7
Chapter 7 : Work and Leisure
WORK AND
LEISURE
Working in Australia
Full-fee international undergraduate and postgraduate students are permitted to work
for 20 hours per week during semester and full time during vacation periods.
Currently, partners/spouses of Masters or PhD students can work full-time. The partners/
spouses of Undergraduate, Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma students on
dependant visas can work only a maximum of 20 hours per week. These conditions
apply to partners of all students including AusAID. All students and their spouses/
partners can work full time in the University vacation period.
In order to work in Australia, you will need to obtain permission to work from the
Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). You can only
apply after lectures have started, because DIMIA requires International Office to confirm
that you are not only enrolled but actually attending classes. You will need to complete
an "Request to Process DIMIA Permission to Work Application" at International Office
who will then email you when they have provided the information to DIMIA; then you
can log on to the internet (www.immi.gov.au) and apply for work permission. You will
need a credit card to pay. If you do not have a credit card, you can post your application
(Form 157P signed by International Office, and bank or personal cheque) to DIMIA.
International students should be aware that part-time work is not easy to find in Australia
and you may have to do work which you are not used to at home. You will probably be
able to earn some money to help with your living costs. However, you should not plan
to pay your University fees from your earnings in Australia or fully support yourself in
Australia as the high cost of living generally makes it impossible to support yourself and
save to pay your fees from part-time work. More information about taxation, job-seeking
and other related matters will be provided at the Daily Arrival Information Sessions.
Once you have obtained a work permit it you will need to apply for a Tax File Number
before commencing any employment. There is more information about this later in this
chapter; and at the Australian Tax Office website, www.ato.gov.au.
If you are a partner of an international student, you will need to apply for working
permission and show evidence that your partner is a full-time student attending classes.
Students and their partners can apply for a work permission jointly and pay only one
application fee.
69
Road to Success 2005
www.immi.gov.au/study
Employment
Students may also find work on campus
by directly approaching the Union
Personnel Office. The Union offers
casual employment for students, mainly in
catering, activities and counter work. Ask
at the Union Information Desk, Ground
Floor, Manning Building for the Personnel
Officer, or telephone 9563 6000.
The University of Sydney Casual
Employment Service assists students
enrolled at the University to find casual
and part time work. Students seeking
casual or part-time work should register at
the Casual Employment Service located
on Level 7, Education Building Manning
Road. Telephone 9351 8714.
The University also hires extra staff for
the enrolment period over the summer
vacation. You can apply at the Student
Centre, Carslaw Building, around August/
September.
Once you have registered with the Casual
Employment Service, you can access
details of casual work held by the Casual
Employment Service. You can do this
online (www.usyd.edu.au/cas_emp/)
or by visiting the CES. Once you have
found the job you want to apply for,
write down the details of the position
and contact the employer as soon as
possible. Keep checking for work – new
jobs come in daily. The type of work often
includes restaurant work, gardening, baby
sitting, house cleaning, etc. and does not
necessarily require previous experience
or proven skills. Most university students
in Australia work in the type of jobs listed
above. However it is possible to find
some telemarketing, data entry, tutoring,
book-keeping or other professional or
clerical work.
The Sydney Morning Herald and most
local newspapers have employment
sections with ‘casual job’ columns. The
Saturday edition of the Sydney Morning
Herald usually has the largest employment
section.
www.smh.com.au
(Sydney Morning Herald)
Rates of pay in Australia are established
under 'awards'. This means there is a
minimum rate of pay an employer must
pay you. There are different awards at the
State and Federal levels of government.
As you are in Sydney, NSW State awards
will apply to you. Unfortunately, there are
some employers who will try to underpay
you. Correct rates of pay can be confirmed
through the Industrial Relations segment
of the NSW Department of Commerce
website as listed below; or by phoning
13 16 28.
www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au
Students are advised to prepare a brief
resume and keep a diary recording the
days worked, hours and duties performed.
Students should also bring it to the notice
of the Casual Employment Service if
they are uncertain of any work practice
or are having any difficulty with an
employer. Such information will be treated
in confidence and not acted upon without
the student’s consent.
International Student Services Unit
www.commerce.nsw.gov.au
70
Chapter 7 : Work and Leisure
In order to fill out your tax return, you
will need tax certificates from all of th
employees that you worked for in the
relevant financial year. For this purpose
it is important to keep any employers up
to date with a change of address, which
is your responsibility.
Income Tax and the
Financial Year
The Australian financial year is from July
1 to June 30. You have from June 30
until October 31 to lodge an Income Tax
Return with the Australian Taxation Office
(ATO). Do this by filling out the form
contained in the Tax Pack which is free
and available in newsagents from June
each year. The Tax Pack will give you
step-by-step instructions on how to fill out
your tax form correctly. You may also seek
assistance from a registered tax agent or
accountant.
Please note that international students
are considered to be residents for the
purposes of taxation if their course of study
extends beyond a period of six months.
Failure to acknowledge this may result
in you losing more of your income as tax
than you need to.
The current income tax rates for 1 July 2003 - 30 June 2004 for residents are:
Income AUD
TaxRate
$0 - 6,000
nil
$6,000 - $21,600
17c for each $1 over $6,000)
$20,601- $52,000
$2,652 plus 30c for each $1 over $21,600
$52,001 - $62,500
$11,772 plus 42c for each $1 over $52,000
Over $60,500
$16,182 plus 47c for each $1 over $62,500
Tax File Number (TFN)
You will need a TFN :
(1) If you intend to work,
(2) To reduce the tax on the interest earned in your bank account. Your bank,
building society or credit union in Australia will ask for your TFN when you
open an account. If you fail to inform the financial institution of your TFN the
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will deduct 10% of your interest as withholding
tax. You can open a bank account before you get a TFN.
(3) For Childcare benefit (if you are eligible).
Once you have your student visa with permission to work, you can apply online for
the Tax File Number by quoting your visa number. If you cannot apply online, please
go to your nearest ATO with proof of identity. Further details on applying for your
TFN are available at the website below The general information number for the ATO
is 13 28 61.
www.ato.gov.au
(Australian Taxation Office)
71
Road to Success 2005
The Legal System
The Australian legal system may be different from that of your home country. Information
regarding legal matters relating to tenancy, car ownership and driving in Australia and
customs regulations are provided in this booklet. if you have other legal concerns or
matters relating to the police you should seek assistance from the following services
listed. Please contact ISSU if you are unsure.
SRC Lawyer
Law Society
There is a Legal Officer funded by the
Student Representative Council (SRC)
available to undergraduate students
on campus free of charge, to provide
legal advice at the SRC on Monday,
Tuesday and Thursday by appointment
only. Telephone 9660 5222 or drop in
on Thursdays 1-3pm Level 1, Wentworth
Building, Sydney University.
www.src.usyd.edu.au
Law Society Community Assistance is a
telephone service through which qualified
solicitors provide legal assistance and
advice over the phone. The service
operates Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.
Telephone 9373 7300.
Redfern Legal Centre
Legal Aid Commission is also available to
international students subject to the same
means test as required for free service to
Australian residents. Contact the Legal
Aid Commission of NSW, telephone 9219
5000. Branch Offices are available in
several suburbs.
Legal Aid Helpline - 1800 806 913
Legal Aid Under 18s HotLine :
- 1800-101-810
www.lawsocnsw.asn.au/legalhelp/
(Law Society- Legal Help)
Legal Aid Commission
The Redfern Legal Centre also offers
free legal advice and is situated at 73
Pitt Street, Redfern, NSW 2016.
Telephone for Appointment: 9698 7277
Telephone Advice: 9698 7277 between
6.30pm - 8.30pm
Telephone Tenants Advice: 9698 5975
Mon - Fri between 9.30am - 5.00pm.
www.rlc.org.au
www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au
Law @ your library
Law Access NSW
A free information service at your local
public library and the State Library of
NSW.
Telephone : 9273-1558
www.liac.sl.nsw.gov.au
The website provides information about
the laws of NSW, and many links; however
please note that LawAccess NSW cannot
respond to written requests except where
demonstrated exceptional circumstances
exist.
www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au
Justices of the Peace
See listing at University Union website
: www.usydunion.com; in on-line phone
book under JP or Justices of the Peace;
also many newsagents, police stations,
chemists, etc can provide same service
International Student Services Unit
72
Chapter 7 : Work and Leisure
Banking and Finances
The financial institutions most commonly
used by students are banks, building
societies and credit unions. Banks are
registered and regulated under government
legislation while building societies and
credit unions are required to meet strict
standards in order to safeguard the funds
of their customers. All three forms of
financial institutions in Australia provide
savings accounts and cheque accounts
plus a range of other financial services
including personal loans, housing loans,
bank drafts and transfer of funds. Banks
are the main place where you can change
foreign currency or buy foreign currency
in Australia. Travellers’ cheques can be
cashed at any bank provided that you have
your passport for identification.
which do not have some of the usual
account fees. Banking business hours are
generally: Monday to Thursday 9.30am
- 4.00pm, Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm.
Major city banks open Monday to Friday
8.15am - 5.00pm. St George Bank opens
on Saturday mornings from 9.00am 12.00pm. All other banks are closed on
Saturday and Sunday. Automatic teller
transactions can be carried out seven days
a week, 24 hours a day.
Credit cards accepted in Australia include
Visa and Mastercard, American Express,
Diners Card. Banks also issue bankcards
for use within Australia.
When you open your bank account you
will need to provide the bank with a tax
file number to avoid excessive tax on
the interest your money earns. More
information will be provided about taxation
and banking in the Daily Arrival Information
Sessions.
You will need to open an account to
keep your money safely in Australia. An
account which utilises the Automatic Teller
Machines (ATM) is the most convenient
type of account. Money can be deposited
or withdrawn at any time from automatic
teller machines with a card or from the
bank teller during banking hours. The
ATM account card has a secret Personal
Identification Number (PIN) which allows
only you to operate your account. You
must keep the record of your pin number
separately from your ATM card to avoid
misuse of your account should you lose
your card. You will earn interest on these
accounts.
Banks on the University of Sydney campus
are the Commonwealth Bank and the
National Australia Bank. Several other
banks e.g. Westpac and St George,
have ATMs on campus.There is also a
Universities Credit Union which provides
banking facilities. These banks may
provide special tertiary student accounts
An ATM
National Australia Bank ATM
73
Road to Success 2005
Recreation in Sydney
Studying in a foreign country is very
demanding and it is important for you
to take time to relax and enjoy yourself.
Sydney offers a great variety of activities
and facilities for you to enjoy including art
galleries, museums, cinemas, theatres
and sport. The climate and location make
outdoor activities particularly popular
during summer. There are also many
facilities on campus for relaxation and
entertainment.
particular time, consult one of the daily
newspapers. Every Friday, the Sydney
Morning Herald includes ‘Metro’, a weekly
guide to movies, theatre, exhibitions, live
music and other interesting things to do.
Further information can also be obtained
from various organisations listed in the
Directory at the end of this handbook.
Water sports and visits to the beach are
popular past-times in Sydney during
summer. Manly, Bondi, Coogee and
Maroubra are among the most popular
beaches. If you plan to participate in any
water sports activities it is important to be
aware of the potential dangers. Speak to
someone experienced before swimming,
and do not go swimming alone at the
beach or in rivers, creeks, dams or lakes.
Always swim between the flags when you
are at the beach. Do not dive into the water
if you do not know how deep it is. When
in the sun always use a factor 15+ sun
screen as the Australian sun is very harsh
and skin cancer rates are high.
The International Student Services Unit
organises several trips and activities each
year including day trips within Sydney
and to other areas which will give you
(and your family / friends) opportunities
to meet other international and Australian
students, as well as see some of the
countryside. Please visit ISSU to collect
the latest Trips and Activities brochure or
telephone 9351 4749 for further details.
Details are also advertised in the ISSU
newsletter posted on the web on the 20th
of each month.
To find out what is on in Sydney at any
Women’s Only Swimming
Pool
Coogee Women’s Baths at Grant Reserve,
Beach Street Coogee are for women
and children only. The baths are walking
distance from the Coogee bus terminal
(buses No 370, 372 & 373 terminate).
There are private cubicles where you
can change. The Baths are open all
year. Coogee Women’s Baths are run by
Randwick and Coogee Ladies and Mature
Swimming Pool Club.
International Student Services Unit
In city environs little pieces of 'bush'
are being lovingly re-created
74
Chapter 7 : Work and Leisure
Shopping Facilities and Hours
you are purchasing a major item, like a car,
television or a refrigerator, it is possible to
ask for a ‘discount’ and the shop may then
take a percentage off the price for you.
Sydney has excellent shopping facilities.
The city centre has several major
department stores and many speciality
clothing and other shops. In the suburbs
there are large shopping centres which
have a variety of stores often including
department stores and food stores where
you can buy groceries, vegetables,
meat and fish. There are usually some
small food stores and vegetable shops
in suburban areas. The closest large
shopping centre to the University is the
Broadway Shopping Centre, on Broadway
and walking distance from the University. It
has supermarkets, boutiques, restaurants
and cinemas. There is also a market called
Paddy’s Market at Market City, Haymarket
(in Chinatown) a suburb adjacent to the
University which is open on the weekends
selling fruit and vegetables and other
food, clothing and other items. Prices
are cheaper at Paddy’s Market and it is
a popular shopping outing for Sydney
residents.
Sydney city centre is only a ten minute bus
trip from the University. Darling Harbour,
Chinatown and The Rocks are also easily
reached from the University.
The University itself offers a wide range of
facilities on campus including a post office,
banks, newsagents selling newspapers,
magazines and general stationery, several
bookshops selling new and second-hand
books, the University of Sydney Computer
Shop, a sports store, pharmacy, hair
dressing salon, dry cleaning and shoe
repair, optometrist, dentist, travel agents,
as well as many take away food shops,
cafeterias and coffee shops.
Shopping hours vary in Sydney. Many
department stores and small shops are
open seven days a week. Most shops
are open during the week from 9.00am
- 5.30pm with late night shopping on
Thursday night to 9.00pm, and Saturday
trading from 9.00am - 4.00pm. However,
many shops have extended opening hours
(including Sundays).
Because of Sydney’s multicultural
population there are many shops selling
a large variety of specialised food items.
For example, Halal meat is available from
some butchers; supermarkets often sell
a wide variety of foods / spices and there
are many specialty shops in the suburbs
and in Chinatown.
You can gain a better idea of prices and
variety from many of the local papers and
advertisements on television and in the
daily newspapers, as well as exploring
shopping options and typical costs of
specialised items on the internet.
Prices are ‘fixed’ in Australia even in
Paddy’s Market and other markets.
Bargaining is not expected when you
purchase food or other items. However, if
www.whitepages.com.au
www.yellowpages.com.au
75
Road to Success 2005
Student Visa Issues
Your address
It is a requirement of your visa that you must keep the University informed of your
address in Australia at all times. When you start your studies here you must advise the
University of your address. The easiest way to advise of your address is through the
University website. Go to the University of Sydney homepage and click on the MyUni
link or go to the Student Centre and fill in a change of address form. If you change your
address at any time during your stay here you must inform the University.
Permission to work
You can only apply for permission to work after you have commenced study. You need
to inform International Office who will confirm with DIMIA that you have commenced
study, You can log on to the DIMIA website and apply for permission to work (you will
need a credit card) and they will then contact you to have your passport stamped for
work. If you do not have a credit card you can apply by mail. You will have to pay an
application fee of $55 only by money order, debit or credit card, not cash.
International students are only allowed to work for 20 hours per week during the term
time. This is not an average of hours per week over a period of time, but an actual 20
hours per week. You can work full-time during University holidays.
Full time enrolment
Nearly all international student have condition 8202 on their visa. This means that you
are not allowed to enrol in less than 18 credit points unless it is the final semester of
your degree and you can complete by enrolling part-time.
Suspension of Studies
If you need to suspend your studies at any time on health or compassionate grounds
you should come to the International Student Services Unit to discuss your situation.
Applying to extend your visa
If for any reason you need to extend your student visa you must make an application at
the DIMIA office BEFORE your current visa expires. Do this even if you do not have all
the documents required. Do not let your visa expire. If you do not extend your visa on
time you will have to leave Australia and you may be subject to a three-year exclusion
period.
DIMIA
Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
http://www.immi.gov.au
Phone 131-881.
The Student Compliance branch of DIMIA in Sydney is located at 26 Lee St.
Haymarket.
International Student Services Unit
76
Chapter 7 : Work and Leisure
Government Legislation To
Protect You
The provision of educational services to international students is regulated by government
legislation. You should be aware of the following legislation.
Education for Overseas Students (ESOS) act 2000 states:
“The provision of education and training services to overseas students in Australia is
regulated by the Department of Education, Science and Training through the Education
Services for Overseas Students Act and associated legislation. The purpose of the
legislation is to protect the interests of people coming to Australia on student visas,
by providing tuition and financial assurance and by ensuring a nationally consistent
approach to provider registration. The legislation also seeks to ensure the integrity of
the industry through visa-related reporting requirements.”
You can find the full text of the ESOS Act on: http://www.dest.gov.au/esos/
The National Code
The Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs has established this National
Code under the federal Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.
The Code is effective from 4 June 2001. From that date, all new registered providers
must comply with it.
The purpose of the National Code is to provide nationally consistent standards. The
National Code sets out the obligations of registered providers for the provision of
education to overseas students. These obligations include the provision of student
support services and appropriate arrangements for independent grievance/dispute
resolution.
You can find the full text of the National Code on:
http://www.dest.gov.au/esos/National_Code/contents.htm
In addition to Government legislation to protect you, the Australian Vice Chancellors’
Committee (AVCC) has developed a set of guidelines, Provision of Education to
International Students Code of Practice. The aim of this Code of Practice is to ensure
that “…universities offering courses to international students … adopt consistent and
caring procedures in the recruitment, reception, education and welfare of international
students.”
You can find the full text of the AVCC Code of Practice on:
http://www.avcc.edu.au/news/public_statements/publications/AVCC_Code_2001final.
pdf or http://www.avcc.edu.au/news/public_statements/publications/code.htm
77
Road to Success 2005