issue; it affects what comes after your degree

Situation 2: Can't find a job in your field?

Give it six weeks. If nothing has come through, go for hospitality or retail. It builds your Australian work record, which every employer after your first one will ask for.

Situation 3: Being underpaid or exploited?

Watch for cash-in-hand payments, no payslips, or unpaid trial shifts beyond two to three hours; it all makes it illegal. Contact the Fair Work Ombudsman. They offer free support in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. Your employer cannot affect your visa status if you report them.

Situation 4: Worried about your visa status?

Do not take immigration advice from Facebook groups or informal forums. Contact the Department of Home Affairs directly or speak to a registered migration agent.

Conclusion

Australia's part-time work culture genuinely works in your favor as an international student. The pay is fair, the jobs are accessible, and the hours are flexible.

Three things to remember:

• You can work 48 hours per fortnight during the semester, so track every hour across every job
• Café, retail, and tutoring roles are your fastest entry points with decent pay
• Weekend shifts pay significantly more; plan your timelines accordingly.

Start with a realistic budget, pick a job that fits your schedule, and treat the first few weeks as a learning curve. The money follows once you settle in.

Have questions about working in Australia? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Part-Time Jobs in Australia