Study and Work

WHERE CULTURES THRIVE AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE MANY

Working and studying in Darwin offers unique opportunities in a vibrant and multicultural setting. This city provides a dynamic job market with countless opportunities to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a tropical lifestyle. At the same time, Darwin's educational offerings are enriched by diverse cultural experiences and social connections, welcoming students from around the globe. Here, careers can grow, ambitions are realised, and communities come together—making Darwin a place where work and study seamlessly blend for a truly enriching life experience.

Add to favourites.

Moving to Darwin for work is one of the best decisions I have made

Carlos Campos

Jobs

Darwin has an incredible range of employment opportunities and great prospects for rapid career progression if you have the skills and desire.

18.8%

Public Administration & Safety

7.3%

Education & training supports

7.3%

Tourism

Search for jobs

Find jobs across all industries in the Greater Darwin region.

Search for jobs

Migrate to work

There are opportunities for seasonal labourers and short-term international visitors in hospitality, retail, tourism and food and agribusiness.

Various work visa options exist to address a number of employment conditions including Working Holiday Visa, Training Visa and Short-Stay Specialist Visa. Check the work conditions in your visa grant notice before seeking a job in Australia.

Australia Government Department Home Affairs
Migrate to work | Australia's Northern Territory

Info for International Students: For international students, visa holders can work up to 40 hours per fortnight during the study period or full-time during the study break.

Skills and training

There is a range of accredited vocational education and training services in Darwin to support our diverse population.
Vocational education and training (VET) delivers industrial and technical skill courses to local and international students. The courses include business, project management, hospitality, languages, civil Construction, human resources, marketing, and aged and early childhood care.

My Skills – Australia’s Training Directory
uWorkin Talent Community

Starting a business

There is a lot of support for people wishing to start a business in Darwin.

Learn about the essentials of starting a business in Darwin and where to seek advice. You can also find out what grants and funding opportunities are available to help give new businesses a great start.

Advice

There is a lot of support for people wishing to start a business in Darwin.

Learn generally about starting a business, business structures, intellectual property, services and support through Business Australia.

For specific advice about how to start a cafe, restaurant or retail shop in Darwin, check out Step-by-step Guides

Darwin businesses, Indigenous enterprises, and not-for-profits can seek free advice from small business champions - Small Business Champions

Foreign Companies

If you are a foreign company, you need to follow the steps available in Australian Securities & Investments Commission to register in Australia.

Grants

There are currently over $60.4 billion grants, among which 629 are business grants worth over $58.3 billion available to Darwin businesses. City of Darwin can help familiarise you with the business grants available.Darwin GrantGuru

Career pathways

In Darwin you can gain work experience through part-time and casual employment, graduate programs, traineeship & apprenticeship programs, internships, and volunteer programs.

Graduate programs

Organisations offer a range of paid positions for graduate students in Darwin.

NTG Graduate Careers
Job Search - UWorking

Internships

An internship provides you with practical work experience in a workplace aligned with your academic studies. We suggest you contact the individual businesses or the peak industry associations in Darwin for any internship opportunities.

Peak Industry Associations
Business Directory

Traineeships and apprenticeships

Gain hands-on learning and industry experience in Darwin through a mix of paid industry training and formal study.

Top End Group Training
Charles Darwin University

Students chatting in front of tropical mural

STUDY IN DARWIN

In Darwin, the study experience is enriched by social events and cultural opportunities, with many students speaking two or more languages.

The diversity of learning is incomparable.

Education providers in Darwin cater for domestic and international students of all abilities and aspirations.

Early Learning

Darwin hosts a variety of public and private early learning and preschool options to suit and support every child and family. Options include short and long day care, outside school hours care, in-home care or occasional care.

CHILD CARE

Darwin offers structured, supportive and social education options for younger children, with there being no age restriction on when your child can begin attending child care.

Find a childcare or preschool

FAMILY DAY CARE

For parents seeking smaller, more personalised care options, Darwin has many certified Family Day Care providers that provide child care services for children in a family or home-based setting. A consistent and close relationship is developed between parents, children and carers, as children are taught in settings that cater to the desires of the parents and the needs of the children.

Find a Family Day Care Centre

PRESCHOOL

Early childhood education in the form of preschools is a regulated part of the Northern Territory Education Curriculum. In other States and Territories preschool is often called Kindergarten.

Children can attend public and private preschools (often attached as feeders to associated Primary Schools) from the age of four, or if your child turns four between 1 January and 30 June then they may start preschool at the beginning of the school year.

NT Preschool Curriculum

Stages of schooling

There are primary schools, middle schools, senior secondary and comprehensive schools in the NT. More than one stage of school may take place at one location.

Transition to Year 6

Primary Years

Year 7 to Year 9

Middle years

Year 10 to Year 12

Senior years

Primary School

There are 19 public and 10 private primary schools in Darwin. All of them cater for preschool, transition and grades 1 to 6. The exception is Nemarluk School which provides specialised educational needs for children of all ages, and some private schools that do not cater for preschool aged children.

All schools in Darwin offer outside school hours care.

Directory of schools

Secondary School Darwin

Secondary school in Darwin includes middle and high school. There are four public middle schools that teach Grade’s 7 to 9 and six private schools that offer Grade’s 7 to 12.

Casuarina Senior College and Darwin High School are Darwin’s public high school options.

Schools offer a range of internationally recognised education options including the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training.

Directory of schools

Schools map

Tertiary Education

With a local university ranked among the top 100 in the Asia-Pacific region and many other quality education and training centres, Darwin has a lot to offer domestic and international students.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is ranked number two in Australia for undergraduate full-time employment outcomes. CDU supports domestic and international students and offers practical study experiences including work placements.

Explore tertiary education options:

CDU
Menzies - School of Health Research
Flinders University
CIM

TAFE & VET Students

Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) colleges deliver accredited training of industrial and technical skill courses to local and international students.

A wide range of study areas are offered including business, project management, hospitality, English, civil construction, human resources, marketing and aged and early childhood care.

Vocational education and training

International students

Students from many different countries, cultures and backgrounds choose to study in Darwin. The relaxed tropical lifestyle and cultural diversity is comforting and helps adapt to the Australian way of life leaving time to focus on your future. Find out more with Study NT

Language: The primary and secondary schools will assess the student’s English language proficiency for students where English is not the first language. The students will be placed on an appropriate intensive English course for a year.Intensive English Units

International tertiary students will need to ensure their English-speaking skills are appropriate for the course to study. International Entry Requirements
Visas: There are three different types of visa for international students. Visa holders can work up to 40 hours per fortnight during the study period or full-time during the study break. Subclass 500 Student visa
Student Guardian visa (subclass 590)
Training visa (subclass 407)
Costs: The cost of study for international students depends greatly on the course and level of study. This means that school fees can range from $5,000 to $25,000 a year or semester. There may be additional costs for student services, amenities and health cover.
School fees for international students
Pathway to Aus - High And Primary Schools Fees For International Students Children

For tertiary education costs, please refer to the institutions website for the most up to date information.
Location: There are 19 CRICOS registered international education and training providers in Darwin ranging from schools like Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College to University, TAFE and VET providers like CDU and Alana Kaye College.
Institution Search

Live

Find out everything you need to know about moving to Darwin, from housing options to healthcare, facilities and services. Learn how you can get around and get immersed in our tropical lifestyle.

Find out more

Study and Work

WHERE CULTURES THRIVE AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE MANY

Moving to Darwin for work is one of the best decisions I have made