Working Holiday in Australia is an excellent way to finance your adventures while creating unforgettable memories! But how does getting a job in Australia work? This guide will contain all the information you need when traveling to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa!
Are you thinking about a working holiday in Australia? Here are the benefits
Many dream of going abroad after graduating. Many want to study somewhere, work as an au pair, or go backpacking. A Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is truly one of your best options in many ways, why? Well, Australia is an amazing country in so many ways. The people are friendly, there are extremely beautiful places, and there are plenty of job opportunities for you.
And the life you get in Australia is also very flexible if you want it to be, but it can also be stable if that’s what you desire. The possibilities are endless. As an au pair, you might have a very good experience while earning some pocket money… In Australia on a WHV, you have the opportunity to have the experience AND earn more money than you would have back home in Sweden. Australia has the ability to make you feel at home even though you are far from Sweden.
How to get a Working Holiday Visa for Austrlia?
To work in Australia, you need a job visa called a “Working Holiday Visa.” With this visa, you can work as much as you want for a year. However, you must have two different jobs, and you can only work for a maximum of 6 months at one job. If you want to stay longer than a year, you must work on a farm for 3 months during the first year.
Simply follow the link below to apply for your visa. The visa costs between 3000 SEK – 3500 SEK, depending on the exchange rate of the Australian dollar( around 500 dollar ). It took about 10 seconds for me to receive a “granted” visa, but for some, it may take up to a week. The visa starts on the day you arrive in Australia. All information about the visa is available on the website.
Read more or apply for a WHV here
Ready to go!
Book your plane ticket and go on your adventure! Your visa will appear on your passport, so you don’t need to print it out in advance if you don’t want to be sure. My tip is to book a hostel/hotel for the first week to have something to come to, get into the time zone, and have time to fix all the things you need to live in your new home for a while. Another good option is to live in a larger city at the beginning to be able to arrange what you need, for example, Sydney.
Need tips on what to do in Sydney? Then read my post about the top 13 things to see and do in Sydney!
Click here to read about Sydney
What you need to work in Australia
Tax File Number
You need to get a tax number to be able to earn money in Australia. You can get a tax file number here.
Click here to get a Tax File Number
Australian Bank Account
You also need to get a bank account as soon as possible to be able to earn money when you work, but also to avoid any fees that may come if you use a Swedish debit card when paying. Commonwealth is a very good bank; I recommend starting your account at that bank (they are very helpful to backpackers). What you need to do is go to the bank and say you are going to start a bank account. You also need to have three different proofs that you are you. After that, the bank will help you open your Australian bank account. It takes about a week to get your debit card, so you should wait in the same city until you get your card.
Australian Mobile Plan
I tried different plans as time went on since coverage works better in some places and worse in others. In addition, some plans are very expensive compared to others, so we got new ones after offers. If I can recommend one, it would be ALDI’s own SIM card that you top up every month. Theirs is cheap compared to others and has coverage in many places in Australia. Buy the SIM card at any ALDI store (ALDI is a supermarket).
Superannuation
Superannuation is like a pension savings account. You need to fix this as companies must pay this to you at every payroll. The money saved in the account for you is allowed to be withdrawn later when you leave Australia.
Click here to create a Superannuation account
Best place to live and work in Australia
This is entirely up to you. Do you want to try big city life, small-town life, surfing life, or country life? You have all the possibilities when traveling on a Working Holiday Visa. The only tip I can give you is to listen to yourself; if something feels wrong somewhere, then move on. I KNOW that there is a place for everyone in Australia. Below, I am making a list of places that I think are good places to start to get into the culture and meet friends.
Another option is to work a little in many different places; that way, you get to see a lot of Australia. If you personally want tips based on what you want, you can, of course, reach out to me on Instagram @emmiesholmgren.
Big cities: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, or Darwin.
Smaller and cozy towns: Noosa, Airlie Beach, Burleigh Heads, Fremantle, Exmouth, and Manly (outside Sydney).
Cities for farm work: Mission Beach, Manjimup, Sunshine Coast, the whole of Victoria, South West WA.
How to find a job in Australia?
The best thing to do if you want a job in the restaurant/cafe industry is to go where you want to work and leave your CV. Sometimes you may need to go there and ask again a week later to remind them. Don’t be shy; just hand it out and hope someone gets back to you. This works better in big cities because the restaurants are constantly busy there.
If you live in a smaller town, this is more difficult as the low/high season plays a big role there. There, it may be more important to keep an eye on various websites in case places are looking for workers and, if so, apply for the job. It can also be good to “lie” a bit when you apply for a job about how long you plan to stay; say, for example, 6 months even if you plan to leave earlier; otherwise, it may be harder to get the job. This is something that almost everyone does.
There is more than restaurant/cafe jobs… Many go there and think that this is the only thing you can work with, or farm work. An example of another job that I did is “pick and packer” at warehouses. This means that you pick online orders at a warehouse and then pack them. Here, they also hire backpackers, and there are often many available jobs in this. Usually, you work good hours and get paid by the hour. I highly recommend trying to get such a job if you are not interested in restaurants. Click the link here to go to the ZoomRecruitment jobs.
Otherwise, just Google search for available jobs in Australia. Many post their job ads on Gumtree or on Facebook.
Good luck with your job search!
How to find accommodation in Australia?
If you’re going to work in Australia, you’ll need somewhere to stay, of course. You can find accommodation through various websites online. One of these is Flatmates. On Flatmates, you can be active and let others know you’re looking for accommodation. They can contact you if they have a place available, or you can reach out to people with vacant rooms/apartments. Typically, you share a house with others where you rent a bedroom. Flatmates is the absolute best website to find accommodation!
You can also find accommodation through Gumtree. The selection here may not be as extensive as on Flatmates, but sometimes people post listings on Gumtree instead.
If you’re working on a farm, they sometimes offer accommodation. A tip is to check out the accommodation first before accepting, but don’t hesitate to inquire. Some “farmstay” accommodations are very nice, and it can be a lot of fun to stay there.
Another option is to stay at a hostel. A hostel is a hotel for younger people where you usually share rooms with others. This is a budget-friendly option, and you are not tied to anything. I was very determined that this was not an option for me, but towards the end of my time in Australia, I pulled myself together and moved into a hostel, leading to the best time! You’ll undoubtedly meet friends at a hostel, and you’ll have a lot of fun! Sometimes, you can help with cleaning or similar tasks to stay for free or at a lower cost. If you are two people traveling together, you can often get a private room, which can be comfortable. This is a perfect way to immerse yourself in Australia at the beginning of your stay and to make friends with whom you can share your adventures.
Good luck with your working holiday in Australia, you will have the time of your life!
