Education: school enrolment, student work rights, OSHC and HECS-HELP

Most domestic students at Australian universities study in a Commonwealth supported place (CSP): the government pays part of the fee and the student pays the rest, called the student contribution. Australian citizens can defer the student contribution with a HECS-HELP loan and repay it through the tax system once their income passes the threshold (A$69,528 for 2026–27). Permanent residents and New Zealand citizens can generally get a CSP but cannot use HECS-HELP, so they pay each term up front. International students and temporary visa holders get neither and pay full fees. HELP balances as at 1 June 2025 were reduced by 20% in a one-off cut.

Public (government) schools are run by each state, and the first year has different names: Kindergarten in NSW, Prep in VIC and QLD. Each home address has a designated local school (a catchment or zone), and if you live in the catchment the school must take your child. To enrol you need a birth certificate or passport, proof of address and immunisation records. The school year starts in late January and has 4 terms. Children of citizens and permanent residents pay no tuition fees. Children of temporary visa holders usually pay fees in NSW and VIC, while QLD charges mainly dependants of student visa holders and visitor visa holders; check your state's website. This page covers NSW, VIC and QLD.

Student visa condition 8501 requires you and any family members with you to hold adequate health insurance for your whole stay in Australia. For students this is Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC); it must start on the day you arrive and must not have any gaps. Basic OSHC covers doctor visits, hospital treatment, surgery, emergency ambulance and some prescription medicines, but not dental, physiotherapy or optical, and some services have waiting periods. Temporary work visas such as the subclass 482 also carry condition 8501; holders usually buy Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC). Temporary residents without Medicare can claim an exemption from the Medicare levy at tax time. This page does not recommend any insurer.

If you hold a Student visa (subclass 500), you can only start work once your course has started. While your course is in session you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight; during holidays there is no limit. Master's by research and PhD students have no limit once their course has started. This is visa condition 8105; the work limit for family members is condition 8104. Student workers have the same minimum wage and workplace rights as everyone else under Fair Work rules, and you need a tax file number (TFN) before you start work.