Families & Dependents Living in Australia
Essential considerations when relocating to Australia with a spouse, partner, or school-aged children. Understanding secondary visa work conditions, state school fees, and childcare regulations.
1. Secondary Visa Holder Work Rights
Dependent family members attached to a primary applicant's visa have specific work rights determined by the visa subclass:
Spouses and adult dependent secondary visa holders generally receive unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of the visa.
Condition 8104 applies. Adult dependents of bachelor students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. Partners of students enrolled in Masters (coursework/research) or Doctoral degrees generally have unrestricted work rights.
2. Schooling for Dependent Children (State Tuition Fees)
A crucial financial reality for temporary residents (such as 482, 500, or 408 visa holders) is that state public school fee policies vary significantly between states and territories:
NSW Department of Education charges temporary resident fees for children of subclass 482 and student visa holders attending public government schools (often $5,000–$7,000+ per year per child).
Children of 482 visa holders generally pay standard local government school voluntary contributions without international tuition surcharges; student visa dependents pay standard international student tuition rates.
Each state maintains specific annual contribution schedules for 482 dependents attending government schools. Check state education department websites before finalizing relocation budgets.
3. Child Care Subsidy (CCS) & Health Insurance
The Australian Federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is administered by Services Australia and is generally restricted to Australian citizens, permanent residents, or holders of specified humanitarian and special category visas. Most temporary visa holders (subclasses 482, 500, 417) are not eligible for CCS and must pay full private day-care rates (typically $120–$180/day per child).
Temporary worker families must maintain adequate health insurance (such as OVHC or OSHC for students) for all family members as mandated by visa Condition 8501.