Realistic job options in your first month and how to write an Australian-style resume.
Australia's casual job market is genuinely accessible to international students. Hospitality, retail, tutoring, warehouse work and delivery are the most common entry points. You don't need Australian experience to get your first shift — you need a TFN, an ABN (if going through an agency), and a well-formatted one-page resume.
You cannot be legally paid without a TFN. Apply immediately after arriving. Your employer can still hire you before your TFN arrives — just tell them it's in progress and they'll withhold tax at the top rate until it comes through.
Australian resumes are 1 page maximum for casual and entry-level roles. Include: your name and contact details, a 2-sentence summary, your work history (most recent first with dates), education, and 2 referee names. No photo. No date of birth. No marital status.
Seek.com.au is the dominant platform. Also check Indeed, the Gumtree jobs section, and your university's student job board. For hospitality specifically, walk into cafes and restaurants in person with a printed resume — this is still common and effective in Australia.
The national minimum wage is $24.10 per hour (as of July 2024). Penalty rates apply: Saturday is 1.25x, Sunday is 1.5x–2x depending on the award. Check fairwork.gov.au for your specific industry award.
Link your TFN to myGov and then to the ATO. This makes lodging your tax return at the end of financial year straightforward, and lets you see all your income reported by employers.
Some employers — particularly in hospitality, cleaning and agriculture — underpay international students knowing they won't complain. If you are being paid less than the minimum wage, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman. Reports can be made anonymously.
Cash-only arrangements with no pay slip mean you have no proof of employment, cannot claim your tax refund, and have no protection under the Fair Work Act if something goes wrong.