This is to all of you out here on student visas - I know there are a few.
We are also on a student visa and I just wondered how you all cope with the restrictions on working 20hrs a week?

We came out here with no savings and hubby is at college 4 days a week leaving him only able to work 2 days and I am only able to get 12.5 hrs a week at work at the moment. I am looking for an extra/new job at the moment. We have to pay hubbys family back $100 a week as they paid for his course and we are really struggling to make ends meet.

Has anyone got any advice or tips at all as feeling really disheartned and very homesick

Thanks for reading x

You can make extra money by going to the dump (yes dump!) and buying 2nd hand stuff for very little money. I dont mean crap, I mean 2nd hand stuff that can be resold. We have a neighbour that does this and makes a tidy fortune every week. She sells on anything from furniture to golf clubs to electricals to tuppaware. All she does is buy the stuff in, clean it up then has weekly garage sales or goes down the trash n treasure on a sunday morning.

If you dont fancy doing this, then why not try shopping at the Salvo's or Op shops instead of buying stuff at inflated prices from the big stores. OK its 2nd hand but it only has to manage you until you're both working fulltime.

We came here on the student visa but we were fortunate enough to bring a hefty whack of cash plus we have mortgage free property in the UK which is rented out. Its really not easy and we have found you need to have a strict budget. Its tough now but hopefully it wont be in the future


EDIT: Just to add, you could also offer to clean your neighbours houses, do their ironing, gardening etc for a back pocket earner.

If your really hard up, make an appointment to see the Salvo's. They will give you food parcels and even pay a couple of weeks rent for you.

You could try to do some babysitting to make a bit of extra cash on the side. It can be surprisingly difficult to find a babysitter sometimes.

Thankyou for your replies.
Never thought about going to the dump lol that could be interesting

We have got all second hand stuff either brought or given to us, I never thought about contacting the salvos but wouldnt they just help if you were a resident here?

I have thought about babysitting cleaning etc but was just trying to think of where to advertise for those sorts of jobs..?? anyone any ideas..

Thanks for your kind advice both of you

You could put up flyers at places where moms go.

In a usual week I would be at the grocery store, school, swimming lessons (or other lessons), sometimes the doctors office. You could also try an online registry like this one:
http://www.findababysitter.com.au/

You could post some at the local TAFE also. A flyer is cheap and you never know who will call you.

Or you could put a small add in the local paper, I've seen a few babysitters and cleaners do that too.

Salvo's will help anyone regardless of visa status. As long as its obvious you wont spend their help on a crack fix then they will try and help you out.

As for advertising, like Comet555 has said, do all the usual places (grocery store, notice board in shopping centre community centre etc) and also knock up some leaflets/flyers on the computer and just do a leaflet drop round the streets in your area. Also look out for neighbours doing their gardening/lawns etc and just pop across and see if you can do it for them

Hiya,

Just wanted to say that I'm sorry your finding it quite hard and feeling down. Did you not manage to go through with contacting any organisations doing youth work?

Youth work, disability, elderly care work will all take on casual workers and pay the enhanced rates at the weekends meaning you could be earning a full time wage for your 20 hours at the weekends.

If you just google these key words you'll come accross all different organisations. I had loads of them for Queensland, but have changed computers so don't have them any more but if you try Mercy, Spiritus, Pathways, and Boystown are a few I remember off hand.

Good luck n keep yer chin up, just countdown till hubbie finishes his course n do what you have to do!!

Cheers
Mandy

Hi yes thats a good idea about the flyers.

I have checked that babysitting website and also registered with another one for cleaning and babysitting.
Got a couple of casual jobs in the local paper to ring up about so will do that too.
I might give the salvos a call on monday and see what they say
I have already applied for another job which may be more hours than where Im working at the moment but no phonecall yet..

Thanks again guys.

Yes, I forgot about the neighbourhood part. I would love nothing better than to get a flyer from someone on my street for babysitting. Hasn't happened yet though.

I've scanned a copy of one I got in our mailbox. I really liked it and have been hanging on to it in case I need it. Really should give them a call though as my front garden looks hideous!

Hes definitely enthusiastic.A 16 year old willing to do anything.

Good luck with the work front. We're not in Perth yet but hope to be on Student visas in the next couple of months.

This thread has given me some great ideas. I am working with a childminder in the UK at the moment and really enjoy it but unfortunately I won't be qualified to work with children in Oz. I think I might do the flyer thing for babysitting and see what comes of that. Brilliant idea!

Sorry but they wont take on anyone without proper police clearance and proof of courses having been done in any of these fields, also they require the level of experience you have.Most places wont even take anyone on as a volunteer as it buggers up their insurance.It also has to do with duty of care.It may be different in other states but definitely not here in wa.
Some places would only have you rostered on to work 3 hours a shift(busiest times).It does happen.

I had suggested this because I'm sure Nat12 has worked in residential care before, we had already spoken about it. . .

Blue card and police checks kinda go without saying? Similar checks (diclosure) done back across.

Even with babysitting. . would have thought you would be best to have a blue card.

I got into youth work here without any bother, though did have nearly 8 years experience.

Cheers
Mandy

Hello,
Thanks everyone again, I am unable to work on weekends as husband as at college all day sat and sun.
I have a police check and working with childrens check and also have experience and qualifications in this area.

I think I will get on to the flyer idea this weekend for babysitting and cleaning it would be good if I could find a couple of evenings doing that.

If it was cleaning I would have to see about bringing my son or maybe the childminder would look after him but then I am paying out in childcare!

I think I might ring the salvos today and see what they say, you can only ask...

I will let you know how I get on x