Introduction

 

Australia is an amazingly diverse country and you’re going to have a great time. It may seem really nerve-racking right now and can be tempting to go through a travel agent to sort your visa etc,but doing it by yourself will save you hundreds of dollars!!!

This guide takes you from the start, getting your visa, finding work and even where to get cheap beer.

 

I've tried to include everything I learnt whilst I was in Australia. This is an independent guide, so when you get there things may be slightly different, but on the whole, I think you will find it useful.

 

Getting your Visa

 

So firstly, are you eligible?

(Scroll to Start Application if you know you are)

 

Don't book any flights till you have your visa!!!

 

General requirements

 

You can apply for the standard working holiday visa if you come from these countries: Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom Visa 417.

 

There is also the Visa 462 for Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the USA. Please note, a lot more Information is required and you are only allowed a one year visa.

 

For more information click here:

 

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/

 

For people applying for the 417 visa. You must:

 

·be outside Australia when you apply and, when your visa is granted ·not have previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday (417) visa ·not have previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday (462) visa ·be aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) at the time of applying

 

·Because of this time difference you are advised not to wait to lodge your application until you are about to turn 31, as the system will take the current date in Australia as your application date.

 

·be applying no more than 12 months before you intend to travel to Australia

 

·not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay in Australia

 

·Note: A dependent child is the child, or step-child, of you or your partner who:·Is not married, engaged to be married, or in a de facto relationship

 

·Has not turned 18.

 

Financial requirements

You must have access to sufficient funds to support yourself for the initial stage of your holiday. Generally, AUD5000 may be regarded as sufficient, but the amount may vary depending on your length of stay and the extent of your travel. You should also have a return or onward ticket or the funds for a fare to depart Australia.

 

You may be asked to provide evidence. Evidence may include a certified copy of a bank statement and an air ticket out of Australia.

 

(Please note that they MAY ask for the financial but in practise I have never heard of anyone getting asked. But you do so at your own risk)

 

If you have a Criminal Record, click here

 

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/

 

What does this visa let me do?

 

If you are granted this visa you can: 

 

·enter Australia within 12 months of granted visa date

​

·stay up to 12 months

 

·leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid

 

·work in Australia for up to six months with each employer

 

·study for up to four months.

If you hold a second Working Holiday visa, you may return to work for a further six months for an employer with whom you worked on your first Working Holiday visa.

 

Starting your application for 417 visa

 

Here is list of things you need to start your application:

 

Passport (valid for at least 6 months)

 

A debit Card

 

Good Internet connection Pen and Paper

 

A valid E-mail Account

 

$420 (Visa Cost, Subject to Change)

 

Making the application

 

You will need to apply for this outside Australia.  Now go to the Online Application. This is the easiest option.

 

Take your time filling out this application. If you enter the details wrong it WILL get reject and you will lose $420. Above all don't lie, if you’re caught out it will get rejected and you may be banned from reapplying.

 

Fill the application out with all your correct details. They will save the application and give you a number, don’t lose it, you may need it at a later date.

 

One tip for UK citizens is it will ask country of residence, it’s under British Citizens for some reason. If you have visited certain countries, they may ask for chest x-rays to prove you haven’t got tuberculosis.

 

Don’t be alarmed this is normal procedure, it’s a pain in the ass but it’s a necessity I’m afraid. I had to do this for my WHV. They will send you an e-mail telling you which clinic you need to go to, costs can vary from country to country. They will not grant your visa until you have complied!!!

 

Best advice is to save the application and double check all the information, that way when you go to pay and click submit, you know it’s right.

 

Ok, so you have submitted your application. Generally, on the 417 it’s granted within a few hours, don’t be alarmed if you haven’t received yours in that time it depends on how busy they are.

 

Make sure you check your e-mail regularly.

 

If you have any problems call your embassy, you can find the number here:

 

http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/

 

Preparing for Australia

 

Great you have your visa. What's next?

 

Please do not buy any tours or try and apply for bank accounts, tax file numbers before you get to Australia. You will save a lot of money this way!!

 

Book your flight

 

For great deals, check out Skyscanner . If you’re looking for a round the world ticket multi-stop click here Round the world flights.

 

Get a guidebook

 

The Lonely Planet to Australia is the best on the market.

To buy online, click here Lonely Planet Books.

 

Get Travel Insurance

 

There are plenty of travel insurance companies. The best but not the cheapest is World Nomads. The advantages of this company are you can get insured no matter who you are. You can be from any country and they will insure you. So if you’re travelling for more than a year, use the World Nomads.

If not there are various companies doing good deals, it depends on which country you’re from. Sta Travel is the one I’d recommend. Google them and add your country as they have different websites.

 

The main advice I can give you is to check what they actually cover you for. Medical expenses are the main one, I've been seriously ill when travelling abroad and believe me, money is the last thing you want to think about when you’re ill. I was with STA travel insurance and with one phone call and it was all sorted.

 

Don't think you can do without insurance, every smart traveller has it!!

 

Vaccinations

 

Firstly, I'm not a doctor and the best thing you can do is to go to your local clinic and ask them. However, here are the vaccinations I would recommend, as I have had them. They will cover you for the whole world.

 

The main reason I have included this section, is travellers tend to start in Australia and then head off to other places soon after. It is better to get them done and out the way at home, rather than paying for very costly vaccinations in Australia. I paid $100 for 1 booster shot, one time.

 

Here is the vacation list:

 

Hepatitis A 

 

This is recommended for all vaccinated people travelling to or working in countries with an intermediate or high level of hepatitis A virus infection where exposure might occur through food or water. Cases of travel-related hepatitis A can also occur in travellers to developing countries with "standard" tourist itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behaviours.

 

Hepatitis B

 

This is recommended for all vaccinated persons travelling to or working in countries with intermediate to high levels of endemic HBV transmission, (especially those who might be exposed to blood or body fluids, have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment (e.g., for an accident).

 

Typhoid

 

This is recommended for all unvaccinated people travelling to or working in 3rd world countries, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water.

 

Diphtheria

 

Diphtheria is caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae biotype mitis, gravis, intermedius, or belfanti. The bacteria produce an exotoxin that, if absorbed into the bloodstream, may damage nerves and organs such as the heart and kidneys. Recommended for all unvaccinated people travelling to or working in 3rd world countries, especially if staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where exposure might occur through food or water.

 

Polio

 

This is recommended for adult travellers who have received a primary series with either inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) or oral polio vaccine (OPV). They should receive another dose of IPV before departure. For adults, available data do not indicate the need for more than a single lifetime booster dose with IPV.

 

Yellow Fever
 

You should find an authorised yellow fever vaccination clinic. Many countries will ask for a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival.

 

Rabies

 

This is recommended for travellers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas, involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking. Also recommended for travellers with significant occupational risks (such as veterinarians), for long-term travellers and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure, and for travellers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites.

 

Money

 

How much money you will need for Australia really depends on what kind of person you are. If you like to drink and party, then you are going to get through your money very fast. I would say $5000 would be a great amount to have, to get you started. I’ve known people who have arrived in Australia with a few hundred dollars and survived. I would only do this if you have a lot of work experience in farming or construction. The main thing to bear in mind is Australia’s economy is booming, which means people have a lot of money, so hence nothing is cheap.

 

To see how much your currency is worth against the Australian dollar, go to www.xe.com. It’s free and up to date

 

How much do things cost?

 

This section is probably the one that will go out of date the fastest. Hostels at the moment can vary between $24 to $40 a night. I was living in WA and was paying a weekly rate of $156 a week, so it can be cheap if you’re living and working in one place. Milk was $1.99 and Bread around  $1 a loaf. Petrol has come down recently and is sitting around $1.40 a litre but can be up to $2 a litre in the outback. A beer in WA costs around $10 but I’ve paid as little as $4 for a stubbie in the cities. The trick is to drink before you go out; bottles shops are a lot cheaper if you buy a crate.

 

What to take and what to leave at home

 

This is probably the hardest section for me to write as we are all individuals but there are some things that you should take.

 

Laptop

 

I’ve been travelling for a number of years now and I can say this is the one thing to take. Buy a netbook or Ultrabook as they are light to carry. You can go on the internet, watch movies, edit your photos or listen to music. It does come in very handy and will save you loads of money in internet costs!

 

Camera

 

Photos provide the best memories.

 

Mobile Phone

 

 In Australia you will need one to look for work, a smartphone would be even better.

 

Cashcard and cash

 

Take at least 2 forms of money as if you lose one you still have the other to fall back on. Don't keep all your money in one place; spread it throughout through your gear.

 

Raincoat

 

Yes it does rain in Australia and it can get cold, so take some warm clothes too.

 

Toilet Roll

 

You never know, Australia is a big country!!

 

Condoms

 

 Need I say why always play safe!!!

 

First Aid Kit

 

Make sure you have emergency contact numbers too.

So you arrive in Australia now what?

 

Ok so you have arrived in Australia, amazing isn't it? You’re going to have a great time here, believe me. I know you want to go travelling first, yes? Well, this is where most backpackers go wrong, they don’t plan. It is always best to work at the start of your visa whilst you have more money then go travelling late on or after your visa.

 

Where do I start?

 

Address

 

You have got to your hostel and now you are ready to look for work. The first thing you’re going to need to get work is an address. This is easier than it seems, every hostel in Australia will let you send your mail to their address.

Tax File Number

 

You will need this in order to work. So to get your tax file number you just need access to the internet for 30 minutes. To apply you will need your passport and your visa number handy. It’s free to apply, go to the Tax File Application Website. It takes about 10 minutes and is very simple. You’re not going to get it straight away; it can take up to three weeks to arrive. This doesn't mean you can't work, you just have to tell your employer you have applied for it, they may put you on a higher tax rate until it arrives.

 

After a week or so after you have applied, you can usually get the number by calling 13 28 61, open 8am-6pm Mon-Fri.

 

Bank Account

 

This can be tricky if you’re planning on going travelling as soon as you get to Australia. They are going to send you a bank card but obviously, if you’re travelling you’re not going to know what address. So my advice would wait until arriving at the place you will be looking for work and go to the bank to open an account the first day you arrive.

Opening an account

 

All you will need to open an account is your passport and your address. Most banks will accept this as proof of ID. The top four banks are ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB and Westpac.

 

I would recommend ANZ, I’ve banked with them for 2 years now and I'm very happy with them, but all four are good, Commonwealth probably have the most branches.

 

Make sure you note your bank account number and write it down so you can give it to your employer. Your card is going to take upto 10 working days and believe me it will be at least a week.

 

Finding work

 

Ok, first, I'm going to break some bad news to you, if you’re 18 years old, straight out of college with no work experience, it’s not going to be easy to find work. However, I have learnt a few tricks to help you on the way so don’t fear. If you do have any kind of work experience, then things are a lot easier. The good news is when you do find work, it is well paid.

 

At a minimum, you will be earning $16 an hour. The average is $18. However, I have met backpackers who were earning $50 an hour in Darwin as labourers.

I'll just quickly list the skills that employers are after in Australia mainly:

Farming

Construction

Any trade (Plumbers, Electricians etc)

 Bar experience

Office work (temporary)

Fruit pickers

Retail

There are of course hundreds of more fields; I've just listed the ones that backpackers generally find easiest to get work in.

So how to find a job?

 

There are lots of websites that you can search for work on, the best being Gumtree. 

 

The great thing about this website is that you can advertise yourself as well as look for jobs listed. So, if you are say looking for harvest work then you can put yourself on there, believe, me farmers will ring you if you have tractor experience. I found 2 jobs this way.

Here are all the websites I know of that you can search for work.

 

Taw

Seek

Gumtree

 

Each of these sites provides you with plenty of jobs. The trick is, you must be quick and online at the right time, as the jobs go fast. The ability to speak English well is also a great advantage, it’s one thing Australian employers are very particular about.

 

The one I will say, whatever job you are doing, take it seriously. Just because you’re a backpacker, employers still expect you to work hard and not to make mistakes. For them, it’s a normal day at the office, as it would be for you at home in your country.

 

 

I can't find work and I no money what do I do?

 

Volunteering

 

The main thing is not to panic, there are a few things you can do to make money you have left, last longer. The first thing you can do is to ask the hostel you are staying at if they offer free accommodation in exchange for cleaning.

 

I did this for 4 months whilst I was working and saved $3000. It’s not easy when you have been drinking the night before, to drag your ass out of bed at 9 am. However, if you stay motivated for travelling it’s well worth it. This will give you time to still look for work, whilst not costing you as much to be just hanging around. This can happen if you are waiting for say a harvest season to start.

 

If the hostel doesn't provide this, there is one more thing you can do, work for free. Sounds rubbish, right? Well, it is, but if you have the right mind frame about why you are there, it can be enjoyable.

 

There are 3 main websites for this type of thing:

WWOOF

 

Wwoof is the most popular. This site asks for a year’s subscription of $65 and with that, you are giving a guidebook. This details farms that will offer free food and accommodation, in exchange for one day’s work. The hours can vary from 4-8 hours a day. You can't get around the membership as when you go to the farm, they will ask for your membership number.

 

From the reports I’ve heard, it really depends on the farm you are at, as to how you are treated. Some are great and take you on days out and will teach you loads of skills. Whilst others make you work hard, give you bad food and treat you like kids. Overall though, I think it’s a good idea if you are low on money.

Firstly, it will give you time to look for work; just make sure you have your phone close to you at all times. I missed a job whilst fruit picking because I didn’t have a signal!!

 

Secondly, if you are good and a hard-worker, a lot of times, the farmer will find you a job at another farm that is paid. All farmers talk to each other and word of mouth recommendations, is what they prefer.

 

Thirdly, if you’re on a farm that has a tractor, get the farmer to teach you how to drive it, this will put you ahead of thousands of people.

 

HELPX

 

Helpx is exactly the same as WWOOF, just a cheaper version. They charge $29 for 2 years, so it’s quite a saving, they also cover the whole world. The only downside is that it has fewer farms than WWOOF. I prefer Helpx, it offers a lot better value than WWOOF. They also offer other opportunities other than farming, like construction and teaching.

 

WORKAWAY

Workaway is very similar to Helpx, but there seem to be more opportunities for volunteering. It’s priced the same as Helpx.

 

Other Ideas

 

Well if you have a car, you can always opt to sleep in the car. Just be careful where you park, you can get a fine for parking in the wrong place.

 

 

 

 

Mobile/Internet

 

Sim card

 

When looking for work in Australia it’s imperative you have a mobile phone. The cheapest way is to just bring your unlocked phone from home and buy a sim card in Australia. They can be purchased for $2 in most Coles/Woolworths or K-mart. You will need your passport as ID to buy it. Just top it up for around $30 and you are good to go. Telstra is the best network for reception and if you’re planning to go to WA get Telstra. They are more expensive though than others but outside any town, you won’t get a signal on any other network.

 

The best value overall is Amaysim, you get unlimited calls and texts for $40 a month. If you are staying in the city then get Amaysim, they have good reception and good deals. Personally, I wouldn’t get Virgin or Vodaphone, they may seem cheap, but the reception is very poor.

To top-up, you just need to get a voucher from an e-pay outlet. Most newsagents and petrol station have these installed. Be sure to ask for the right voucher, as some companies have different vouchers for mobile and internet credit. If you want to make international calls, you can buy from any E-pay outlets, vouchers for this.

 

Mobile Broadband

 

Save money on the Internet by getting a mobile broadband stick!

The Internet is very expensive in Australia, the cheapest way I found is to get a mobile broadband stick for your laptop or tablet. If you’re going to rural Australia then get a Telstra stick, if not get Yes Optus. They cost around $50 and you get 1-2 GB worth of data included which should last you a month for browsing.

 

If you need to download anything then head to the nearest McDonalds, Hungry Jacks or coffee shop that offers free Wi-Fi. If you have a mobile phone that can create a Wi-Fi hotspot then Amaysim is the way to go. You get 4 GB of data and free phone calls and texts for $40 a month, this will save you about $40 a month.

 

Buying a car

 

It’s very easy to get ripped off when buying a car in Australia. You will find that cars have very high mileage on them and generally they are not that well looked after. For example in WA, there is no actual annual test for roadworthiness. The car I had was a 1993 Mazda 121 and had 232,000km on the clock. I paid $800, which was a bargain as it was reliable.

 

My first tip is not to rush into buying the first car you see. Also, try to avoid buying off backpackers!!! The reason for this is because backpackers are going to do the very minimum maintenance on the car. Try and find a car being sold by an Australian citizen, they actually value cars, low than backpackers and you can find some bargains.

 

Once you have found the car you want

Now you have found the car you like, you will have to change the ownership of the car with the Department of Transport. You will find one in almost every town. Make sure that you fill the paperwork out correctly and that the car you are buying has an immobiliser.

 

One problem I found, is that laws about cars vary from state to state. But here are a couple more tips. If you buy a car in say New South Wales, you are going to struggle to sell it in WA. The reason for this is because all the states require you to pay for the registration, (Vehicle tax) at one of the Department of Transport offices. The only exception to this is WA, which allow online payment, meaning it is a lot easier to sell a WA registered vehicle.

 

Driving Laws

 

It is important to learn the driving laws of Australia. The fines are very high for minor offences. I have paid $1100 in seatbelt fines during my 2 years in Australia. Make sure you put your seatbelt on before you set off.

 

Speeding is a bad idea for 2 reasons. Firstly, the fines and secondly, Kangaroos. You do not want to hit one at 120kph; people die every year from this.

Tours of Oz

 

There are plenty of tour companies that are great for different areas of Australia. You could travel on one of the many hop on-hop off buses that run up the east coast. One of the best companies to do this with, is Oz experience. I did this myself back in 2008 and really enjoyed it. It’s a great way to meet people and they stop in all the places you want to go. You could also look at Gap Adventures for tours of Oz.

 

As you go around Oz, there are lots of mini trips that are worth doing. The three I would recommend the most is Frasier Island, Whit Sundays and Whale Watching at Hervey Bay. There is a company called Peter Pan tours and they do great packages for around $650 that includes all of these. My friend did another tour and ended up paying an extra $250, simply because I forgot to tell him about Peter Pan.

 

As for the West Coast, I’ve come across a company called Ozzie Wanderer and they have been highly recommended. They do tours up to the Kimberley which is reputed as the best scenery of Australia.

Unless you are willing to spend around $5000-7000 on a 4wd vehicle, this tour really is the best way of seeing the Kimberley. The tours are around $1100-1700 for 7-14 day tours.

 

Road Trips

 

Doing a road trip in Oz is the best way to see the country. There are a few things that I’ve learnt about Australia. Firstly, it’s a very large country and what we take for granted in Europe, like petrol stations, aren’t always there. When I got back from travelling and returned to Australia, I picked my car up from my friend’s house in Perth and headed out the city. It never crossed my mind to fill up with fuel.

 

As I headed towards Bunbury I realised my grave mistake, I’d left with just under half a tank. It was late and most of the small stations were closed, I made it to a petrol station on fumes. It was a hard lesson to learn.

 

So before you leave on any road trip out of the cities, make sure you have a spare fuel can, 5 litres of drinking water, warm clothes, spare tyre and tools to change it. A mobile phone, that’s charged and a good map. Check the tyres, oil and water and have some spare. Its common sense of course but the remoteness is not to be underestimated. Things can go wrong very quickly and you can be hour’s, even days from help.

 

Even though almost every backpacker has an old car, if you’re heading up to the Northern Territory or rural WA then consider if your car is up to the task. One of my friends broke down 200 km from the nearest town in the Northern Territory. It cost $900 to tow the car to the nearest garage. They said they wouldn’t be able to fix the car for a month. My friends were stuck in a small town camping with not much to do for 3 weeks.

 

Having said that please don’t let me put you off. Road trips in Oz are not to be missed, it is in my top ten things I’ve done whilst travelling.

 

Applying for your second year

 

Regional Work

 

In order to get your second year for your WHV, you’re going to need to do 3 months or 88 days regional work. This means working outside the major cities in industries like farming, construction or mining. Most backpackers do fruit picking to get there 3 months.

 

This is a good option as there is normally lots of work for a short time, it’s well-paid and you’re generally working in the sunshine. The downsides to fruit picking are that it can be hard work and quite boring.

If you can find it, I would recommend working on a farm with animals. I did 6 months on a pig farm and found it to be one of the best things I've ever done. The work is hard but such good fun. I never thought I’d get the chance to drive a tractor or a 40 tonne dumper truck. I guess the best advice is to have confidence; you will surprise yourself as to what you can do and achieve. Have a look on Gumtree for farm jobs.

 

Getting your tax back

 

There is a lot of confusion about getting tax back and a lot of backpackers don’t know, that the tax you pay in Australia can be claimed back when you leave. It depends on how much tax you have paid for that year as to how much you can get back.

 

There are a few ways of doing it. You can do it yourself at the ATO. However, I wouldn't recommend this. If you mess up the application, it will get rejected and you won't able be to claim a penny. The way I would recommend you apply for it is through a specialist company like taxback.com.  I have used these guys for the last 2 years and they are really good. It doesn’t cost you anything to make the application, once they received your refund, they will take a 9% commission. I think this is a reasonable amount.

To apply, go to taxback.com and download the form, print it out and then fill out the application form. Scan and email or fax the forms back to them and they will do the rest. The only thing else you need is you PAYE summary which will be sent to you by post in July at the end of the tax year. The alternative is to keep your final payslip from each employer. Bear in mind that you can have a lot of employers in Australia so it’s important to stay organised with the paperwork.

 

It takes around 3-4 weeks for the application to be processed. The average tax back claim is $2400, so it’s worth doing!

Getting your superannuation

 

Your Superannuation is the pension contributions that your employers will have made for you as you worked in Australia. Your first employer will generally sign you up for their Superannuation scheme. It is important that you use the same superannuation scheme for all your employers.

 

Some employers will say you have to use their scheme, this is wrong, you don’t, they must pay it into the super you have put down. Don't get bullied!!

 

So, to claim your superannuation you must have left Australia and your WHV expired. If you are planning someday to return to settle there as a resident, then you shouldn’t really claim your super. As you will have to be out of Australia to make the claim you will have to go through a company.

 

Again, I recommend taxback.com. These guys are the world leader in this type of work, they know what they are doing, and their service is A1. So, it’s just the same your taxback, you just need to fill out the forms with your superannuation details and email them, they will do the rest!! The average super claim is around $2000, so again it’s well worth it.

Note from Author

 

Well that the end of this guide. I hope you find it useful. Please remember that there is more information on TBB. If you have any comments or suggestions that I can add to this guide, please feel free to contact me.