Australia attracts over 9,000,000 tourists every year and is one of the most a popular countries in the world to work and travel.
If you would like to live and work Down Under check out my comprehensive guide to Australian working holiday visa and learn how you can apply today.
View information about visa eligibility, the types of jobs available, tips for how to get hired, the best places to seek employment and other important things to know and tips.
Why Work in Australia?
Australia is a vast country with many different landscapes and people. There are so many opportunities in a country this big.
If you looking to work abroad or for places to visit on a gap year then Australia is one of the top places to go and working here allows you to earn money. This is one of the most best gap year jobs you can do around the world and thousands of people apply every year.
Go to Australia if you love warm weather, the outdoors, activities and extreme sports. I guarantee that you will have tried some by the time you leave here. It’s a country full of natural beauty, including deserts, rainforests, beaches and mountains.
If you prefer the cities, then Australia has some pretty good ones. Try Melbourne for the art, cafe culture and good nightlife or Sydney for the shopping, great restaurants and beautiful beaches.
Although many people choose to work in the larger cities, there are still many opportunities to get off the beaten track. Think about working in Western Australia or the Outback for a more authentic and local experience to live like an Aussie.
Salaries are very high in Australia, even for basic entry level positions and one of the benefits of being more than just a tourist is you will get more time to travel and see more of the country. You might also want to travel and see more destinations in Oceania like New Zealand, Fiji or French Polynesia.
How Do I Apply?
In order to be able to work in Australia you need to apply for a working holiday visa, which allows you to work and travel within Australia for up to 12 months.
You can only apply for this if you are between the ages of 18 and 30 years of age and you should primarily use this to work in order to fund your travels.
You are generally allowed to work in any type of job, but are only allowed to work for one employer for a maximum of six months. You are also allowed to undertake four months of study or course there if you wish.
There are a number of different ways to go about organising a working holiday in Australia.
Applying Independently
You can organise your own working visa via the Australian government website – the process is generally quite simple and quick, and you will probably end up paying less for the visa itself. However, if you choose this option you will not get any support or help in finding a job or accommodation once you’re there. This is a good option if you’re very independent, have done lots of travelling before and are good at networking.
Applying Through an Agency
The easiest way is to organise an Australian working holiday is through a company. These companies will usually help you get your working visa, organise your flights, accommodation when you first arrive, and give you advice and support on looking for a job. Some companies also offer you 24 hour support in case you need help.
Recommended websites to apply. include:
• Seasonal Jobs Australia
• Gap Year Australia
Eligible Countries
Getting a Working Holiday Visa for Australia is quick, easy and straightforward as long as you are a resident and passport holder for any of the following countries:
United Kingdom
Canada
Chile
The Netherlands
Japan
Ireland
South Korea
Malta
Germany
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Hong Kong
Finland
Cyprus
France
Italy
Belgium
Estonia
Taiwan
The Working Holiday agreement is generally reciprocal and always seems to be expanding, so if your country isn’t listed, there is always a chance that a deal might be struck in the future and you will be eligible for the visa. Check with your local Australian Embassy or High Commission to see if your country has been added.
Requirements
You must be between 18 and 30 years old.
You must have a valid passport with at least 1 year left until expiry.
You must have sufficient funds to support yourself when you arrive in Australia.
You must not have any serious criminal convictions.
You must not have any serious medical issues.
Restrictions:
You may not apply for the first Working Holiday Visa from within Australia
Work undertaken must be incidental to your travels (meaning you shouldnt go there to work full time and start a career)
You may not work for the same employer for longer than six months
What Types of Jobs Are There?
A typical casual job for a backpackers and people on working holidays is fruit picking and following the harvest trail, working on the farms and in the fields. When you work in these types of jobs, you are likely to get free accommodation with these jobs as well.
In the cities, popular working holiday jobs include waitressing, bar work, hotel staff and kitchen hands. However there is nothing stopping you from applying to other sorts of jobs, such as those in offices. If you have the right skills, these jobs often pay more money – just sign up to several temping agencies.
Best Places to Live
Australia has a strong economy and finding work is generally easy to find in different sectors throughout the country. The easiest ways to find work are in the larger cities, tourism hotspots and also in the farming and agriculture industry.
• Sydney
• Perth
• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Cairns
• Outback
For more advice on locations view my Australia travel tips.
Things to Consider Before Applying
A popular misconception is that Australia is a cheap country, but a lot of things can be more expensive than in Europe and North America. Also, a lot of the tourist sites are in ‘out of the way’ destinations and you generally have to pay lots to either get there or visit them.
Make sure you take plenty of savings with you before you go as well as earning while you’re there as it’s easy to find yourself stuck with no money if you don’t. But this is also why working in Australia is beneficial, salaries are high and you can use the money earned to fund your travels as you go!
Accommodation
Renting your own apartment in the big cities such as Melbourne and Sydney can be very difficult and is not really an option on a working holiday salary unless you have a lot of savings.
If you do want to rent an apartment competition is fierce. Most apartments also require you to have a guarantor in Australia who will agree to pay your rent for you if you fail to. If you manage to get past these problems then you will usually have to sign a lease for six months or more, on top of this most apartments come unfurnished.
A better option is to stay in hostels. Many hostels also offer long term accommodation options for those wanting to work a few months in the cities. Our advice is to stick to the small ones; you’ll meet more people, form stronger relationships and generally have a better time.
Other accommodation options include renting a room in a house share with other foreigners or students. This is a great way to meet new people and keep costs down if you want to stay somewhere for a few months.
Some employers also offer accommodation as part of job packages, especially for agriculture and farm work.
How to Open an Australian Bank Account
Opening an Australian bank account isn’t the nightmare it is in some countries and the whole process can even be done online before you enter the country. If you decide to wait until you get into the country, getting an Australian bank account should be one of the first things you do.
Having a place to store your money that doesn’t mean you have to pay international banking fees each time you withdraw is a big advantage. Many travellers take out the maximum amount from their home accounts, pay the fee (which is the same no matter how much you draw out) and then immediately deposit the money into their Australian bank account. This eliminates the need to pay international fees each time you need cash.
A bank account is also essential for most jobs as pay is commonly transferred directly into an account. If you don’t have a bank account your employers will often have no way of paying you and that will usually mean you won’t have an employer. Getting a bank account in Australia will make life easier later on.
The most common type of account is a current or chequing account that is commonly called a transaction account in Australia. These accounts provide a cheque book, ATM access, an EFTPOS (debit) card, and the ability to pay your bills by phone or internet banking. These accounts pay very little interest but they will be able to handle your day-to-day banking needs.
There are four major banks in Australia: Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Commonwealth, National Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac. There are lots of smaller, regional banks but to be able to find your bank nationwide, you should stick with one of these four.
Westpac allows you the opportunity to open a bank account before arriving in Australia. It is called a ‘Westpac Choice’ account and it allows unlimited transactions for a monthly fee of $5 and the first six months are free. To apply online or for more information visit the Westpac website. Here’s the information you will need to open accounts with the other three major banks: ANZ, NAB and Commonwealth.
New arrivals are usually able to open an Australian bank account with only their passport as long as they do this within the first six weeks of arrival. You also need a mailing address and hostels will often provide a letter to verify you are staying there. Sometimes banks in your home country will have partnerships with banks abroad so it doesn’t hurt to ask if they have partners in Australia as this could make the process even easier.
Opening an Australian bank account, along with registering for reciprocal healthcare and getting an Australian Tax File Number should be one of the first things you do when you arrive.
Setting Up Reciprocal Health Care
Australia has agreements in place with several countries that allows their citizens to be covered medically when they travel abroad to the member countries. These agreements are reciprocal so anyone who comes from New Zealand, Britain, Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Belgium, Malta or Norway are covered when they are in Australia.
The reciprocal health care agreement covers citizens of these countries for the duration of their approved visit in Australia for medically necessary treatment only. This means any ill-health or injury that has occurred while you were in Australia that requires treatment before you are able or planning to return home. You are entitled to free treatment in a public hospital as an in-patient or out-patient, subsidized medicine, and Medicare benefits for out-of-hospital treatment in private surgeries and health centers.
To enroll in the program you will need to visit a Medicare office anywhere in Australia with your passport and a valid visa. Citizens of some countries will also need to provide proof of enrollment in their own country’s national health scheme. The Sydney Medicare office is located at 135 King Street and it’s open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm. Once you are accepted into the program you will be sent an Australian reciprocal health care card in the mail. If you have received treatment before enrolling in the program you will be reimbursed once you do enroll.
If you have dual citizenship to one country that is part of the reciprocal health care agreement and one that isn’t, you will need to enter Australia with the passport of the member country in order to be covered.
When receiving treatment either in a hospital, doctor’s surgery, or a health center, you will be asked to show your reciprocal health care card. You will not have to make any payment for all treatments that are covered under Medicare. Medicare will not cover medicines that are not subsidized, dental work, treatment arranged before you visit Australia, or accommodation and treatment in a private hospital or as a private patient in a public hospital.
The reciprocal health care coverage does not replace travel insurance and it is still strongly recommended that people take out an insurance policy. Medicare doesn’t cover emergency evacuations back to your home country, the loss of property, liability or any of the major things covered by travel insurance.
The reciprocal health care agreement does, however, take some of the hassle out of dealing with doctors and hospitals in Australia. If you are able to be a part of this program it means you will be treated as a citizen and won’t have to worry about the paperwork and headaches involved that come when you are treated overseas for medical problems as a foreigner. In short, if you are able to get it, you should.
How to Get Tax Back in Australia
As a temporary resident of Australia you will have to pay taxes just like everyone else. Plus, if you started working before getting an Australian tax file number then you will have been taxed at the highest possible rate of 46% and will most likely be due a tax return when you are ready to leave the country.
The whole Australian tax return process isn’t completely black and white. There are some grey areas and filing for an Australian tax return can be a bit too much of a hassle for backpackers who were in the country for a good time, not a long time, and don’t necessarily think about things like tax. But everyone should look into filing a tax return because for a bit of hassle, you could end up with a nice bit of cash that will make it worth your while.
Anyone working in Australia and paying tax could be eligible for a tax return. As a non-resident, if you are leaving Australia and will no longer earn an income in Australia you may be able to file an early tax return. If you will be in Australia over the regular tax return season then you will be required to file your return during the normal lodgment which is between July 1st and October 31st.
Filing a Regular Tax Return
Australian tax return claims can be filed online by visiting the Australian Taxation Office website. Claims for the previous tax year must be filed between July 1st and October 31st.
Filing an Early Tax Return
Download and print the Taxpayer Leaving Australia – Request for Early Assessment form. You can also get the form at your nearest Tax Office or by calling 1300 720 092 and requesting it be sent to you. All of the instructions are on the form.
For any tax return you file you will need payment summaries (previously called group certificates) from each employer you have worked with during the tax year. So make sure you hang on to any documentation you get from your employers and keep them in a safe place. If your employer can’t provide you with a payment summary, a statement of earnings from your employer is sufficient. Make sure to include your employer’s Payer Withholder number as well as all of your wage details.
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of lodging your Australian tax return yourself, you can use the services of a tax rebate company. You send them the information they need about all of your employers and the amount you earned, and they do everything and send you money once your return comes through. They take a cut, but they are also more likely than you to get more tax back since they know all the ins and outs of the system.
How much you get back depends on how much you have worked. If you worked without having an Australian Tax File Number and were taxed at the highest rate, you are likely to get tax back to offset this. Tax returns will be processed in approximately six weeks and can be paid either into your Australian or an overseas bank account.
Extending an Australian Working Holiday Visa
If you end up loving being in Australia and want to stay (I don’t blame you) it is possible to extend your 12 month visa to 24 months by applying for a second Working Holiday Visa.
To be eligible for this, you must have worked in regional Australia in one of the following primary industries: plant / animal cultivation, fishing, tree farming, mining and construction work.
Applications for the second Working Holiday visa can be made from anywhere in the world, including within Australia.
Whatever you decide to do in Australia, go with an open mind, be flexible and do your research and I’m sure you’ll have a great time working ‘Down Under’. You might also like to view my guide to working holidays in New Zealand.
