10 Tips For Surviving Your Work Holiday in Australia
One of the most intriguing parts of backpacking is all the fellow travelers you meet along the way who exchange stories and good times with you, as well as tips and travel suggestions. While I was traveling through Southeast Asia, there was this reoccurring mention of a year-long visa in Australia that allowed you to work. "Yeah man, minimum wage is like $20 an hour in Australia." I heard this so many times that it sounded like an idea that I couldn't pass on. So from my iphone, using the spotty wifi at my hostel in Sapa, Vietnam, I applied for the visa. I remember clearly, it was on a Sunday afternoon not even five hours later, I received an acceptance email from the Australian government stating that my visa had been granted. That easy, I was going to be making the big bucks and I'd be back to traveling in Asia in no time, or so I thought. Reality revealed that Australia was nothing like I had expected. There was so much to explore and experience, so many people to meet and connect with, and so many life lessons and memories that my plan to simply work and leave went completely out the window.
So what is this work/ holiday visa exactly? In case you are unfamiliar, the idea behind this visa is to give young people (ages 18-30) from various countries a chance to work and travel throughout Australia, as a way to encourage cultural exchange between Australia and the eligible countries. There are basically two types of this visa, the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462). The main difference between these visas depends on which country you are from. The countries eligible for the subclass 417 visa get a year long visa, with the option for a second year upon completion of 90 days of farm work. If you're from a country eligible for the subclass 462 visa, like the United States, you only get a one year visa. No chance of extending that for a second year. For more information about these visas, start Here.
Looking back, I had the time of my life Down Under. I learned a lot about myself, made some life long connections and I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. I seriously encourage people to give the working holiday visa a try. Since I have already gone through it, here are 10 tips that I would like to share on how to make the most out of your working holiday visa.
1. Stay Focused
Australia is a great place. It has its drawbacks, of course, but the country really does have a lot of unique things to see and do. Since it is so far away, it's not as likely that you'll return back unless you are on that side of the world again. So fully take advantage of your time there and everything that Australia has to offer.
With that being said, if you truly have your heart set on just saving up money to explore Asia or where ever it is you'd like to visit, don't forget about that goal. Australia is VERY expensive and it's so easy to get caught up spending your money, enjoying your time Down Under. Find your perfect balance of exploring and saving for further adventures outside of the country.
2. Minimum Wage Isn't Really "Like $20"
If I had a dollar for every time I heard this, I might be retired by now. This idea can be true, but it is mostly false. According to the Australian Government Site, the national minimum wage is $17.29. Now, I understand that can be rounded up with a bit of exaggeration to "about $20," but chances are, the places hiring backpackers aren't going to pay that. I did work a few temporary jobs where I received $20+/ hour, but if you're working under the table, you'll probably get ripped off. I have met backpackers working at restaurants, getting paid $10/ hour.
Also, if you're working on a farm, which many backpackers do, the majority of these opportunities are paid by piecework, meaning there is a fixed rate that you're paid based on how much you pick. For example, I worked on an apple farm and the pay rate would be around $28/ bin and these bins were massive. So if you could only fill two bins, you're looking at $56 for an entire hard day of labor, which comes out to only $7/ hour. This can also be to your advantage based on your skill set.
I think its best to work for employers who do things by the book and take taxes out of your check. Once you leave the country, you're going to get a huge chunk of your taxes back anyway.
3. Don't Forget to File Your Taxes
Once you leave Australia and don't plan on returning under your work visa, you are eligible to file your taxes. It is a long, dragged out process and it can be difficult, especially being outside of the country, but there will be a large sum of money waiting for you if you have worked for an extended amount of time. I only worked for a total of three months and my tax return was $1,500. That money came in very handy.
4. The Australian Dollar is Not So Strong
If you're traveling to Australia and are from a country with a strong currency, like the euro, yen, British pound or U.S. dollar, then you're money will stretch out further while in Australia. But if you've been working in Australia and saving up in Australian dollars, you will quickly realize that you don't have as much money as you thought once you leave the country.
I had been monitoring the exchange rate between the Aussie dollar and the U.S. dollar for some time and they were about equal, meaning $1 Australian = $1 U.S. However, I'm not exactly sure what happened, but as soon as I arrived, the Australian dollar began to drop. Currently, I believe the exchange is about 1 AUD = 0.75 USD. With this conversion rate, working for $20/ hour becomes $15/ hour, if you think in USD like me. So that's always something to keep in mind. I was in Denmark using the money from my Australian bank account, and let me tell you, I felt like I had Monopoly money.
5. Farm Jobs Are Hit or Miss. Mostly Miss
Working on a farm can be a great way to save money because what is there to spend your money on? Remember that all farms in Australia are not created equal. From what I've heard from most backpackers, I can conclude that the majority of farms are going to rip you off or be very difficult to make a decent wage. I worked on an apple farm and I think it was closer to the end of the spectrum of better farms. It wasn't great. Our living arrangement was overcrowded and there were mice in the house that ate people's food, but I was surrounded by good people and the woman in charge of the workers was really kind and did her best to make our experience manageable. The pay was satisfying at times, but it wasn't the best year for the crop, and so the apples were smaller and the harvest was later than expected, meaning we had many off days, something you don't want when you're trapped on a farm and trying to save money as fast as possible. I still feel that I was lucky compared to the stories I've heard about other farms.
6. Aldi is Your Friend
I had never heard of this grocery store chain, even though we apparently have it in the U.S., but once you are in Australia, you will quickly find out how expensive it is. Aldi is the most affordable grocery store. They don't have the greatest selection, but you can find everything you need there. I feel like Aldi is kind of looked down upon, but when you are a long-term traveler, false societal ideals are not your main concern. Save money!
7. Working-Hostels Are NOT Your Friend
These places are honestly traps. They take advantage of backpackers while selling a false promise. A working-hostel is a hostel that usually has connections with some local farms. The idea is that you pay to live in these hostels and they will find work for you. I have visited some of these places and they are a complete scam. Backpackers pay the rate and find themselves just waiting for weeks, holding on to the hope that these jobs will show up. Eventually they do, but after much waiting and money spent. Usually the weekly rate fluctuates based on the number of hours you worked. So if you're working more hours, you'll have to pay more. They're kind of like pimps. In reality, you probably end up leaving these hostels with little gain or even less money than you started out with. I don't recommend approaching the job hunt from this angle.
8. Most of the Towns Along the Coast Are Repetitive
Maybe this is due to the fact that I've lived along the coast almost my entire life, but I became extremely bored traveling up the east coast of Australia. Beautiful beach after beautiful beach kind of loses its flare after awhile. What I started to realize is that all of these towns were essentially tourist traps. They're filled with tour agencies with activities tailored toward backpackers and after two or three of these towns, you've seen them all.
If there is one suggestion that you follow in this guide, it is this: Visit Byron Bay. More specifically, camp at the Arts Factory Hostel. Looking back, I can't even understand how a place like this exists. Just imagine a small hippy town along the coast and whatever comes to your mind, probably exists there. It's truly a magical place. If you've been there, you know what I mean.
9. You Must Must MUST Attend at Least One Bush Doof
If camping and partying for a few days sounds like fun, then you'll definitely have to attend a bush doof in Australia. Bush doofs are festivals that take place in "the bush," or rural areas outside of cities. These festivals combine music, typically psytrance, with art, food, workshops, yoga, meditation and drugs. They are an opportunity to let loose and have a good time with genuine, friendly people. During my time in Australia, I was fortunate to attend four doofs: Maitreya, Rainbow Serpent, Confest & Happy Daze. Each is unique and incomparable to the others. There are so many doofs it's almost as if one is going on every weekend somewhere in Australia.
10. Trust in the Goon
One of the easiest ways to get to know other travelers is over alcohol. A lot of drinking occurs while you're backpacking, unless you stay conscious to avoid that. The first time I entered a bottle shop in Australia, I had to pick my jaw up from the floor. A case of beer will run you about $60. A bottle of whiskey costs like $50. It's outrageous. All is not lost, though. There is this little demon commonly known as "goon" in Australia, which is nothing more than really cheap boxed wine with questionable ingredients. I still can't quite understand why there is a "may contain fish or eggs" warning on the box, but that doesn't matter. A 5 liter box is less than $20 and everyone can drink. If you're feeling fancy, mix the white goon with Sprite and call it champagne. You can even blow up the empty bag and use it as a pillow. The goon hangover feels like waking up with fog clouds in your brain, but you won't have to deal with that until after you've had a ridiculous night. I believe that goon is a right of passage among backpackers in Australia. Don't go searching for it the first time. It will definitely find you.