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The Working Holiday Visa

 

If you are going to work whilst in Australia, you will need to apply for a
Tax-File-Number.
You can still work without one, but you will find yourself paying around 49% tax, so its in your own interest to apply as soon as you have somewhere to pick up your mail from. You can apply for your taxfile number at any tax office and usually takes around 2 weeks to be processed.

I worked in Melbourne 8 months and was really lucky in my finding work. I had a brilliant job which I loved, worked for great company and had the best people to work for including a pretty cool (and quite sexy)boss called Rachel.

My Boss rachel (in dark blue)

Visitors up to around 27 years of age from the Uk, Ireland, Canada, Holland and Japan can apply for a working holiday Visa. Usually valid for 12 months although there is a new 2 year visa available, ask at your local Australian High Commission.

The emphasis is supposed to be on casual work rather than a full time position and you should limit your employment to no more than 3 months with one employer. The idea is that you may seek casual work to supplement your travel.

However, many people try to get around this rule and although we do not condone breaking any of your visa regulations, many people do get away with working over the 3 month limit( as I did )

Tourist Only Visa

If you dont fancy getting a working visa or you are not eligible, then you may apply for a just a tourist visa, of which they can be valid anything up to 12 months which gives you plenty of time to see the place.
However, if you wish to stay longer, you can apply to immigration, or the other option is leave the country for a few days and then return on a new visa. If you happen to be up north, its not expensive to fly to Indonsesia for a while.
You could decide to visit New Zealand for a while, return tickets can picked up for abour $400.

This type of visa obviously restricts you from working, however many people do pick up casual "cash in hand" work and it isn't that difficult to find if you ask around. Fruit picking during the harvest months is very popular with backpackers, but please note, immigration officials have been know to make unannounced visits to fruit picking plants and if caught, you could face deportation and a ban of several years before they will allow you back into the country.

Another popular way people without the working visa stretch their money is by working in a hostel.
Some hostels will pay you a wage if you work extended hours, but many offer the chance for people to do a few hours work in return for free accomodation and some free food. This can be invaluable if you are on a budget and want to stay in a certain place for a few weeks. Just ask in the hostels.

Finding Work

Last modified on Tuesday, February 09, 1999