How to Find On Campus Jobs at Australian Universities: Step by Step

“Check university career websites regularly” is the advice everyone gives, and it misses the detail that actually trips people up: the general “Careers at [University]” page is usually built for staff and academic hiring, not casual student roles. Student jobs, library assistants, ambassadors, admin support, are typically posted somewhere else entirely.

Where student jobs are actually posted

The public “Careers at [University]” page you find through a search engine is generally aimed at hiring academic and professional staff, not casual student positions. Casual, student-facing roles, library assistant, student ambassador, orientation support, admin assistant, are usually listed on a separate internal student employment portal that you access after logging in with your student credentials, or through your university’s student union or guild website. Check both places specifically, not just the general careers page, and set a reminder to check weekly since these roles turn over quickly at the start of each semester.

Pay: check your university's Enterprise Agreement, not a flat estimate

On-campus roles are not covered by the same Award rates as retail or hospitality jobs. Instead, most Australian universities pay general staff, including casual student roles, according to their own Enterprise Agreement, often organised into HEW (Higher Education Worker) pay levels. Rates differ by university and by HEW level, so rather than trusting a single flat figure, search your specific university’s name plus “enterprise agreement casual rates” to see the actual current scale. This detail matters because on-campus pay is genuinely set differently to off-campus casual work, not just “similar but slightly better.”

What actually gets you hired

Most on-campus applications ask you to address selection criteria directly, not just submit a resume, and this is where weaker applications lose out. Answer each criterion specifically, with a concrete example, rather than a general statement about being a hard worker. Demonstrated availability across the semester, including exam periods when many casual staff want time off, is also a genuine advantage, since rosters are built around gaps in coverage. See our best student jobs guide for broader options if on-campus roles are limited at your university, or our casual retail jobs guide as an off-campus alternative.

Bottom line

Check your student employment portal and student union site, not just the general staff careers page, and look up your specific university’s Enterprise Agreement rate rather than assuming a flat hourly figure. On-campus jobs are competitive, but knowing exactly where to look and how they are paid gives you a real edge over students relying on generic advice.