Australia's Minimum Wage Increase

Photo by StudyPerth

The minimum wage is the minimum amount that an employer can legally pay its employees. Everyone who works in Australia is entitled to the minimum wage, including international students who work part-time or casually to earn money while studying. 

The National Minimum Wage has increased as of 1 July 2025, as announced by the Australian Government's Fair Work Commission. Here's everything you need to know: 

• The National Minimum Wage will increase by 3.5% to $24.95 per hour (before tax). The weekly minimum amount for full-time workers has increased to $948 (before tax). 

• Most employees are covered by an award, which is a legal document that outlines how much pay a worker in a particular industry or occupation will receive. Minimum Award Wages will also increase by 3.5% as of 1 July 2025.

As an international student, you are protected by Australia's workplace laws. If you find that you are being paid any less than the minimum wage, no matter the amount, you should speak with your employer. If you continue to receive less than the minimum wage, you can get in contact with the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Here are some tools from the Fair Work Commission that you may find useful:

• Pay and Conditions Tool - where you can calculate your new pay rate after the changes take effect. 

• Pay guides - where you can access the updates pay guide for your award. 

• Find my award tool - if you're unsure which award you're covered by, you can use this tool to find out. 

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