Your business challenge.
Our people, on it.
We take real problems from Melbourne businesses and build technology solutions around them - using teams of talented international students, guided by experienced mentors, managed end-to-end by THS.
From problem to solution - here's the process
Every problem is different. So are our tiers.
| Tier | Best For | Timeline | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Simple automations - repetitive tasks, basic internal tools | 2–4 weeks | Free (community project) |
| Builder | Custom application or AI tool for a specific workflow | 4–8 weeks | Cost recovery |
| Enterprise | Full technology transformation of a business process | 8–16 weeks | Commercial rate |
| Embedded | You're not sure what needs to be built yet — so we come to you | 4 - 8 weeks | Commercial rate |
Not sure which tier fits? Just submit - we'll scope it together.
Some problems can't be scoped from a distance.
Most project briefs start with a symptom, not a cause. You know something is slow, broken, or costing you money, but you can't quite name what needs to be built.
For those, we don't ask you to write a brief. We send a team in.
An Embedded Engagement puts a small THS team, a student engineer and an experienced mentor, inside your business for four to eight weeks. They attend your meetings. They watch how your team actually works. They ask the questions your software vendor never did. Then they build something that fits.
What this looks like:
Who it's for:
Businesses who've tried to brief a developer and walked away frustrated. Teams where the process lives in people's heads, not in documents. Anyone who's been told "we need more information" one too many times.
Embedded Engagements are available to Melbourne-based businesses. Talk to us →
Why are Starter projects free?
As a not-for-profit, one of our core aims is bridging the local experience gap for international students. Starter projects are completed by talented students who lack Australian work experience. They gain real, hands-on industry experience under the guidance of senior mentors - while you get your business problem solved at no cost.
What can we build?
Process Automation
Eliminate repetitive manual work: invoicing, scheduling, data entry, reporting.
AI Tools
Custom assistants, document analysis, data summarisation, predictive tools.
Digital Systems
Websites, booking systems, client portals, online stores.
Data & Analytics
Dashboards, business intelligence, reporting pipelines.
Internal Tools
CRM, inventory, staff management, workflow systems.
FAQ
For businesses:
Do I need to understand technology to submit a project?
No. You describe the problem in plain English. We handle the technical side entirely.
Who actually does the work?
Teams of talented international students, guided by an experienced mentor, with all work reviewed by our QA team before it reaches you.
Who owns the solution?
You do, completely. All work product belongs to your business.
What if the output doesn't meet my expectations?
Every deliverable is reviewed by our QA team before delivery. If something isn't right, it goes back to the team. We don't present unreviewed work.
How does payment work?
You pay THS upfront or in agreed milestones. THS manages all payments to the student team.
What if I don't know exactly what I need built?
That's more common than you'd think. Our Embedded Engagement tier is designed for exactly this, a small team comes to you, maps your actual workflows, and figures out what to build before building it. Learn more →
For students:
Can I apply if I'm on a student visa?
Yes. THS manages your hours to ensure you stay within your visa's legal working conditions.
Do I need prior work experience?
No. We assess your skills and start you on a Starter project to build your THS track record first.
How much will I earn?
You're paid an hourly rate for every hour worked, within your legal limit. Rate is confirmed at project matching.
What if the project is difficult?
You'll have a mentor from day one. You're not working alone.
Will this help me find a job after graduation?
It significantly improves your prospects. You'll have real Australian work experience, verifiable project outcomes, and access to the THS professional network.
You have the skills. We have the work.
The Hallucination Society connects international students in Australia with real technology projects from real Australian businesses - so you can earn a living, build a portfolio, and change what happens when you graduate.
We know what it's actually like.
You came to Australia with a real degree and real skills. You thought it would lead somewhere.
Instead you're working in a supermarket or a restaurant - not because you chose to, but because those are the only jobs available within your working hours limit. Some of you are being paid cash in hand, below the legal rate, by employers who know you have no safe way to push back.
And when you graduate, you discover that the tech jobs you came here for require Australian work experience - which you were structurally prevented from getting.
This is not okay. And it's what the THS Project Studio was built to change.
Real project work
Not simulated. Real clients, real briefs, real deliverables with Australian businesses.
Fair pay
Paid hourly within your legal working limits. THS manages your hours. No exploitation.
A mentor
Every project team has an experienced professional guiding the work and your development.
A verified portfolio
Every project generates a THS-verified portfolio entry and letter of engagement for job applications.
Are you eligible?
Not sure if you're eligible? Apply anyway and we'll let you know.
Let's get you started.
Takes about 3 minutes. We review applications weekly and will be in touch within 7 days.
Tell us about your challenge
Submit your project in plain English.