Living Cost
Cost of Living in AUSTRALIA
Living in Australia will be a new experience, but there are support services in your institution as well as from other organizations to help make adjusting to life in Australia easier. Australia is a great place to enjoy a quality education and outstanding quality of life. Australia offers fabulous value for money, with living costs in Australia extensively less expensive than the United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA). You can live by working part-time up to 40 hours every two weeks while you study.
As Australia is the fourth happiest country in the world (Prosperity Index 2012) and we have five of the 30 best cities in the world for students (Top University Rankings 2012), you are sure to enjoy your time here.
No matter what type of study you are doing in Australia, whether you are here for a few months or a few years, some research and planning will help you have a safe and rewarding study experience.
Important considerations and planning includes:
- Planning your departure.
- Arriving in Australia.
- Accessing support services.
- Remaining visa compliant.
- Working while you study.
- Living costs and finding accommodation.
- Health and safety.
Accommodation Options And Costs
A variety of high standard student accommodation is available to suit different budgets and needs. Students can opt to live in university accommodation or with an Australian family. Shared accommodation with other students is common and popular.
Institutions provide students with help in finding accommodation and understanding lease and tenancy conditions. Temporary accommodation can be arranged before you leave home allowing you time on arrival to consider where and how you would like to be accommodated in the longer term. Student notice boards and newspapers often advertise rooms, apartments and houses for rent.
| Accommodation options | Approximate cost |
| Home stay or Farm stay | A$110-A$270 a week |
| Hostels and guest houses | A$80-A$135 a week |
Hostels are usually run by organizations such as Youth Hostels Australia and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Students share kitchen and bathroom facilities. | |
| Share accommodation Rental accommodation | A$50-A$160 a week A$70-A$350 a week |
Students often share with fellow students. They advertise on notice boards and in newspapers. Students may have to provide their own furniture. | |
| Boarding schools | A$8000-A$11000 a year |
Many private secondary schools provide accommodation, meals and laundry services for international students. | |
| University accommodation | A$80-A$250 per week |
Most universities offer a variety of accommodation on or near to campus such as university apartments, residential colleges or halls of residence. Halls of Residence are usually cheaper and a popular option with full-time international students. | |
Work In Australia
Working while you study in Australia can help complement your study and living experience. There are a number of reasons you might want to undertake part time work while studying in Australia, including assisting with living expenses and gaining work experience in your study area.
Most student visas allow you to work for up to 40 hours every two weeks while your course is in session, and unrestricted hours during any scheduled course break, but before you undertake any paid work you need to make sure your visa allows you to work.
Paid Work
Australia has a wide range of industries and many have part time employment opportunities, including:
- Retail – supermarkets, department and clothing stores.
- Hospitality – cafes, bars and restaurants.
- Tourism – hotels and motels.
- Agricultural – farming and fruit-picking.
- Sales and telemarketing.
- Administration or Clerical roles.
- Tutoring.
If you have existing qualifications and/or professional work experience, you may be able to secure casual or part time work in your field.
Internships
Paid or unpaid internships can be a great way to get exposure to the professional, financial and creative industries…
Volunteering
There are many charities and non-government organizations (NGOs) in Australia and they always need volunteers to help out. It can be a great way to meet friends, get some hands on work experience and give back to the community.
You’re Rights
Everyone working in Australia, including international students or those on working holiday visas, have basic rights at work. These rights protect entitlement to:
- A minimum wage.
- Challenge of unfair dismissal from the job
- Breaks and rest periods.
- A healthy and safe work environment.
Most employers in Australia are covered by an ‘award’, which sets minimum wages and conditions for a given field of work or industry. You will also need to get a tax file number to work in Australia.
Finding Work
There are plenty of ways to find work that suits you, including:
- Newspapers and online job sites.
- Some institutions provide job notice-boards on campus and online. Contact your institution’s international student support staff to find out what options your institution offers.
- Register your details at a recruitment firm; many of them help place people in casual or short-term work.
Students Searching For A Job
Many universities and colleges in Australia provide a special service called “Job Access” that helps students to find a good position in the job market. Apart from that students can also find the jobs in newspaper, online and from events and job fairs.
There will be Employment Officer in many universities to help students look for part-time work, most of which is non-professional, such as waiting on tables, cleaning or sales.
In Australia it is very easy and also difficult as well to get employed for the international students. Many students are able to get a job after spending certain time, if they are good in speaking English. If you are good in speaking English earlier, then you can obviously find good opportunities. It is for sure that only immigrants can acquire a full time job.
Immigration
Australia’s Skilled Independent Migration Program is a Permanent Visa and falls under the Australia Immigration points-based system. Applicants must be able to prove that they possess a qualification or the skills of an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List. The applicant has to meet the point’s threshold by scoring 60 points and satisfying the basic visa criteria. Applicants do not need sponsorship from family or the Australian state/ territory government nomination.
It is a multiple entry visa that is granted for a period of 5 years. Permanent Residents may also be eligible for Australian citizenship.
*IMMIGRATION DEPT. of Australia announced a new migration model which was implemented from July 2012; following this all the applicants interested in Migration visas must file for an Expression of Interest first and upon invitation on the EOI must proceed with the visa application process. The minimum pass mark set for the visa applicants post July 2012 is 60 only which is decided based on the current lab our market requirements in the country.
The Australia Skilled Immigration Program Allows The Applicant To Live And Work In Australia Indefinitely.
- Permanent residents under the Australia Skilled Immigration Program have access to health care benefits and certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods).
- Permanent residents under The Australia Skilled Immigration Program are eligible for citizenship after staying for 4 years in Australia.
- Applicants can sponsor their family for permanent residence.
- Dependents can accompany the applicant, provided they comply with Australian laws to Migrate to Australia.