Australia to Restrict International Students’ Working Hours Again

The Australian government has announced that the relaxation of working hour restrictions for student visa holders is expected to end on June 30, 2023.

According to a media release issued by the Department of Home Affairs, all international students in Australia are allowed to work more than 40 hours a fortnight, in any economy sector, until June 30 - when changes end.

After this date, the number of working hours for international students will be restricted again, Erudera.com reports.

​“After the 30 June 2023, the number of hours a Student visa holder will be allowed to work will again be capped. The number of hours a Student visa holder works, ensures that Students focus on obtaining a quality Australian education and qualification,” the media release reads.

Despite current flexibility in the number of hours international students are allowed to work, the government advised the latter to balance their studies and work, saying that they should still maintain their course enrollment, participate in the course as well as ensure satisfactory course progress; otherwise, they will be violating visa conditions.

“Student visa holders who cancel their enrolment and stop attending classes, or fail to meet satisfactory course progress, may be in breach of their visa conditions,” the government said in the statement.

The Australian government lifted the limit on the number of working hours for international students in January this year in a bid to address the labor shortage in the country.

Through a joint media release issued earlier in September, Minister for Education Jason Clare and Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil announced that the government will increase post-study work rights for international students to strengthen the skilled workforce.

The statement said that post-study work rights in sectors facing skill shortages will be increased from two to four years for select Bachelor’s degrees, three to five years for Master’s degrees and from four to six years for doctoral students.

A working group will be set up to advise Ministers on this matter and other relevant issues. Members of this working group will report to Ministers on October 28, 2022.

While announcing the changes on post-study work rights, Education Minister Jason Clare said that currently only 16 percent of international students stay in the country after completing their studies.

“This will mean they can stay on longer and use the skills they’ve gained in Australia to help fill some of the chronic skills shortages we have right now,” Clare stressed.

>> Best Countries to Work and Study for International Students in 2023

According to government data, students graduating from Australian universities are finding jobs faster and earning more than they did 12 months ago. A survey has revealed that 91.5 percent of university graduates in Australia had secured full-time jobs three years after graduation, earning $80,000 a year.

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