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Your Tax File Number (TFN)
This is job #1 — literally. Your TFN is a unique number issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that identifies you for tax purposes. Without one, your employer will withhold tax at the highest possible rate (~45%), which is a painful hit to your pay.
Make sure you're in Australia
You can only apply for a TFN after you've arrived in Australia and your visa is active. You cannot apply from overseas.
Apply online via the ATO
Go to ato.gov.au/tfn and follow the prompts. It's free. You'll need your passport details, your Australian address, and your visa details.
Wait for it to arrive
It usually takes 10–28 business days to arrive by post. Yes, snail mail. Plan ahead — apply the moment you land.
Give it to your employer
Once you have your TFN, provide it to your employer on a TFN Declaration form (they'll give you one). You can actually start work before your TFN arrives — just let your employer know you've applied. You have 28 days to provide it.
🔐 Protect Your TFN
Your TFN is like your social security number — never share it on social media, never give it to strangers, and never include it on your resume. Only your employer, bank, and the ATO need it.
Do You Need an ABN?
An Australian Business Number (ABN) is for people running their own business or working as an independent contractor. Most international students working casual or part-time jobs do NOT need an ABN. But here's when you might:
You Might Need an ABN If...
You're doing freelance work (graphic design, tutoring, photography, web development, Uber/Deliveroo driving), running a small side business, or working as a genuine independent contractor.
You Don't Need an ABN If...
You're working for someone else as a casual, part-time, or full-time employee. Even if your employer asks you to get one — that could be a red flag (see below).
🚩 The "Get an ABN" Scam
Some dodgy employers tell workers to get an ABN so they can pay them as "contractors" instead of employees. This is called sham contracting and it's illegal. Why do they do it? Because it means they don't have to pay your super, leave entitlements, or workers' comp insurance. If your boss controls your hours, provides your tools, and tells you how to do the work — you're an employee, not a contractor, regardless of what paperwork they give you.
If you genuinely need an ABN
Apply free at abr.gov.au. You'll get it instantly online. You'll also need to register for GST if you earn over $75,000/year (unlikely for most students).
You'll need to manage your own tax
As a contractor with an ABN, no tax is withheld from your pay. You're responsible for setting aside tax money yourself and lodging a tax return. Consider putting 25–30% of your income aside for tax.
Building Your Australian CV
Australian CVs (also called resumes) are different from what you might be used to back home. Here's the format that Australian employers expect — and what will actually get you interviews.
📏 The Golden Rules
- Keep it to 1–2 pages max. No one reads a 5-page CV. For entry-level/casual jobs, 1 page is ideal.
- No photo. Unlike many countries, Australians do NOT expect a photo on your CV. In fact, it can work against you — employers try to avoid unconscious bias.
- No date of birth, marital status, or religion. These are not relevant and including them looks out of touch.
- Australian phone number and email. Get an Australian SIM card and use a professional email address (not partygirl2003@...).
- Tailor it for each job. Generic CVs get binned. Adjust your summary and skills to match each job description.
What to Include (In This Order)
1. Contact Details
Full name, Australian mobile number, professional email, suburb (not full address). LinkedIn if you have one.
2. Professional Summary (2–3 lines)
A quick pitch: who you are, what you're studying, what you bring. Example: "Reliable and enthusiastic hospitality student at Griffith University seeking casual front-of-house work. RSA certified with strong communication skills and availability across weekdays and weekends."
3. Key Skills
List 4–6 relevant skills. Match them to the job ad. For hospo: customer service, POS systems, food safety, team communication. For retail: visual merchandising, cash handling, stock management.
4. Work Experience
Most recent first. Include job title, company name, dates, and 2–3 bullet points about what you actually did (not just your title). Use action verbs: "Managed", "Served", "Trained", "Processed". If you have no Australian work experience, include relevant experience from your home country — it absolutely counts.
5. Education
Current course, institution, expected completion date. Relevant previous qualifications.
6. Certifications
RSA, Food Safety Supervisor, Blue Card, White Card, First Aid — list them all. These are gold on the GC.
7. References
"Available on request" is fine. Or list 2 referees with their permission. A lecturer, previous employer, or community contact works.
Finding Jobs on the Gold Coast
The GC job market for students is heavy on hospitality, retail, tourism, and services. Here's where and how to look.
Online Job Boards
| Platform | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|
| SEEK | Australia's biggest job board. Filter by "casual" and "Gold Coast". | seek.com.au |
| Indeed | Wide range, lots of hospo and retail roles. | au.indeed.com |
| Jora | Aggregates listings from multiple sites. | au.jora.com |
| Gumtree | Local classifieds. Good for casual gigs, cleaning, moving help. | gumtree.com.au |
| Facebook Groups | Search "Gold Coast Jobs" or "GC Hospitality Jobs" — very active. | facebook.com/groups |
| Your University | Griffith, Bond, and SCU all have career hubs and job boards for students. | Check your student portal |
| Sidekicker / HospoJobs | Casual and on-demand shifts in hospitality and events. | sidekicker.com.au |
The Old-Fashioned Way (It Works)
🚶 Walk-Ins
On the Gold Coast, walking into a café, restaurant, or shop with a printed CV is still one of the most effective ways to find work — especially in Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Burleigh, and Palm Beach. Go mid-morning (10–11am) when it's not busy. Ask to speak to the manager. Be friendly, dressed neatly, and leave your CV even if they say they're not hiring. They'll remember you.
Application Tips
Email Applications
Keep the email short and direct. 3–4 sentences: who you are, what role you're applying for, your availability, and your key selling point. Attach your CV as a PDF (never .doc). Subject line: "Application — [Job Title] — [Your Name]".
Phone Follow-Ups
If you haven't heard back within a week, call. Australians respect initiative. "Hi, I applied for the casual role last week and just wanted to check if you'd had a chance to look at my application."
Networking
Tell everyone you're looking for work — classmates, housemates, your barista. A huge number of jobs on the GC are filled through word-of-mouth before they ever go online.
Availability Wins
Employers love students with wide availability — especially weekends, evenings, and public holidays. Mention it upfront. If you can work the hours others don't want, you'll get hired faster.
Nailing the Interview
Australian job interviews — especially for casual work — are generally relaxed and conversational. But there are things employers are looking for.
What to Wear
Casual jobs: neat and clean — no ripped jeans or thongs (flip-flops). Corporate: business casual. The GC is more relaxed than Sydney or Melbourne, but you still need to look like you care.
What They Want to Hear
Reliability ("I show up on time, every time"), availability ("I can do weekends and evenings"), attitude ("I'm keen to learn"), and experience (even from your home country).
Common Questions
"Tell me about yourself", "What's your availability?", "Have you worked in a team before?", "How would you handle a difficult customer?", "When can you start?"
Ask Questions Back
"What does a typical shift look like?", "What award does this role fall under?", "Is there training provided?" — shows you're engaged and informed.
Gold Coast Work Culture
Australian workplace culture might surprise you — especially on the Gold Coast, which has its own relaxed coastal flavour. Here's what to expect.
✅ The Aussie Way
- First names: Everyone — including your boss — goes by their first name. Calling someone "Mr Smith" will feel weirdly formal.
- Directness: Australians are straight-talkers. If they say "not bad," that actually means "pretty good." Don't take directness as rudeness.
- Punctuality: Being on time is non-negotiable. 5 minutes early is on time. Late = unreliable in Australian work culture.
- Initiative: If you see something that needs doing, do it. Don't wait to be told. "Showing initiative" is one of the most valued traits.
- Banter: Australians joke around at work — a LOT. Light teasing between colleagues is normal and usually a sign they like you. Join in, but keep it appropriate.
- "Having a go": Employers love when you try, even if you get it wrong. Effort and attitude matter more than perfection.
- Tea/coffee round: If you're making yourself a cuppa, ask your colleagues if they want one. It's a small thing that goes a long way.
🚫 Things to Avoid
- Being on your phone: Using your phone during work is a massive no. Even checking the time on it looks bad.
- Not asking questions: If you don't understand something, ask. Pretending you get it and then stuffing it up is way worse.
- Calling in sick via text: Unless your workplace specifically says otherwise, call to let them know you're unwell. A text feels dismissive.
- Gossiping about coworkers: Workplaces are small worlds, especially on the GC. What you say will get back to people.
- Not cleaning up: Leave your workspace cleaner than you found it. This is religion in Australian hospo.
- Over-promising availability: Don't say you can work every day if you can't. Employers would rather know your real availability than deal with last-minute cancellations.
- Ignoring safety: WHS (workplace health and safety) is taken seriously. If something is unsafe, speak up — you won't get in trouble for it.
🏖️ The GC Vibe
The Gold Coast is noticeably more casual than Sydney or Melbourne. You'll find bosses in shorts and thongs, meetings happening over coffee, and "arvo" (afternoon) being the most important time word in your vocabulary. The pace is relaxed, but the work ethic is still strong. People here work hard so they can enjoy the lifestyle — morning surfs, arvo swims, weekend hikes. That balance is the whole point of living here. Embrace it.
Workplace Lingo Cheat Sheet
You'll hear these within your first week. Don't panic.
| They Say | They Mean |
|---|---|
| "Can you do an arvo shift?" | Can you work in the afternoon? |
| "Smoko" | Your break (even if you don't smoke) |
| "Give it a crack" | Have a try / give it a go |
| "Reckon" | Think / believe ("I reckon we're out of milk") |
| "Flat out" | Really busy ("We're flat out today") |
| "No worries" | You're welcome / that's fine / don't stress |
| "Keen" | Enthusiastic / interested ("Are you keen for Saturday?") |
| "Sunnies" | Sunglasses |
| "Avo" | Avocado (this is important on the GC) |
| "She'll be right" | It'll be fine / don't worry about it |
| "Chuck a sickie" | Take a day off (sick leave — legit or not) |
| "Brekkie" | Breakfast |
| "Maccas" | McDonald's |
| "How ya going?" | How are you? (Not asking where you're going) |
Your First Day Checklist
Arrive 10–15 minutes early
Find parking, find the entrance, get settled. Being late on day one is the worst possible start.
Bring your documents
TFN Declaration form (your employer will provide), bank details, super fund details, proof of identity, visa details. Having these ready avoids delays.
Ask about the Award
Politely ask: "Which award does this role fall under?" This tells you your minimum pay rate, penalty rates, and entitlements. If they can't answer, that's a yellow flag.
Get your payslip schedule
Ask when and how you'll be paid (weekly, fortnightly), and confirm you'll receive payslips. This is legally required.
Note the WHS induction
Most workplaces will run through workplace health and safety procedures. Pay attention — it protects you.
Learn names
Make an effort to learn your coworkers' names on day one. It makes a huge impression and makes everything easier from day two.