Visa Compliance and Employment

Student VISA Information

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requires that overseas students who come to study in Australia hold a valid student Visa. If you come to Australia on a tourist visa and subsequently enrol at the University of Newcastle, you must convert your tourist visa to a student Visa immediately.

International students on student visas are required to comply with the conditions of that visa. If you breach these conditions then the University is required under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act to notify the Department of Education, Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR ) and Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), which could result in cancellation of your visa.

The University of Newcastle cannot make representations to DIAC with respect to visas of overseas students.

For information on how to apply for your student visa please go to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website at: www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm.

Student VISA Conditions

The following is a list of requirements that you need to be aware of in order to comply with your student visa:

• As an International student in Australia you are expected to complete your studies within the timeframe specified on your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment. For ELICOS and International Foundation, you are required to enrol and attend at least 80% of the academic load per term.
• You should be aware that the program you have applied for is not a scholarship, employment or immigration program.
• As an international student, you must fund your entire studies independently and leave Australia within one month of completing your studies or when your visa expires (which ever occurs first).
• You must make satisfactory academic progress and you cannot fail a course more than once.
• You must meet the costs of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa.
• You must provide the University of Newcastle with the address details at which you will be staying during term and a local telephone number where you can be contacted. You are required to provide the University with these details within seven days of your arrival in Australia. You must also notify the University of any change of address and/or telephone number within seven days.
• You must provide the University with the particulars of your guardian in Australia and his/her contact details (if at the time of the visa grant, you are less than 18 years of age).
• You cannot transfer to a second institution until you have completed at least the first six months of your primary program unless you have permission to do so from your initial institution.
• If you have any school-aged dependants accompanying you to Australia, they must attend school. You will be required to pay full fees if they are enrolled either in a government or non-government school.
• In accordance with the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2007, the University is required to advise the Department of Immigration and Citizenship if you do not meet any of these conditions.
• Pay your fees on time.

If you experience any difficulties in your studies, you should approach your Faculty, the Counselling Service or the International Student Support Officer. You can then be provided with the advice or support you need.

Please seek assistance as soon as you realise you have a problem because once you have breached the conditions of your visa, it may be too late for the University to do anything to assist you.

Part-Time Employment in Australia

As an international student holding a student visa, the Australian Government allows you to work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week during semester and unlimited hours during semester breaks and vacation periods. Dependant family members who have accompanied you to Australia may also apply for permission to work.

In order to work part-time, you must first commence your studies and then apply to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for Permission to Work. You can do this online, and there is an application fee of AUD$60.

For more information, please visit: www.diac.gov.au/students/students/working_while_studying/index.htm

Part-Time Employment in Newcastle

Careers Service

The University of Newcastle offers support to all students who are seeking part-time employment during their studies or full-time employment after graduation. The University's Careers Service provides students with a range of free services including:

• Workshops addressing topics such as interview skills, career planning, job search strategies and resume writing
• Individual interviews with a Careers Counsellor to discuss career choice and career planning
• Mailing lists and databases of job vacancies for students seeking part-time employment during their studies or a full-time graduate position.

In addition, the Careers Service runs an annual Careers and Employer Expo. The number of employers and professional organisations involved in the Expo continues to grow every year. The Expo offers you:

• The opportunity to meet valuable professional contacts in an informal environment
• Insight into your future career path
• Insight into what your future employers are looking for in graduates

There are also separate careers events for students in the Faculty of Education and Arts and the Faculty of Health.

For more information, please visit the University's Careers Service.

Hints and Tips

• Always follow the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's regulations regarding part-time work
• Remember to bring relevant documents with you to Australia that you may need to apply for part-time work, such as reference letters from previous employers
• Your ability to find part-time work will rely on a range of factors, including your English language ability and your own motivation to actively search for work
• Part time work opportunities are limited and you should not rely on employment to supplement living expenses in Australia
• Rates of pay for part-time work in Australia are standardised with little variation between cities.