International students and graduates in Australia represent a highly skilled and motivated talent pool, with a diverse and valuable range of skills. 

Employing international students and graduates can provide a variety of benefits to businesses in Queensland, including bringing diverse knowledge networks and fresh perspectives to your organisation. Additionally, hiring international students and graduates is an effective way of filling workforce and talent shortages, while also increasing organisational competitiveness by hiring diverse skills and experience.

Why international talent?


1

Global perspective and market insight

International students bring firsthand knowledge of international markets, consumer behaviour, and cultural nuances – especially valuable for businesses expanding globally or serving diverse communities.

2

High-level problem solving and adaptability

Having navigated life, study, and work in a new country, international graduates are often highly resilient and resourceful.  They’re used to adapting quickly and solving problems independently. 

3

Multilingual communication

Many international students and graduates speak two or more languages fluently, enabling better communication with international clients, partners and customers.  This also supports translation, and cross-border collaboration. 

4

Strong work ethic and motivation

International students often work harder to prove themselves in competitive environments.  Studies show they’re more likely to go the extra mile and demonstrate loyalty when given opportunities.

5

Diversity-driven innovation

Culturally diverse teams outperform homogenous ones.  International hires contribute to creative thinking, innovation, and better decision-making – leading to stronger business outcomes. 

6

Connection to global alumni networks

Graduates often maintain strong ties to their home countries, creating long-term business, research, and trade opportunities through alumni networks and international partnerships. 

7

Filling critical skills gaps

In Australia, international students make up a high proportion of graduates in areas like engineering, health and IT, helping to address critical skills shortages to drive a strong economy. 

8

Real-world experience through local internships and projects

Many international students actively pursue internships, volunteer roles, and industry-linked projects during their studies.  This hands-on experience means they’re not just academically qualified – they’ve already applied their skills in real workplace settings, making them job-ready from day one.

9

Cultural intelligence and customer engagement

They help businesses better understand and serve multicultural customer bases, improving service delivery and brand relevance in diverse markets.

10

No sponsorship required

Most international graduates of Australian universities and vocational education and training programs can work in Australia under the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), meaning employers can hire without sponsorship costs.

How to access international talent for your business

Accessing international students and graduates to build a strong, diverse workforce for your business is a lot easier than you might think, and there are a range of services and resources available to help you navigate building a diverse team with international student and graduate talent.


Study Queensland (SQ) is a business unit of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), the Queensland Government’s business development agency focused on connecting Queensland business to global opportunities.  Our mission is to build a strong, sustainable International Education and Training (IET) sector that attracts talent from around the world to study and live in Queensland.  

We promote Queensland as a leading destination for education, training, research and innovation, and we support all IET providers in the state, and delivering a positive, supportive student experience that contributes to social cohesion and community inclusion across Queensland. 

We’re equally committed to assisting Queensland industry and employers forge connections and access international student and graduate talent to fill workforce needs and continue to build a strong future for Queensland.   

Hiring and retaining talent is a top 10 challenge shared by the majority of Queensland businesses.  Through Study Queensland’s employability program ‘Talent-Ed’, we can help you. 

We provide industry, employers and organisations the opportunity to engage with international students and graduates through our experiential innovation challenges and other targeted networking events.  

We also provide education and awareness on how your business can connect with international student talent during their studies and demystify the visa process to understand how to hire international students and graduates. 

Have you ever been curious about how to engage a student in your organisation through their studies, but not known where to start?

There are a number of opportunities to bring students into your workplace through internships, placements or industry engagement experiences throughout their studies. These opportunities are broadly referred to as Work Integrated Learning (WIL). 

It is important to note that each educational institution in Queensland may use different names for WIL or run their programs differently. Ultimately though, WIL is designed to support students in putting theory into practice, getting hands-on experience in their field of study in industry to better equip them for their post-study career. 

By engaging students through WIL, you’ll have access to student skills to help with your organisational-specific challenges, fresh ideas and perspectives, and a talent pipeline that you can try and test in your workplace.

Tackling some common misconceptions about hiring international students and graduates

Visa Sponsorship: easier than you think
Worried that hiring someone on a visa might be complicated? Here’s the good news: employing an international student on a Student Visa or Temporary Graduate Visa is not that dissimilar to employing a domestic candidate.

International students who hold a valid student visa can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Masters by research or PhD students may be able to work more than this. No separate working visa is required for students with a valid student visa. There is no financial commitment required from employers to hire international students on a Student visa (subclass 500).

These visas allow you to hire and trial international talent for years before sponsorship is even a consideration, and in many cases, especially when candidates are on a pathway to permanent residency, sponsorship may not be needed at all. Migration Queensland has a range of resources and information on their website to help guide industry and employers through understanding the visas available and processes related to hiring skilled international talent. 

English proficiency: strong and improving
To study in Australia, international students must meet strict English language requirements—recently raised to IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent). This score reflects solid competency across reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Yes, there may be occasional pauses or minor errors—but here’s the upside: language skills improve rapidly with real-world practice. By offering opportunities, you’re helping build fluency while gaining a motivated team member.

International students won't stay with one employer for long 
It’s a common myth that international graduates won’t stick around. But research shows domestic Gen Z workers average 17 career changes over their lifetime, with Gen Alpha expected to exceed that. In contrast, international graduates on a Temporary Graduate Visa have at least two years of work rights, and unlike other visas with work allowances, the Temporary Graduate Visa does not require holders to change employer throughout the duration of the visa. 

Assistance to help you build and support a diverse workforce
If you’re new to working with culturally and linguistically diverse teams, you’re in good company. Many Queensland employers have successfully made the shift, supported by resources from Multicultural Affairs Queensland and Business Chamber Queensland. SSI also offer online cultural competency courses.  Email Study Queensland for your coupon code to undertake the module for free

Need inspiration? Check out the videos below from Queensland employers who've built their workforces with diverse international student and graduate talent, and share how the process was smoother than expected. Study Queensland and education providers are also actively preparing international students for the Australian workplace.  

Try before you hire
Not ready to bring someone into your team just yet? Join one of Study Queensland's networking events or Innovation Challenges to connect with international students in a low-pressure, high-impact setting. 100% of participating employers recommend the Innovation Challenge as a way to access emerging talent, fresh thinking, and tailored solutions to real business challenges. You can contact Study Queensland to find out more. 
VEVO - the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system allows employers to check someone’s visa conditions.
  • Register for an Employer profile that will allow you to check the work rights of a visa holder who is a prospective or current employee.
  • You will need the visa holder’s permission and travel document details to access this.
  • Check visa details and conditions using VEVO via homeaffairs.gov.au.
How many hours can a student visa holder work?
  • Generally, student visa holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight during semester and can work full time when their course of study is not in session (semester break).
  • It is only when the student commences study that they are allowed to work. If you are seeking to hire a student visa holder, you should request evidence that they have commenced their course, such as a confirmation of enrolment or letter from the education provider.
  • Students completing a Masters by research or Doctorate (PhD) program have unrestricted working hours. 
  • Dependants of student visa holders enrolled in a Masters or Doctorate degree can work unrestricted hours.
  • Always check VEVO for confirmation.
Do I need to sponsor a student once they finish their studies to keep them on?
Not necessarily. The Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485):
  • Allows international students to live, study and work after they have completed their studies for between 2 – 4 years.
  • Is an independent visa type with no employer sponsorship obligations.
  • In addition, graduates with a degree from a regional institution are eligible for a second post-study work visa, which can allow an additional one to two years, depending on the region they studied in.
If I find an employee that is a good fit for our business, is it expensive to sponsor them?
There are a range of employer sponsored visa types available for sponsoring businesses. Most of them require the nominating employer to:
  • Be a Standard Business Sponsor.
  • Pay a nomination fee.
  • Pay a Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy - this amount depends on the business turnover and proposed period of stay of the employee. Meet all other eligibility criteria.

Thriving in Queensland - employer voices

Hear from Queensland employers who have navigated building their workforces with diverse, international talent. 


Tapping into growth through a strong, diverse workforce. 


Colin McDonnell, Operations Manager at Munster Services Group, shares his experience of building his team with skilled international talent, and how building a diverse team has allowed Munster Services Group to tap into the talent they need to grow and thrive.

Building diverse, thriving workplaces.


QAGOMA (Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art) Head of Digital, Morgan Strong, shares his experience of building his team with skilled international talent, and how building a diverse team has seen QAGOMA become a leader in harnessing AI technologies to manage collections and create immersive digital experiences.

Tapping into international talent to drive innovation and grow a strong team culture. 


Amanda Kenafake, CEO of Power Tynan, shares her experience of building her team with skilled international talent, and how tapping into this talent has seen Power Tynan grow and thrive.

Need some further assistance?

If you require further information or assistance with preparing to sponsor a skilled migrant, you may wish to use the services of a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer.

You can find one at the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority or Queensland Law Society Register of Solicitors.