No. Employers do not need to sponsor an international student or graduate if they want to employ them, nor do they need to carry any costs. The process of applying for and obtaining their 485 visa is the responsibility of the international graduate. This visa will qualify them to work full-time in Australia and be employed just like a local.

Once an international student has graduated, they can apply for the temporary graduate visa (subclass 485). The 485 visa is for international students who graduate with a higher education degree or Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification from an Australian education provider, regardless of their field of study. 

It enables graduates to be employed for a period of 1.5 to four years, depending on their level of qualification. If the student graduated with a higher education degree in South Australia, they qualify for an additional year, making it a minimum of three years, up to four years, of working rights.  

A person with a 485 (temporary graduate visa) visa can be employed under the same conditions as an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident. 

The visa application process generally takes one to six months. Bridging visas are issued automatically if their student visa is at risk of expiring. Students can work full-time while on a bridging visa.

Last updated: 8 August 2024

Aside from the 485 visa, international graduates can also hold other valid working visas. Visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information. 

If an applicant is still studying, it is likely they would be on a student visa which enables them to work up to 48 hours per fortnight, or full-time during semester breaks. 

You could consider employing an international student for an internship or placement and go on to offer them full-time employment once they’ve finished their study. 

Recent international graduates may also be eligible to be nominated by the State Government for a skilled visa. Providing skilled work experience may assist them to qualify. Visit the Move to South Australia website for more information.

Adelaide’s universities, higher education providers and Vocational Education Training (VET) schools offer a wide range of courses, with the top fields of study in South Australia including business and commerce, engineering, IT, hospitality, health and care.

There are also many higher degree master’s and PhD graduates from health, engineering, agriculture and business courses. Many of these students may have prior qualifications and valuable work experience from their home countries. 

International students and graduates come to Adelaide to study from all over the world - 130 countries in fact. Our top source markets for international students in South Australia include India, China, Vietnam, Nepal, Hong Kong SAR, Colombia, Brazil, Philippines, Malaysia, Kenya and Sri Lanka. 

All industries can benefit from employing an international student or graduate, not just those which are export-focused or tourism-based. 
 
With a growing number of international students choosing to study engineering, IT and health in Australia, the defence, technology, engineering, science and health industries are well-placed to unlock the benefits of employing an international student or graduate.

A student internship, known in the education sector as Work Integrated Leaning (WIL), is an opportunity offered by an employer to students, called interns, to work at a workplace for a fixed or limited time. Some are paid while others are entered into on a voluntary basis.

Internships may be part-time or full-time. They are usually part-time if offered during a university semester and full-time if offered during holidays, when they typically last four to 12 weeks. Internships are a great way for students to gain work experience. They can be extra-curricular (no academic credit) or can be used as credit towards an undergraduate degree program and regulated by the Fair Work Act.

This is an employer-driven opportunity undertaken during the first 12 months after a student has completed their qualification. The internship is paid and regulated by the Fair Work Act.

Student internships provide a range of advantages to businesses, including: 

• Increased productivity – students can undertake new projects, or projects that have fallen by the way-side due to limited resources. 

• New skills – student interns may have skills that you’d like to develop in your organisation and can build the capacity of your team members in these areas. 

• Enthusiasm – students provide fresh ideas, enthusiasm and positive energy. In fact, they’re 2.5 times more likely to go the extra mile for their team and 8.5 times more likely to collaborate effectively (Inclusion@Work Index 2023-2024, Diversity Council of Australia).  

• Future talent – identify future employees in promising student interns. 

The types of roles and projects that an international student or graduate could undertake for your business are endless. They can do whatever their studies and/or experience qualify them for.

Some examples specific to businesses that export include undertaking a competitor or industry gap analysis, trade mission preparation, developing a distribution strategy, hosting international delegations, translating marketing material, or establishing and running language and country-specific social media channels.

It takes no more time to hire an international student. They can apply for roles with your company along with everyone else, and the hiring process is exactly the same as hiring a local graduate. 

On the 485 visa, an international graduate can work in South Australia for up to four years, being 1.5 years if they have a VET qualification, three years for Bachelor or Masters qualification, through to four years for a PhD qualification.

A student visa enables international students to work up to 48 hours per fortnight, or full-time during semester breaks. As soon as the student finishes their study and while they’re going through the 485 visa application process, they can start working full time.

No. International students and graduates are happy to participate in a variety of work placements.

From part-time work to internships, either during their course or after graduation, there are many options for both employers and international students or graduates.

Employers sourcing students and graduates through our partner education providers must comply with the Fair Work Act. Please speak to these providers for more information.

Yes. If you find your employee invaluable to your business and would like them to stay longer than the validity of their current visa, there are other visas and options available to individuals or employers via either state nomination or the Department of Home Affairs. You may also wish to use the services of a registered migration agent to assist you.

International graduates want an Australian workplace experience and will relish the opportunity to be a part of the team. Like local graduates, international students and graduates are a ‘blank canvas’, with an incredibly strong work ethic and willingness to succeed. You will find them eager to enjoy and learn Aussie business culture – from footy tipping to Friday night drinks.

You can expect that the cultural exchange will be a two-way street. Employing an international student or graduate in your business is a great opportunity to expand your horizons and learn from different cultures too.

No. International graduates are employed under the same working conditions (salary, leave, superannuation etc) as locals. 
 
The graduates come from a range of cultures, which may include different holiday celebrations, religious practices or traditions. While it would be thoughtful to acknowledge their celebrations or traditions, it is not necessary to make special arrangements to accommodate them (for example, a prayer room).

Not really. During their studies, students are required to reach proficient levels in speaking and writing English - but it pays to remember that many international students have English as their second language. Those that lack confidence will soon bloom with your encouragement and patience (although you might need to explain some Australian slang!)