New level of 48 hours per fortnight!

The allowable work hours cap for international students was relaxed during the pandemic to help meet workforce shortages.

The Government has announced that the cap will be reinstated on 1 July 2023 and will be raised from its previous level of 40 hours per fortnight to the new level of 48 hours per fortnight.

This revised cap will help international students to support themselves through their studies, while maintaining study as the primary purpose of their visa. More information for students and employers can be found on the Home Affairs website.

Safeguarding international students’ rights

The Government is committed to addressing exploitation of migrant workers in all sectors and is aware of the risks of exploitation that international students can face, where limited work hours are a condition of their visa. The Government has agreed to the recommendations in the Post-Study Work Rights Report which address these risks:

• ensuring the needs of student and graduate visa holders are considered when developing the package of reforms to address migrant worker exploitation expected in 2023.
• ensuring information about the role of the Fair Work Ombudsman in securing workplace rights and protections for all workers in Australia is available to international students and graduates.