With its warmer climate, active outdoor lifestyle and appealing minimum wage it’s no wonder so many of us want to experience a year (or three) in this gorgeous country. I completed my first year in 2022 and fell in love with the place, hoping to go back very soon to spend another couple of years at least there. It can seem an overwhelming decision to up and move your life to the other side of the world, and it is a big deal, but hopefully this step by step guide will make it a little simpler to follow.
where do I start?
First you need to apply for your visa. You can do this on the Australian government website (linked at the bottom of this page). For Brits, this is the 417 working holiday visa which is currently 635 AUD. Apply directly through the government website and it is recommended to leave 3 months before you plan on going to Australia as it may take this time to be approved. I found that my visa was approved in a matter of minutes so it is very variable; keep this in mind.
The visa requires the equivalent of 5000 AUD in the bank to be accepted for this visa which is a good place to start in terms of budget. This is a safety net to last you a good few months if for example you were unable to find work that should keep you going. I wouldn’t say you need any more than this to begin with as you can earn money quickly if needs be. The more money you set out with the more you will be able to do straight off the bat but you can still have an amazing experience on a budget. You’ll quickly learn about goon.
Once you have your visa, you want to book your flight to Australia. its a good idea to either book a one way ticket or (what I chose to do) an open or flexible return. With your budget airlines this may not be possible. Of course if you know when you want to return, by all means book a return flight however I have known many other backpackers only intending to stay for 6 months and then staying years! As with all travel it is up to preference but most would choose to be as flexible as possible.
when i arrive
First things first would be a good idea to get a local sim card and Australian number. Popular choices are Vodafone AU or Optus. These can easily be purchased in store in any shopping mall. Once you have a phone number set up it will make other tasks much easier.
Applying for your Tax File Number should be your next step as this may take weeks to arrive. You can apply for this online and it is free to do so, so there is no need to pay anyone to do this for you. The tax file number will be sent in the post to your address but don’t worry, you can use a hostel address for this and collect mail from the reception.
Next you will need to set up a bank account in order to be paid into this when you work. popular choices are Westpac or Commonwealth. Both offer similar service and can easily be set up online and there verified in branch, or simply walk into your local branch and ask to set up an account.
As a British citizen, we can access Medicare free of charge as an equivalent to our NHS, but we need to make sure we apply in case we need to use it or would be unable to claim any money back. When I was in Australia, there were many severe delays in this so I would recommend to apply to this as soon as possible. Definitely don’t skimp out on this or some form of medical insurance, you never know when you’ll need it. Again these forms can be filled out online or go into a local Medicare centre if possible as I found this the easiest option.
travel or work first
Many choose to do the typical east coast route before settling to find work and I can see why. I think if you have the money this is a great option as you get a feel for the country and where you might want to settle for a while without blindly committing to a city you don’t know, as well as meeting friends to potentially live with or travel more. There are many tour groups offering east coast tours but it is very achievable and probably cheaper to do it yourself. See my east coast guide for advice.
finding a job
With your new Australian number updated in your resume and a short personal statement on what you are looking for when it comes to work. Make sure to include all relevant experience and I also found it best not to mention how short you were planning on staying at a job even if it is only a month of casual work.
Casual work offers the best pay but less rights for the worker however this is the most common way backpackers work on a year long visa. With higher rates at weekends, Sunday’s and public holidays you cant go wrong. It is most common for payslips every week or fortnight so saving money can be super easy if you know how to budget.
This will vary widely on what area of work you are going into and where you are looking. Many travellers choose to take career breaks etc. and it is very popular to go into hospitality. This means these jobs have a very high turn over of staff. I found no issue in finding jobs in hospitality by just walking into cafes and gelato stores and handing in my resume. I find with a bit of determination and some experience under your belt, you shouldn’t struggle too much. Talking to mangers and finding out job opportunities by word of mouth seems the best bet and getting your personality across definitely helps.
If you are working in restaurants that serve alcohol, pubs or bars you will need what is called a Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate or RSA. This is a legal requirement of any place that serves alcohol so it may be a good idea to get this in the bag early on if this is the type of work you are looking for. Courses can be found online and can be a little time consuming however definitely worth it if you want to work anywhere that isn’t an early hours café. Be aware these laws and certificates vary from state to state so if you are not sure where you want to settle, maybe don’t complete this right away.
One thing to be aware of is making sure you are not taken advantage of by employers exploiting backpackers for cheap or free labour. I have heard of people being offered hours of trial shift only to be told they are not needed and to never be paid. So know your rights and don’t let this happen.
Some also opt to work for accommodation which is a great option to save money. This often is housekeeping work, running hostel events, and manning the reception for 15-20 hours a week in return for your accommodation and sometimes added perks like bar discounts etc. It allows you to connect with hundreds of like minded backpackers and make loads of friends in the area so it is very popular. This high demand means it is not always easy to come across especially in recent years as tourist is booming after covid.
Meg Goes Global 