Can you work while studying English in Australia?

Yes — on a Student visa (subclass 500) you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is running, and unlimited hours during official course breaks. On a Working Holiday visa you can work unlimited hours. With the casual minimum wage at A$33.05 per hour from July 2026, part-time work can cover a real share of your living costs in Sydney. Here’s exactly how the rules work and what you can expect to earn.

How many hours can you work?

On a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight (a fortnight is any rolling 14-day period) while your course is in session, and as many hours as you like during official course breaks. A proposed increase to 60 hours per fortnight was discussed in 2026 but is not yet law, so the 48-hour limit still applies. Note that a visitor (tourist) visa does not allow any work, while a Working Holiday visa has no limitations on the hours you can work.

How much can you earn?

Most student jobs are casual, and from 1 July 2026 the casual minimum wage in Australia is A$33.05 per hour (this includes a 25% casual loading; the standard national minimum is A$26.44). Working the full 48 hours per fortnight — about 24 hours a week — that’s roughly A$790 per week before tax. In practice, many students earn enough to cover a large part of their weekly living costs.

What jobs do English students do?

The most common part-time jobs are in hospitality (cafés, restaurants and bars), retail, customer service, food delivery and cleaning. Good spoken English opens more and better-paid roles, and choosing an evening class timetable frees up your daytime for work. At ELC you can study in the daytime or the evening, so you can build your schedule around a job.

How ELC helps you find work

ELC runs a free Work Ready Program with a dedicated coordinator who helps you prepare an Australian-style CV, practise job interviews and search for roles in Sydney. We also offer add-on programs including professional internships, Working Holiday support and au pair placements — so whatever your goal, there’s a pathway to Australian work experience

What you need to work legally

• A Tax File Number (TFN) — free to apply for online from the Australian Taxation Office.
• An Australian bank account — easy to open, often before you arrive.
• To know your rights — you’re entitled to at least the minimum wage, payslips and safe conditions. The Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au) explains everything clearly.

The bottom line

Working part-time is one of the best things about studying English in Australia — you improve your English in real situations, gain Australian work experience, and offset your living costs at the same time. Learn more about our daytime and evening English courses and our Work Ready Program or read our full Study English in Australia FAQs. Questions? Email the ELC team any time at [email protected]

Work-hour and wage figures are correct as of July 2026 and can change. Always confirm current student visa conditions with the Department of Home Affairs (homeaffairs.gov.au) and pay rates with the Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au).