A study of south-west senior high school students' employment status, conducted for Deakin University by Beyond the Bell Great South Coast, revealed 81 per cent of year 11 and 12 students were working part time whilst studying.

While most worked between one to 10 hours a week, six per cent said they worked more than 16 hours a week, some even more than 20 hours.

The data showed 87 per cent of students worked in paid employment outside of home, while six per cent worked in a family business and two per cent volunteered.

Key factors included financial gain, to save money and to support their living expenses.

Deakin University's director of the associate degree in education Dr Emma Charlton said there were many benefits to working part time while studying, but finding the balance was tough.

"High school students learn a lot from being in the working environment," she said.

"They gain good social skills, financial skills and depending on where they are working, they can gain experience in a field related to their future career interests.

"But finding the right work-school balance can be tough. When students start working too many hours, they can start drowning."

One student told researchers it was "really hard and stressful" to work more than 10 hours a week while keeping up with year-12 classes and studying for school assessed coursework.

"It really is just an extra stress I don't need but I need the money to be able to go and study next year so I can't not work," the student said.

The report also showed students felt the amount of part-time work had an impact on their studies and educational commitments.

"They indicated the more they work, the greater the impact, fatigue sets in, there is a lack of motivation and time is not used effectively," the report read.

Dr Charlton said she believed high school students shouldn't take on more than about 10 hours of work per week.

"With 25 contact hours a week, and the possible expectation of about 15 hours of homework, students have to be careful what they take on," she said.

"20 hours per week is too much. How can young people juggle that alongside their studies, sports and other interests?

"My advice would be to think long term rather than short term, if you can. If you have the luxury of financial stability from your family then be strategic and don't take too much on at once."

Kings College year-12 student and school captain Caleb Mcnaughton, 17, works part time at Kmart in Warrnambool's Gateway Plaza.

He works up to six hours per week and is currently studying four VCE subjects after completing year-12 physical education last year.

"The shifts can vary so sometimes I'll work two three-hour shifts a week and then the following week I might only work one, or not at all," he said.

"I work to make a bit of money, to feel like I'm achieving something outside of school and also to interact with people."

Mr Mcnaughton said he believed he had the right school-work balance.

"I haven't felt under pressure yet," he said.

"The teachers are really helpful in that if you feel like you're falling behind they will help you in free periods or before or after school.

"I think it's really important to communicate with them as they are always really understanding. They give me confidence in my school work and I find having a job is a good break from my studying."

Mr Mcnaughton said entering the workforce at a young age provided "communication skills and confidence that school might not".

But, he said it was important to be mindful of your work load.

"I'm not sure I would want to work more than I already do as I have other commitments like footy and church," he said.

"Anything over that six or so hours of work per week seems inappropriate to me."

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