Almost a million people living and studying in Australia have found themselves unemployed in the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you’ve been laid off, seen your hours slashed or are looking to supplement your income, here are some tips for earning money as an international student right now. 

1. Supermarket retail roles

The two big supermarket chains in Australia, Coles and Woolworths, are running recruitment drives, pledging to put on 20,000 workers each to keep up grocery supplies during the coronavirus outbreak. The vast majority of new roles will be casual in order to provide maximum workforce flexibility to respond to peaks in demand and cover for existing team members who may be unable to work. You will not only have a job with some of the best employers in the country, with all the training and benefits that come with it but will be helping keep the country in-supply of essential items. 

To apply for Coles visit here. 
To apply for Woolworths visit here.

2. Aged carers

Visa work restrictions have been lifted by the Australian Government to allow student nurses and aged care workers to now work the same amount of hours as your local counterparts. Previously, international students could only work up to 40 hours a fortnight, but these restrictions no longer apply, allowing for more hours to ensure the care of senior and vulnerable Australians. You could help fill critical staff shortages and lessen the current strain on aged care providers and workers while supporting some of our older Australians who are particularly at risk of the coronavirus. 

Some of Australia’s leading aged care providers include:

Blue Care
Anglicare
Arcare
Southern Cross

3. Sell your own handmade products

Have you got a creative side hobby or want to keep your hands busy? Your hobby could actually make you money. Set up a store on Etsy or eBay or try a listing on Facebook Marketplace and start selling your products whether they be handmade greeting cards, pottery, plants or embroidered clothing.

4. Graphic design 

If you have Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva skills and can turn out beautiful design projects with ease, list your services on Airtasker and have people come to you. How easy! Even if you’re not a designer, Airtasker lists 100’s of odd jobs including cleaning services, moving services, furniture assembly and home and garden, any of which you can get paid to do.

5. Food delivery driving 

With restaurants closed and stock shortages at supermarkets, the food delivery service industry is soaring. Be a part of the delivery service and help keep millions of Australians well-fed. Sign up to UberEats, Menulog or Deliveroo and start earning now - all you need is a drivers licence and appropriate motor vehicle. If you live in a metropolitan area you might not even need a car - you can use a bicycle.

6. Online surveys

Did you know you can receive cash simply by offering your opinion? Online paid survey sites are now quite common. Check out a few of the top ones:

Opinion world
Student edge
My opinions
Valued opinions

7. Refer a friend to Cohort Go 

Share your savings with friends via Cohort Go’s refer-a-friend offer. Simply invite your friends to pay tuition fees and other study-related expenses via our secure online platform and receive a $20 GiftPay voucher to spend at your favourite Aussie retailer.  For more information click here. 

8. Virtual uni noticeboards

Check out your university's virtual notice board. The notice board contains a wealth of information, including any odd jobs that might need doing or even paid online tutoring gigs. 

As an international student, you have the option to gain part-time or casual employment to help pay your living expenses while you study in Australia. All people working in Australia have basic rights and protections in the workplace, including minimum pay and conditions. The Fair Work Ombudsman makes sure that these rights are protected and enforced fairly under Australia’s workplace laws. For more information, contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 or visit www.fairwork.gov.au.

We know that this is a particularly tough time for international students and we feel this with you. Good luck with your job hunting and earning that extra cash. Every bit counts!