travel and work in australia for 12 months

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Work & Travel in Australia

Work in australia and earn money to bask on the beach, explore the outback, or savor city livin’ in the land down under., eligibility, program dates, costs and inclusions, make it a gap year, startup budget, sydney welcome week, orientation, why greenheart travel, application process.

This is your chance to dive into Australia and truly live like a local . Spend up to a year working and traveling throughout Australia while experiencing lively cities , incredible wildlife , adventure sports , and engaging with new friends from all over the world!

Greenheart Travel’s program is ideal if you:

• Are between the ages of 18-30 and want to live abroad in a country known for its natural wonders.
• Looking for an adventure, and are open to working a variety of jobs.
• Are looking for the long-term study abroad experience that you never had.
• Want to meet a community of travelers like yourself!

Progr am at a Glance:

• Sufficient salary to live and travel!
• Assistance finding work in bars, restaurants, resorts, farms, and other short-term jobs.
• Group program start dates.
• Pre-departure and in-country support.
• Welcome Week in Sydney with excursions and group activities.
• Friends, couples, and siblings are welcome!

You must meet the following requirements to apply

• Citizen of one of the following: USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, EU.
• Must be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa.
• Be between the ages of 18-30* years old.
• Must be outside of Australia for the visa application process.
• Be a native English speaker or have near-native fluency.

Due to visa regulations for a Working Holiday Visa we cannot make exceptions to these requirements. These are put in place by the Australian government.

*The maximum age has been raised to 35 for certain countries in the EU and UK. Please check the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website for more information. 

The Sydney Welcome Week starts on Mondays, so you’ll arrive on one of these dates:

Program Price: $1,690 USD

Packaged into Program Cost:

• Adventure welcome week in Sydney
• 6 months of international medical insurance
• Airport pickup and transfer to hostel
• 7 nights’ hostel accommodation (shared room) and breakfasts
• Group arrival orientation
• 1-on-1 job assistance service, support, and advice
• Bank account set up prior to arrival
• Resources and support for finding permanent housing
• Cellphone setup
• Australian SIM card
• Organized social events and activities
• Greenheart Atlas Program
• Greenheart Club Membership

Our Support and Services:

• Online logistical and cultural training before departure from an Experienced Travel Program Manager.
• 24 hour in-country emergency support for the duration of your program.
• Job and accommodation support for the full duration of your program, not just the duration of the welcome week!
• Visa Assistance as needed.
• Assistance preparing tax paperwork upon arrival and before departure home.
• Opportunity to apply for a Greenheart Grant to give back to your community at home or abroad.
• Highly experienced team of in-country support staff members.

Additional Expenses to Consider:

• Visa processing and fees (about $450 AUD- you will apply for your visa online)
• Flights and return transfers
• Lunch and dinner during Welcome Week
• Housing costs and living expenses (meals, utilities, etc.)
• Personal expenses

Wondering where exactly your program fee goes? Here is a breakdown.

Work Abroad Australia is a tremendous gap year option ! Our program is designed to have a structural component that assists our travelers with pre-departure and arrival logistics such as bank account setup, obtaining the equivalent of their Social Security number, finding accommodation, securing a job, and making friends! This work abroad program also allows for enough flexibility for travelers to experience self-discovery by choosing where they live, what jobs they secure, and when and where they would like to travel.

This is a great gap year program for you if you:

• Want a program centered around community.
• Are seeking guidance to help you navigate getting settled abroad, but desire the flexibility to work and travel on your own schedule.
• Enjoy outdoor activities.
• Are open to working a variety of jobs.
• Crave a travel abroad experience that lasts for 6-12 months.
• Are looking to add work abroad experience to your resume.

Skills and personal growth that our Greenheart Travelers have acquired while on program:

• Customer service
• Cross-cultural communication
• Agricultural
• Interpersonal
• Problem-solving
• Traveling know-how
• Strong sense of self
• Independence

The cost of living in Australia, especially in big cities like Sydney, is likely more than what you’re used to in your home country. So, it is important to budget accordingly to make sure you are financially prepared upon arrival and until you begin to make a regular paycheck.

Here is a rough estimate of your initial start-up costs (in USD):

Flight:                             $1,200

Program Fee:                $1,690

Visa:                                 $350

Savings:                        $3,394*

Total:                             $6,634

* this total amount is a requirement of the Working Holiday Visa, however, it is a good amount to have to make sure you have enough money to live comfortably until you start working.

Average Weekly Budget:

Your salary will depend on how often you decide to work and what work you end up getting into. However, you are guaranteed to make Australian minimum wage ($19.49 AUD/hour), and as long as you’re working 28-38 hours per week, you’ll be making enough to live and travel on.

Wages and rent are paid weekly which makes budgeting your paychecks much easier:

These weekly costs will, of course, depend on your personal spending habits, where you live, how many hours you work, and if your job provides a higher pay/accommodation, but you should expect to be able to save some of your paycheck every week.

Although you will most likely spend any extra cash on travel opportunities in between jobs, you have the potential to make back your start up costs:

Monthly Savings =                               $410.20 AUD

Yearly Savings =                                   $4,922.40 AUD

During your first week in Sydney, you’ll have 7 days of activities and excursions where you’ll get to know fellow travelers and enjoy your introduction to this gorgeous country!

Monday: Check in, chill out and relax in preparation for a big week ahead! You will meet your group leader and the rest of your group, plus familiarize yourself with the team. You will also get a brief overview on what’s going to happen for the week ahead. Later you will visit a party bar for your Welcome Dinner!

Tuesday: After a good night’s sleep, join the comprehensive info / welcome orientation session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about working and travelling around Australia. Our team in Australia are all experienced travelers and have started where you are now. After the welcome orientation session, you’ll head to the city tour which kicks off at 11am.

You will see the Sydney Harbour Bridge & the Opera House and take a trip down to the Botanical Gardens. At the same time, you’ll be getting to know your new mates in Australia and taking some awesome photos to make your mates back home jealous!

Later, you will experience a different side of Sydney! During the evening the group will go for a relaxed walk through the historical suburbs of Sydney. On this walk, you’ll see some of the Indigenous and early European history of Sydney, one of the most multicultural parts of Australia.

Wednesday: You’ll start off the day attending a job search seminar to learn lots of tips and tricks about job search in Australia, then you’ll go for a cruise on Sydney Harbour. Spend the rest of the day cruising, swimming, and chilling on Sydney Harbour! You’ll also get to enjoy your first Aussie BBQ on deck!

Thursday: You can’t come to Sydney and not visit the Blue Mountains! This morning, you’ll escape the city and travel to the Blue Mountains National Park, a short drive from Sydney. Enjoy hiking, visit waterfalls, spot wild kangaroos, and take in some of the Bluey’s spectacular views!

Friday: Happy Friday! You will visit Sydney’s famous cliff-top coastline and walk from Coogee to Bondi beach. You’ll explore six beaches along the way! It’s the perfect way to take multiple swims or work on your tan before taking in the sights of Bondi!

Saturday: Immerse yourself in the true-blue Aussie tradition that is ‘catching a wave’ at our half day group surf lessons. Our qualified and local surf guide will teach you the ins and outs of surfing with ocean safety, surfing techniques, warm-up, and time in the water. You’ll be gliding along a wave in no time. After a day at the beach, you’ll get dressed up for a fun night on the town! Meet the group at one of our favorite party bars before starting our Sydney Pub Crawl.

Sunday: Your first week down under comes to an end. The itinerary is over, but your adventure continues – on Sunday our team will assist you with any remaining questions you’ve got and also onward travel planning.

*** Welcome week activities are subject to change based on seasonality.

During your first week in Sydney, you’ll attend a brief orientation to prepare you for your job and housing search. Before you arrive, your bank account will already be opened – you won’t have to research Australian banks or finalize your account. Instead, the team will have prepared all of your paperwork in advance. They will also set you up for the Australian tax system and give you your Tax ID so you file taxes before you leave.

During orientation you will meet the team and get all the information necessary to start planning your time in Australia. You will learn about life in Australia, when to work, where to work, where to travel and when to travel.

At orientation, you will:

• Learn about Australian culture!
• Review the yearly job market; what jobs are abundant and where.
• Be introduced to online job boards for future jobs.
• Sign up for any required courses you may need to be eligible for work, like the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) if you plan to work in environments where you serve alcohol (resorts, bars, cruise ships)*
• Receive assistance in finding short or long term accommodation.
• Receive tax ID and learn how to file taxes when you leave the country.

*These courses may or not be available, as not all services are fully up and running

Job Consultation

You will have the opportunity to meet with a job consultant and talk about your resume, what other skills you may have that aren’t listed on your resume, and to set your expectations for the type of work that you would be best suited for.

After the job consultant gets to know you a little better, you will be put on an Availability List along with all the other travelers. This list shows who is available to work, what their skills and preferences are as well as who is traveling and unavailable for work. This list is constantly changing as 50-60 employers call every day looking for employees to start working ASAP.

Our in-country staff will call you to let you know when you have been matched with a job, which you can take or turn down. Travelers who are open minded to the work they do may start working the day after they are placed on the Availability list, where others may hold out for their preferred position or decide to travel first. If you’re looking to work, you should expect to have a job within 2-3 weeks.

You may use this method to find work later in the year, though most travelers prefer to use the online job board to find subsequent work, especially if they have relocated outside of Sydney.

Most of your job opportunities will be in the Sydney area and in the southern region of Australia around Melbourne, Brisbane, and Cairns. Resort and agriculture jobs are offered in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Greenheart Travel’s partner has professional relationships with trusted employers around Australia who pay fair wages and alert us whenever they have positions available.

What are the most common job types?

Hospitality, customer service, and office work are by far the most common job type as Australian companies report that the high level of service in the US and Canada tends to produce workers who are well-suited for these types of positions.

Seasonal work in amusement parks, resorts, and on offshore cruises, etc. are great positions for more consistent and long-term jobs (3-6 months) where jobs in restaurants, bars, hostels, and hotels are widely available for shorter contracts.

Working on farms and WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) are also popular among Working Holiday travelers who want to experience a different type of work outside of a city.

Can I change jobs while I am there?

Yes. Many jobs are seasonal, so it is likely you will hold more than one job in your host country. Also, visa requirements dictate that you will not be allowed to work for a given employer for a period longer than six months. Due to these factors, most Work and Travel travelers hold 2-3 jobs over the duration of their stay, which is a great way to travel to different parts of the country and experience as much authentic Aussie culture as you can!

You will have access to an online job board which will enable you to check employment postings wherever you are. You should also call or visit the Center in Sydney regularly to keep informed of new work opportunities.

Greenheart Traveler, Ashana, and her fruit picking co-workers!

There are advantages of applying for this program through us:

• 33 years of experience with cultural exchange programs.
• Friendly, responsive, and professional support from your program manager!
• We make our program fees as inclusive as possible. We include things like extensive medical insurance for the duration of the program, airport pickup, and extensive pre-departure and on-program support, so you’re not on your own for any part of your adventure.
• Our alumni recommend us! GoAbroad.com Reviews
• Exclusive access to the Greenheart Atlas, our interactive program that will guide you through your cultural immersion experience before, during, and after your program.
• Hands on support and personal attention every step of the way.
• 24/7 emergency phone number to reach a staff member at any time.
• Pre-departure “Culture Shock and Adjustment” Webinar before you leave.
• Discounts for future Greenheart Travel programs.
• We are a non-profit, mission based organization.
• Continued support throughout your program.

We also have some unique offerings to our Greenheart Travel participants and alumni!

• Greenheart Grants: Greenheart Grants are funds awarded to Greenheart Travel participants to use for community development projects in their host or home country. A Greenheart Grant is the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain an impactful, community-focused project abroad or at home. Grant funds could be applied to supporting women’s cooperatives, schools, community centers, or health clinics, for example. Grant winners will be featured on our website, social media, and blog. You can see our past winners on our blog here.
• Greenheart Alumni Program: We created the Greenheart Travel Alumni Program to provide resources and a community to support alumni in their advancement as global leaders, and a way to celebrate and reward our participants for being ambitious, inspiring catalysts of cultural exchange!
• Greenheart Global Leaders Conference: Each August Greenheart offers full ride scholarships to over 40 alumni to attend our annual conference in Washington, DC. Participants even get a chance to advocate for cultural exchange in a presentation to the US Department of State. You can see more about what GGLC is and what you could do at the conference here.

Read more about why people are choosing Greenheart Travel: Why Choose Greenheart Travel? 

What will my first week look like?

Your first week is a time of exploration, preparation, and fun!

All programs begin on Thursdays. The program start date that you select from our website will be your arrival date. Our travelers use this time to settle into their accommodation, review their itinerary for the week, explore a bit, and recharge for the rest of the welcome week ahead!

The next 6 days will be dedicated to reviewing job resources, becoming familiar with local transportation, learning about housing, solidifying tax documents, meeting new friends, and getting to know Australia!

Where will I live during welcome week?

We have all of our travelers meet up at a hostel in the center of Sydney so everyone can get acquainted! For the first week you will live in shared hostel accommodation.

Where will I live when I am hired?

Shared flats, hostels, Airbnbs, and homestays are all potential accommodation options based on the lifestyle you would like to lead (i.e. backpacker or sedentary).

Some jobs, especially those on resorts and farms, include housing or subsidized housing. Our in-country partner does take housing requests within the Sydney and Melbourne area. Regardless of where you plan to live, they are happy to provide guidance and resources to help you find accommodation.

As a note, Sydney generally has the highest cost-of-living. In Sydney, you will likely pay $160-$200 for a shared room per week. If you want your own room, it is more expensive. If you are staying a while, think about renting an apartment with some friends or moving in with some Aussies, as it is generally the cheapest option. However, some jobs will only be short term (1-2 months) and it can be difficult to find a short or open lease, so you may need to spend more towards $200 AUD/week to stay at a hostel. Melbourne and other major cities have a lower cost of living than in Sydney, but most jobs are available in and around Sydney.

Do I have to stay for the full 12 months?

No, you don’t have to stay for the full 12 months.

We recommend that our travelers plan a trip that is 3 months or longer, but it isn’t mandatory. In our experience, we find that it takes our travelers a month or so to get acclimated in their new surroundings. The first few weeks are used to secure jobs, accommodation, and tax information. Having a handful of months in Australia will allow you to fully settle in, work, and travel comfortably.

If you’re looking for programs that range from 1, 2, or 3 months, take a look at a few of these program options:

• Work Abroad Argentina 
• Thailand Business Internship
• Homestay Abroad 

How long does it take the get a job?

This varies. During the busy season when lots of jobs are available, sometimes several job prospects are already awaiting you when you arrive and you can start work right away. Other times it can take up to 6 weeks. Usually if there is a delay it is because you have rejected initial job prospects because they did not meet your expectations for some reason.

Can I get a career-oriented job?

The visa you’ll get only allows you to work at any one job for 6 months or less. Since employers looking to fill high-skill positions generally want someone for longer than that, it’s unlikely (although not impossible) that you’d get a more professional or high-skilled position. This program caters to people looking for a more casual work experience, and who are more focused on travel.

Can I work for longer than one year?

United States citizens are eligible for a second Working Holiday visa if they spend 3 months working in Northern Australia in one of the following industries:

• plant and animal cultivation
• fishing and pearling
• tree farming and felling
• tourism and hospitality

This means you could work for three months in one place, then have 21 more months to work and travel as you please in Australia! Our in-country staff will help you secure this type of work if you’re interested in taking advantage of this policy.

Will I need a car?

No, public transportation is widely available in Australia, especially within the cities and urban areas.

Will I meet other travelers?

Yes, we’ve designed this as a group program! Each start date allows for up to 25 travelers.

Our welcome week includes an orientation in addition to numerous group activities that allow you to meet a bunch of individuals who are also looking to work and travel throughout the country. Since you’re all on the same program, you’ll already have a lot in common!

What qualities does Greenheart Travel look for in Australia Work Abroad applicants?

We look for applicants that are open-minded, flexible, adventurous, hardworking, and communicative!

Open-mindedness and flexibility are qualities that we seek because it is not uncommon that travelers work 2-3 jobs during their stay abroad. Not everyone will start off with their dream job, BUT everyone gains valuable experience—the more open-minded you are, the sooner you will find work!

Adventurous individuals are great for this program because Australia provides ample opportunity for travelers to be engaged in nature and participate in exciting activities.

We seek hardworking and communicative individuals because each traveler must be willing to do their share of work in order to solidify housing and employment. Our team works hard to assist and support our travelers, but travelers must be willing to attend job interviews and communicate with our team abroad.

1.   Start Your Application  Here .  You will be sent more information as well as the link to our application portal to begin your formal application.

2. Submit Basic Program Information:  The first step in our application portal will be basic things like your chosen start date, etc.

3. Submit your Application Fee : A $300 fee is required in order to apply for the program. This is subtracted from your total program fee. If we are unable to accept you following your interview (very unlikely!) we will refund your application fee in full.

4.   Complete Application & Documents :  Provide more detailed information about yourself in Part 2 of the application. In this section, you’ll tell us more information like your work history, motivations for joining the program, travel history, and emergency contacts. You will also submit your documents (below) within your portal account.

5.   Zoom Interview: Once you have submitted your online application and paid your application fee, you will be asked to schedule a video interview with a Greenheart Travel representative.

6. You’re Accepted!  Woohoo! We are usually able to accept people within 1-2 weeks of their interviews.

7. Commitment Payment: Once you are accepted to the program, you will need to submit a $300 commitment payment within 14 days to confirm your spot on the program. Once you submit your commitment payment you will unlock the acceptance portion of your portal, which includes things like pre-departure videos, travel and arrival information, the Greenheart Travel Atlas, and more.

9. Book your flights, and get ready for your adventure to Australia! The rest of your balance is due 60 days before you leave.

The above process can take as little as 1 week to complete, so it’s up to you how quickly you’re able to complete each step.

Take a glimpse into life in Australia through some Greenheart Traveler’s photos. Make sure to also check out #greenhearttravel on Instagram for more!

Sound like your kind of adventure?

Want access to our Facebook group to talk with travelers on this program? Click here! ​

Greenheart Travel Adventures

Alumni spotlight on nora weiss: finding perspective, patience and mermaid pools in australia, how to navigate an international airport, ashana’s nine months in australia: work, save and then travel.

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10 Things to Know Before You Work & Travel in Australia

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Clock out quick—it's time to catch some waves!

Do you dream of work and travel in Australia? Right on! Here are a few things to know before you go deeper into planning your journey abroad.

Sunshine, sandals, and... paychecks. Working in Australia is a popular right of passage for many young expats keen for adventure and sustained world traveling. With dozens of job possibilities, thousands of opportunities, and a little thing called the Australian Work Visa program , it’s no wonder that intrepid globetrotters head south to Oz every year in droves. 

But is it all tan lines and cute animals? What should you be prepared for as you plan your own work abroad stint in Australia? We’re glad you’re asked. Traveling and working in Australia is about as close to a walk in the (very sun-soaked) park as you can get. Read on as we share our must-know tips for those considering work and travel in Australia .

Pro tips for working in Australia

1. there are a lot of different jobs to consider..

Australia’s working holiday visa programs has made it an attractive destination for practical long-term travelers for years. We’re not really sure which came first. The fun, temporary jobs abroad in a variety of sectors? OR the hoards of international travelers looking for fairly low level, low commitment jobs? It’s a real chicken or egg situation (or are we say cassowary or egg situation).

The most popular short term jobs abroad in Australia are in the hospitality (hostel employment, bartending, barista gigs) and agriculture (physical labor like harvesting crops) sectors. You can also find plentiful work as an au pair abroad and in entry-level marketing and communications positions. If you have your sights set on mid-level or advanced positions, there’s absolutely opportunities for you—it’ll just require a more polished resume and more power heels and dress shoes in your backpack than thongs (flip flops!!!). Not to worry though, because companies like Alliance Abroad or InterExchange are here to assist you through every step of the process!

2. Australia is really, really big—and diverse.

You might look at that country populating the southeast corner of your map and think, “Sure, Australia is big, but I can conquer it all pretty easily.” Think again. A flight from Perth to Brisbane—on opposing coastlines—will take you 4.5 hours. The vast Red Center takes hours (if not days) to cross by train. The tropical rainforests of the northeast give way to one of the biggest deserts on the planet. You can find shrubs and low lying grasses across the southern coastline.

Plenty of options in Oz for a more urban experience—or you can plan to go further afield & work abroad in the Red Center!

Mountains more your style? Stick to traveling and working in Australia in Sydney and the east coast. Love feeling “away from it all” (except maybe quokkas?)? There’s an entire state for you: Western Australia. Laid back, artsy, and uber cultural destinations like Melbourne are a nice respite from the dusty, sun soaked, indigenous vibes of Alice Springs and provide yet another unique Aussie experience for the engaged traveler. Moral of the story: Australia is chock full of unique locations to explore, all overflowing with a variety of cultures and customs to experience.

And if you love to spend your time off the clock by the water, you’d be hard pressed to find a destination with more mileage of beautiful coastline. Talk about a good tan!

3. You need to secure your work visa—but not your employment—in advance.

It’d be really awesome if you could just land in Oz after your direct LAX —> SYD flight and get hired ASAP, but alas, the world doesn’t work this way. You need to research and coordinate your application for a working holiday visa in advance of arriving to Australia.

On the bright side, so long as you fulfill the minimum requirements and can fork out the fees, you are close to guaranteed access to this work abroad opportunity. Further, you don’t need to secure your employment in advance, which gives you a lot of flexibility to find opportunities as they arise. However, companies exist to assist you in securing working opportunities before transitioning to Australia, making your Australian journey that much more smooth from the start! 

And one more bright side: Your visa isn’t attached to employment for a single organization, company, etc. You can move about at-will!

4. The fashion culture is unique—it's not all khaki!

Khaki is out! You might be browsing the internet in search of shades of tans and greens to stuff in your suitcase—“To look like the locals, of course!” And while we applaud your interest and efforts to be culturally sensitive, the khaki has got to go. While some might think Australia is simply removed from many common conventions, that simply is not the case. In fact, the land down under is very keen on staying with the trends. You can dress in western fashion for most employment in Australia but will want to bring additional tools or equipment if you’re planning for specific jobs (i.e. leather work gloves for hard labor).

You'll fit right into Aussie's laidback, western fashion sensibilities

Outside of work, showing off skin is fine, as are yoga pants. There’s a very laid back approach to modesty and fashion, which allows you to let your own style dictate your wardrobe.

While we’re on the subject of stereotypes that aren’t quite true: Aussies don’t actually put shrimp on the barbie. They put prawns on ‘em.

5. You’ll earn money in the Aussie dollar.

While traveling and working in Australia, you’ll be earning the local currency—Aussie dollars (or notes)! The Australian dollar is a strong, stable currency. Some jobs may pay you direct in cash, whereas others will set up direct deposits or even distribute checks for every pay period. It would be wise for you to create a system in advance for where you plan to store your income (in a local bank). If you do opt for the local bank, be sure to transfer bulk amounts of cash periodically back to your home bank account. If you do this systematically, you can avoid hefty transfer fees over time! 

6. Eating out will cost you a pretty penny.

There are some destinations where eating out is encouraged, as the food is cheap and plentiful and wonderful. There are others where affordable street food reigns and you can live like a king. And then there’s Australia, where a cup of coffee can cost you $5 and a lunchtime meal can easily be upwards of $20.

While there are certainly budget options out there (*mmm meat pies*), you should be prepared to make a game plan for feeding yourself through home cooked meals whenever possible. A life of white bread and vegemite isn’t one we’d encourage (though you should still try it!), but having some basic pasta dishes or favorite salads in your back pocket is smart planning. Ideally, these meals can be easily made in a shared kitchen!

7. You don’t have to work on land.

Work in Australia on a tourist boat or as a SCUBA instructor!

Do you dream of a life at sea? Then all aboard, baby! Dozens of vessels make daily trips for tourists to the beautiful coral reefs or nearby islands, and working on these boats can be a “salty experience” (in the right way). Become a ship hand, chef, or other crew member. Dream big, captain! 

Tourism is another area of employment that is poppin’ for international travelers. While the pay might be less than ideal, you’ll walk away rich in experience and waterlogged with new skills. Not bad for a trip abroad!

8. For professional jobs, you need to bring your A game.

If you’re looking to add some serious sauce to your resume with a full-time job in Australia, come prepared with your best foot forward. The financial centers of Sydney, Brisbane, and Canberra offer dozens of jobs in finance, banking, and business.

These jobs are incredibly competitive and will require you to have that extra “oomph” to hire you instead of a local. You should treat these lines of work with the same earnest and professionalism that you would afford to an application in your home country.

9. You should take your job seriously, no matter what you do!

Finding jobs abroad in Australia is NOT synonymous with backpacking and traveling in Australia. While you can absolutely adventure with your new mates and see some pretty amazing sites (Uluru is a *must*), your focus should remain on the commitments you make as an employee to a company.

True meaningful travelers follow through with their work and do their best to integrate into the local communities, both in their workplace and beyond. They add value rather than only extract, and part of doing this is holding yourself accountable to the job that you have taken. This doesn’t mean that you have to stay forever or that there aren’t bummer jobs out there on the market that you should consider leaving, but we do recommend that you keep your intentions top of mind with every decision you make as expats in Australia.

Don’t give us (traveling Americans and other nationals) a bad rap in Oz, pretty please?

10. There are organizations that can make working abroad in Australia even easier.

Work in a hostel in exchange for free room & board! There are plenty of paid jobs abroad in Australia to choose from—and even more organizations out there that can help.

One way to approach working abroad in Australia is to wing it. Arrive in-country with your work visa, head to that hostel you pre-booked online, and start to network and get a lay of the land. You might end up getting a little desperate after a few weeks with no bites to your resume, and end up taking a job you *did not* envision for yourself (law office secretary?).

For example, if you want to bypass the potential stress of low quality employment, consider hiring an organization, such as Alliance Abroad or BUNAC. They'll secure and coordinate beneficial employment on your behalf (fo' real!). This not only takes the unexpected out of the equation but can hook you up with ancillary services like on-the-ground support or even instant community with other program participants. 

Immediate paycheck, immediate friends, and a person to turn to if you get in a pickle. Not bad if you ask us! This can be the final notch on your to-do list to an amazing experience traveling and working in Australia.

Next steps to work and travel in Australia

Now that you have the inside scoop and know where many would-be expats fail in their job hunt, it's time to choose who you want to work abroad through! Choosing a work abroad program isn't as hard as it sounds, especially if you follow these steps:

• Decide where to go. Figuring out where YOU should work abroad is paramount. Have a short list of Australian cities that sound ideal for your goals. Don't let your experience (or lack thereof!) hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
• Pick your job. Do some reflection on what skills and knowledge you bring to the table, and which type of company or organization—and role within—would best benefit from your time and energy.
• Choose from the best work abroad programs in Australia. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and how the project's needs match your skills. Some programs may even share contact info for ambassadors or past participants if you want the REAL dirt. Here are more considerations to make as you figure out how to choose the right job program for you. Pro tip: You can use MyGoAbroad to compare programs side-by-side.
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge on travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Learning how to save for jobs abroad is essential prior to your travels!
• Get prepared! Preparing to work and move abroad is as fun as it sounds. With the days til departure number dwindling and your excitement boiling, it can be easy to overlook the details. Lean on us to help guide you through your pre-departure process—that's what we're here for.

Run quick to these temporary jobs in Australia

Get in touch with your wild side while doing farm work in Australia.

The Australian work visa is a magical ticket to adventure in one of the coolest—not to mention the oldest—places on earth. Wash your hands in the world’s oldest river after a long day of apple picking. Share a smile with a weary traveler as you show them their room in the hostel. Tag along with on your new au pair family’s vacation to the Whitsundays. Give a powerful presentation on potential earnings to high brow executives.

Whatever your style and goals for working abroad in Australia, remember this: vegemite and cheese is a delicious combo. We mean, um, just keep swimming. ;-) You’ll have the time of your life while working in Australia!

Get Matched with 5 Work Abroad Programs in Australia for FREE

This article was written with help from Alliance Abroad . Alliance Abroad is a cultural exchange organization that specializes in offering a variety of programs that enable individuals to work and travel in Australia anywhere from six months to four years!

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How to Travel and Work in Australia

Last Updated: October 30, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Deirdre Nero . Deirdre D. Nero is an Immigration & Nationality Law Attorney and the Founder of NERO Immigration Law, P.L., based in Miami, Florida. With nearly 20 years of experience, she specializes in business-based immigration, family-based immigration, and naturalization. She earned her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law and her BA from Florida State University. In 2014, Deirdre won Business Immigration Lawyer of the Year–Florida in the Global Mobility & Immigration Awards given by Acquisition International. She’s also earned an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which annually rates lawyers on their abilities and ethics. Additionally, South Florida Legal Guide named her a Top Lawyer in South Florida several years in a row. In 2019, Deirdre was honored to receive the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award at the 2019 AXA Businesswoman of the Year Awards by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the Merrick in the Making Award by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In 2019 and 2021, Deirdre was named to Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 143,302 times.

Australia is a popular destination for expatriates. Many people enjoy the climate, culture and communities enough to seek temporary or permanent employment in the country. If you want to work in Australia, you will need to find an employment scheme that sponsors your work visa. There are different options available, depending upon your nationality. On your visa application, you will be awarded points based on your qualifications, which will then determine if you get a visa. This process can take anywhere from 3 months to 18 months, so you may want to get a travel visa to visit Australia in the meantime. Find out how to travel and work in Australia.

Australia Travel Options

• Any website that ends in .gov is an official government website—you can trust the information on there.

• This visa will cost $20. You can apply at www.eta.immi.gov.au. If you currently hold another type of visa, or you are applying after an ETA is expired, you may have to appear in person at an Australian consulate to reapply.

• Visit www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/evisitor.htm to start an eVisitor application. Charges will apply.

• Visit www.ecom.immi.gov.au/visas/app/uu?form=VSS to apply for a tourist visa. Some nationalities are not able to submit an online application. In this case, you will need to visit an Australian consulate.

• People from a specific list of countries, including the UK and many European countries, should apply for a subclass 415 visa to gain short term employment in Australia. [6] X Research source With this visa, you can stay and work for up to 12 months, study for up to 4 months and work during this period. Visit www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/how-to-apply.htm to get applications and learn how to complete them.
• People from various Asian and South American countries and the United States can apply for a subclass 462 visa. [7] X Research source The restrictions on this visa are similar to the subclass 415 visa; however, you can only work with 1 employer for a period of up to 6 months. Visit www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/usa/how-to-apply.htm to download applications and learn how to apply.

Australian Work Options

• Contact a recruiter in Australia to get help with finding a position. You can find recruiters through Internet searches, and you may be required to pay for their services. This is a good idea if you have a highly specialized profession that is listed on the SOL.
• Register for a free "work in Australia" online job board. These sites ask you to sign in and allow you to look for job boards.

• Visit www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/sol-schedule1.pdf to read the most up to date SOL.
• Do research on international companies that have bases in Australia. Applying for work in 1 of these companies may allow you to go through training in Australia or work in an Australian office.
• Search for applicable jobs in large Australian companies. Very large companies are more likely to hire international employees because they can afford the visa costs. Keep in contact with all of these companies and search often for new jobs.

• If you are planning a business visit, you will need to apply for an ETA or eVisitor visitor visa before being granted a subclass 956, 977 of 651 visa. Visit www.immi.gov.au/skilled/business/business-visit-visa-options.htm to find out how to apply.
• You will need to apply for a short stay business visa if you are not eligible for an ETA or eVisitor via. Visit the link above to apply for a subclass 456 visa. [11] X Research source

• Visit www.immi.gov.au/skillevents/upcoming-events.htm to view a list of these events.

Community Q&A

Things You'll Need

• Valid passport
• eVisitor visa
• Application fees
• "Skills Australia Needs" recruitment event
• Skilled Occupation List
• Business visa
• Employer sponsored visa
• Skilled independent visa

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about working abroad, check out our in-depth interview with Deirdre Nero .

• ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/how-to-apply.html
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/repealed-visas/foreign-government-agency-visa-subclass-415
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/learn-about-sponsoring
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/repealed-visas/business-short-stay-visa-subclass-456
• ↑ https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189

About this article

If you want travel and work in Australia, apply for a working holiday visa, which allows you to travel and supplement your income with work for up to 12 months. Next, find an employer to sponsor your visa by contacting an Australia recruiter, or register for a free online job board. If you’re a professional working in a field such as medicine, engineering and computers, consult the skilled occupation list (SOL). Search for jobs in large companies, since they can afford the visa costs. For more information on traveling and working in Australia, including visa options for visits shorter than 12 months, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Australia's working holiday visa opens up to those over 30 years

Jul 3, 2023 • 5 min read

Jobs in the agricultural sector are abundant – and can be demanding if highly rewarding © Jason Edwards / Getty Images

If you think you missed out on the "gap year" or working holiday experience because of the global lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, we have some good news.

Since  Australia   reopened its borders  in 2022 it has been experiencing labor shortages in a host of industries. In response, the government has just increased the eligibility for some working holiday makers from 30 to 35 years to attract more workers Down Under.

And there's more: the range of jobs available to working holiday makers in Australia means taking a year out to work and travel doesn't have to derail your career (something the gap year naysayers might tell you).

Keen to  spend a year or two living, working and traveling in Australia  in 2023 or 2024? Read on for everything you need to know to make it happen. 

What are the new rules for working holiday makers in Australia?

As of 1 July 2023, citizens of the UK, Canada, France, Denmark, Italy and Ireland are eligible to apply for an Australian Working Holiday visa up to the age of 35. For the other 40 countries participating in the program , the 30 year age restriction remains for now.

Industry groups are calling on the Australian government to go further and lift the age of working holiday visas to 50 years to help plug skills gaps, especially in management level roles, but nothing has been decided yet.

Some of the requirements for extending the visa beyond an initial 12 months (such as undertaking farm work) will also be dropped for British passport holders from 1 July 2024 as part of the Australia–UK Free Trade Agreement.

Commenting on the changes, Sally Cope, Tourism Australia’s Regional General Manager for UK & Northern Europe said, “Every year, more than 35,000 young Brits head to Australia to work and play, the Aussie way.

"Our research reveals close to half of 25- to 34-year-olds are considering working abroad to advance their careers, so this five-year age range increase presents a world of openings to these young professionals.

"Australia also offers an incredible lifestyle – where else can you be in the boardroom at 4pm and by the beach an hour later? We’re sure there are many 30–35-year-olds who thought they had missed their chance to live and work Down Under, who will jump at this exciting prospect; and Australia is ready to welcome them.”

So, is there a downside? Well, while eligibility has increased – so has cost of the Working Holiday Maker visa, rising from AU$510 to AU$640 from 1 July. Perhaps it's a government incentive to stick around for longer and make the most of the opportunities in Australia.

How long does it take to get a working holiday visa?

Provided you have an up-to-date passport, satisfy the age requirement (which varies by citizenship ), have some savings, and meet the health and character requirements for a Working Holiday visa , you can apply immediately. 

As long as you have all the necessary documentation ready, visa approvals can be turned around in less than a day. 

How long can I work in Australia?

To extend your initial 12-month Australian Working Holiday visa for a second year (and even a third year), most travelers need to do at least 12 weeks (3 months) in a "specified industry" and/or region. These are places where workers are most needed in Australia: farming, fisheries, construction or remote-area tourism gigs. 

However this requirement is changing in 2024 for British travelers thanks for a reciprocal agreement between the two nations. 

The former rule that you can only work for one employer for a maximum of six months is being reinstated, after a temporary amnesty. This was a condition industry wants removed, particularly in more remote locations where it's harder to attract good staff. Workers take time to learn the ropes, and to build strong relationships. 

To further entice willing workers, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s tourism group is encouraging employers to stump up the visa fees (AU$640) to get people over to fill their job vacancies.

If you're applying for a job from home while applying for your visa, there's no harm in asking your future employer to help you out with the fee.

What jobs are there in Australia for working holiday makers?

Matthew Heyes of Backpacker Job Board , Australia’s largest recruitment website for working holiday makers, says, “Job opportunities for working holiday makers are widespread, covering a range of different sectors. There are fruit-picking…and other agricultural-based [jobs], which are really popular because these roles contribute to the second- and third-year visa-extension program. The roles are also seasonal and offer the opportunity to earn well while the seasons are high. 

“Other cornerstones of backpacker employment include au pair work, plus sales and marketing positions as well as other broader hospitality jobs.”

A strong Australian dollar is another key incentive for workers who might be seeing their local currency tanking. Work hard enough and save well, and you could go home with some major dollars in the bank – that is, if you don’t spend it all having the time of your life traveling around Australia.  

I'm over 40, can I work in Australia for a year?

The proposal to extend the maximum age for the Working Holiday visa to 50 has certainly piqued a lot of interest. The mid-career sabbatical – sometimes called an “adult gap year” – was already gaining traction before the pandemic.

The global shutdown also saw a lot of people reviewing what is important in life. Taking a year out from an established career to work, travel and meet new people is just the kind of radical change many now crave in place of being tied to a screen all day.

Matthew Heyes sees the potential for extending the age for working holiday . “It will completely change what it is to be a backpacker,” he says. “No longer will it be confined to the youth travel market. We could see a more diverse profile of traveler in Australia’s adventure travel sector. I believe this could be a huge win for Australia.

“If it goes ahead, it will also introduce a workforce to Australia who have a broad wealth of skills and qualifications. Their career experience would benefit the Australian economy.” 

Doing something really different – whether working outside or in a public-facing role – somewhere as friendly, safe and beautiful as Australia could be the adventure of a lifetime. No matter your age.

This article was first published Jan 17, 2023 and updated Jul 3, 2023.

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Work and Travel in Australia: How to Get a Working/Holiday Visa

The easiest place to work and travel is in Australia. It’s easy to apply for and it’s one of the most flexible programs that’s available to people under the age of 30!

Seven years ago I applied to work and travel in Australia. Today, their working/holiday visa program is stronger than ever. If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30 and want the freedom to find temporary work in Australia, this is everything you need to know.

To be honest, it’s a pretty easy process, especially since they automate everything online. You don’t need to fill out even a single piece of paper!

The first step is to join the Working Holiday Maker program. Within this program, you apply for one of two working visas: the Working Holiday (subclass 417) or the  Work and Holiday (subclass 462) . You’ll have to read the descriptions to find out which one applies to you, but there are some general rules that apply to both visa types:

Requirements to be Eligible to Work and Travel in Australia

• You need to own a passport for a country participating in the WHM scheme . So far, 28 countries are taking part:

Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

• You need to be healthy enough to work (this is a bit of a no-brainer) . Under some circumstances, you may be required to take a medical examination to confirm it.
• You need to have a return ticket, proof of onward travel  at the end of your stay, or proof of the funds to buy a fare to depart Australia. I had none of these, so just used a copy of my mom’s bank statement 😉

If you meet all of these criteria, you’re virtually guaranteed to get your visa—there’s no yearly cap on the number of working visas issued, and if you haven’t guessed by now, the Australian government works really hard to encourage young seasonal workers to enter the country. You couldn’t be more welcome to apply to work and travel in Australia.

Here’s what a Working/Holiday Visa will give you:

• The freedom to stay in Australia for up to 12 months. This applies for a year from the date you enter the country, no matter how much time you actually spend in the country during those 12 months—you can enter or leave as much as you like.
• The freedom to work as much or as little as you wish . The only stipulation is that you can spend a maximum of 6 months with one particular employer. That’s not a bad thing, though—it keeps you in the mindset that this is only temporary.
• The freedom to study . Do you already have the funds to keep you going and want to spend some of your time studying? This visa will allow you to do it for up to 4 months of the year—enough time to squeeze in a 12-week course of education or training.
• The freedom to apply for a second visa . If you have an existing WHM visa and you’ve completed at least 3 months of seasonal work, you can apply for another work visa that starts when your existing visa ends, meaning you could stay working in Australia for an extra year. Two for one special!

IMPORTANT NOTE: like most working visas around the world, you need to apply in advance. If you show up with the intention of promising border officials that you’ll immediately apply for a working visa—well, you’re going to get turned away.

You can’t even get a normal 3-month entry visa on the spot, since they take up to 3 days to process. If you expect to wing it, you’re going to get into trouble really fast. Don’t even attempt it.

Expect the application process for the working visa to take up to 4 weeks, and to be on the safe side, apply a couple of months before your trip (you can apply up to 12 months in advance).

Where to Stay While You Work and Travel in Australia

When I’m working and traveling , I always stay in hostels. They’re cheap, temporary and a fantastic way to build a network of friends—many other people who are working and traveling choose to stay in hostels, too. And once the staff at the hostel figure out you’re sticking around for a while, they’ll give you some of the low-down on what’s going on around town, and who to talk to about jobs.

When I got my first bar gig, I was low on funds and re-booking my shared hostel dorm room nightly. I was also hitting the streets every day with my resume, looking for a job.

I’m not going to lie—the uncertainty of it all was stressful. But it paid off. Looking back, that was also the most rewarding part of my journey .

Backpacker Job Assistance

For those who prefer not to fly by the seat of their pants (confession: I’m just really bad at planning), the good news is that, in Australia, the YHA has now formalized this process in something called the Backpacker Job Assistance scheme , which can take a lot of the stress out of finding work on your travels.

It’s currently running in a select number of hostels in New South Wales and Western Australia, chosen for the amount of seasonal and temporary work available in the area. They’ll help you in a number of ways, including:

• Offering you a weekly rate for staying in the hostel while you find the work you want.
• Actively helping you find that work , by steering you towards job opportunities that have become available nearby and giving you valuable tips and advice so you can work and travel in Australia efficiently without being a lost puppy.
• Being a useful point of contact before you arrive . If the idea of just showing up and figuring it out scares the bejeezus out of you, you’ll like this program. It allows you to book accommodation and look for work before you’ve even arrived.

Where to Find Work in Australia

Your best shot at getting a seasonal job is to either just show up and find a job (like I did), or have a contact in the area that will act as a go-between (like the YHA, above). You’ll find out about the opportunities that haven’t even been properly advertised yet – and you might even get a sweeter gig than you would through traditional channels.

If you’re trawling online listings, start with the backpacker-specific job boards:

• Backpacker Job Board – At the time of writing, nearly 8,000 backpacker-friendly positions are being advertised.
• Jobaroo – Created by travelers for visitors to Australia, this site works both as a job board and a repository for a lot of great first-hand advice for seasonal job seekers.
• Jora – Over 300,000 positions currently available across the country.
• Downundr – Job listings for island resorts, pearling and cruise ship work.

Then move on to the general job search boards:

• SEEK  – A portal website collecting job offers from a large number of employment, education and volunteer companies worldwide. Over 3 million job listings, including for high-end ($150k+) positions.
• Gumtree – Gumtree is like the craigslist of Australia, with free job postings and classifieds for all over the country.
• Adzuna – A search engine for job ads with 20,000+ listings for Australia.
• CareerJet – More than 200,000 jobs listed, including seasonal work.
• Manpower – the Australian wing of the American human resourcing group, aggregating positions from 50 locations across the continent.

Types of Work Available in Australia

Fruit-Picking -The most popular form of temporary work is in the fruit-picking and harvesting industry. In many ways, the Working Visa system was set up simply to provide labor for this market. It’s hard work and it pays well—and of course, it’s only available at harvest time. Make sure you’re looking for this kind of work in the right season.

Bartending – My specialty, and my first love when it comes to work and travel in Australia. Here’s how you find a bartending job anywhere in the world.

Restaurant Work – If you have experience working as a waiter/waitress or host/hostess, restaurants are probably looking for good staff, especially in larger cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. If you have any food-related skills, chef jobs are always available. You might also find this kind of seasonal work available at luxurious island & coastal resorts.

Landscape Gardening/Grounds Worker – Work as a seasonal laborer or grounds staffer for farms or garden maintenance services.

Office & Retail – Shop staff, customer sales representatives, clerical assistants, reception work.

Outback Work – Working on ranches or cattle stations. Here’s an introduction to this field of seasonal work .

Beach Work – Work and travel in Australia as a surfing instructor, lifeguard or diving instructor (training required, if you don’t have it, with assistant/support jobs available for those without or undergoing training).

Childcare & Au Pair Work – You can find this kind of work using two methods: going through an agency, like AIFS (this usually requires paying a fee up front, but they’ll do all the job hunting for you) or hunting for jobs yourself, using general job boards (see below) or more specific sites like AuPairWorld.com .

Travel Industry Work – Working to keep hostels and hotels running during those busy summer months (note—these jobs are HOT, so call ahead of time to ask and make sure you arrive before the busy season starts).

There are so many different jobs that will allow you to work and travel in Australia and this list is far from exhaustive. Instead of deciding that you’ll do anything for work, pick one particular thing that you want to do for work, and chase that job. If you try to apply for jobs with a general résumé (CV) that doesn’t sell yourself for one specific type of work, you won’t end up getting a job at all.

The Best Job You’ll Find In Australia

Ultimately, the best job you’ll find is the one that makes you money and lets you have some fun while you’re at it—that’s the whole point of working while you’re traveling! I loved working as a bartender , but there are so many options for work and travel in Australia that, ultimately, it’s about finding the job that’s right for you.

That’s the best job you’ll find.

Take what you already know and see how you can apply it abroad. It’s really no different than finding a job in your own country—use your networks, search job boards, and see what’s available.

Australia is an incredible country , and you’re going to love every second of your journey. I spent 15 months there in total and can pretty much guarantee it.

READ NEXT:  How to Find a Bartending Job Anywhere in the World

Working in Australia FAQs

Am i eligible for a working holiday visa in australia.

To be eligible for a working holiday visa in Australia, you have to be 18-30 years old and meet the minimum savings account balance.

Can a US citizen get a working holiday visa in Australia?

Yes, US citizens can get a working holiday visa in Australia.

Is it difficult to get a working holiday visa in Australia?

It’s pretty easy to apply for a working holiday visa in Australia, and you’re likely to be accepted as long as you meet the requirements.

How much money do I need for a working holiday visa Australia?

You need to have at least $5000 AUD in your bank account to get an Australia working holiday visa.

Can you live in Australia after Working Holiday Visa?

It is possible to live in Australia after staying with a working holiday visa, but you have to meet stricter requirements and go through an application process.

Jeremy Scott Foster

Totally agree! The easiest place to work and travel is in Australia!

Thank you so much for commenting, it is lovely and really makes my day!

Thank you for the info. Will save it to bookmarks for later! 🙂

Very informative article, thanks a lot

Planning to work abroad but i dont have a passport and visa yet, will save this for future preferences :). Thank you man!

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Working Holidays

The largest island in the world, a three-month tourist visa doesn’t seem long enough to explore Australia. Have you ever dreamed of being a dive instructor on the Great Barrier Reef, working on an outback cattle ranch, or living and working by the Sydney Harbour? Many Stray travellers choose to see more and do more in Aussie by applying for a Working Holiday Visa. On this page we’ll give you all the details on how to get one, how to find work, and how to apply for a 1-year extension, plus how to get some of your hard earned cash back when you leave!

Visa Requirements

About the 1 year extension

Arrival information

Departure information

What is the Working Holiday Visa?

This visa allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months from the first time you enter the country. Whilst in Australia, you can work while you travel. You may not work for more than 6 months with one employer, and you can study for a maximum of 4 months. 

Extending your visa

You can apply for a 1-year extension to your visa! Do this by working for 88 days (or three months) in specified work in regional Australia. See details about applying for an extension here (anchor)

As of 1 July 2019, you may be eligible to apply for a third-year visa (yay), if you have completed 6 months of specified regional work during your second year. The 6 months of work must be carried out after the 1 st   of July, so the earliest you can apply for this extension will be January 2020.

Requirements for a Working Holiday Visa  (subclass 462)

To apply for the visa, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be aged between 18-30 years old (35 years old if you are from Canada or Ireland)
• Be a citizen from one of the   eligible countries
• Have a valid passport with at least 6 months until expiry
• Have no criminal convictions and meet certain health & education criteria
• Not be travelling with dependent children
• Have proof of sufficient funds (generally $5000 AUD)
• You must be a first-time applicant for this visa
• You must be outside of Australia at the time of application

Requirements for a Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417)

This visa is for a different set of countries and has slightly fewer choices when it comes to working for a visa extension.

• Be aged between 18-30 years old
• Have proof of sufficient funds (generally $5000AUD)

How long does it take?

Your initial visa application may take up to 8 weeks to process. We recommend applying for this visa with plenty of time to spare, as you may be required to gather supporting information, such as a medical certificate. In this case, your application may take longer.

How much does it cost?

The cost of applying for your Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) is $510AUD. There are also small credit card/processing fees involved. The second-year visa extension is the same price.

Additionally, you will need to show proof that you have at least $5000AUD in your bank account upon arrival. While the wages in Australia are good, the cost of living can be expensive, and there is no guarantee that you will find work immediately. We strongly recommend having enough money to cover yourself for three months without work, as a worst-case scenario. 

Where can I find work?

There are a variety of jobs available for backpackers, from waitressing and bartending to fruit picking and farm work. Which work is available will depend on where you base yourself – in big cities you might find an au pair job, whereas in more rural places it will be easier to source farm work.

We recommend deciding early on whether you’d like to apply for the 1-year extension. If so, you may choose to do the required work early on. 

Websites you can use to find work:

Working Holiday Jobs Australia

SEEK website

Backpacker Job Board

Gumtree Jobs

Important Tip:

If you’re keen to work as a bartender or do any job where you serve alcohol, you will need to get a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate. This usually involves completing a short course and test. Note that each state in Australia has different requirements, so ensure that you take your course in the state that you wish to work.

About the 1-year extension

You need to engage in paid work for 88 days/three months in Regional Australia, to qualify for the second-year extension. Jobs that are included in the work specified by the Australian Government include:

• plant and animal cultivation
• fishing and pearling
• tree farming and felling
• construction

Once you’ve completed your 88 days of specified work in regional Australia, you can apply for your second-year visa. This can take up to 6 weeks to process, so you’re strongly advised to submit your application at least 28 days before your first-year visa expires.

Research your employer and use job seeker boards to ask for advice from other travellers. Some employers pay better than others, and the working conditions can vary from place to place.  It is important that you check with a potential employer that the work will qualify as your specified work in the regions. 

You will need to supply evidence to the Australian Government that you have completed this work. This can be payslips, tax returns etc. Discuss this with your employer.

 For more information on specified work and qualifying regions, see   the Immigration website.  

If you meet the criteria for the second-year visa extension, you don’t have to stay in Australia for 2 consecutive years. You can leave (maybe to   Stray New Zealand?), as long as you return to Australia within twelve months of your visa extension being approved. Your second visa will be automatically activated when you re-enter the country.

What to do when you arrive

Once you’ve secured your first working holiday visa, booked your flights and got the hang of Aussie slang, you’re ready to go! You’ll need to hit the ground running if you want to get work straight away. Here’s what you’ll need to do.

• Get a SIM card – employers won’t bother calling you on an international number that will cost them fees. Grab a free SIM card from the airport, load it up with at least some calling minutes and put that number on your CV/Resume.
• Open a bank account – so you can get paid! Some banks require a fixed address before you can open a bank account, which of course is an issue for backpackers! However, some banks allow you to open an account before you arrive in Australia – check out ANZ and NAB.
• Get your Tax File Number (TFN) – you can apply for this online, but it may take a few weeks to process.
• Find somewhere to live – renting a share house will be a lot cheaper than staying in a hostel long term. Check Gumtree for advertisements of a free room but be aware that you will probably need to pay a bond, which can be quite a big upfront cost. Alternatively, look for a job that includes accommodation (most regional work does).
• Start the job hunt!

Travelling with Stray and working

Travelling with Stray is a great way to explore the East Coast around working. You can discover the places you want to work, or treat yourself to a tour on your time off or between work locations.

When you leave Australia

If you worked at all while in Australia, there’s a good chance that you are owed some money when you leave! Woohoo!  There are two ways that you can claim back some of your hard earned cash:

Claiming back your tax refund

If you only worked part of the year, or were taxed incorrectly by your employer, you may be eligible for a tax refund. The Australian tax year ends on June 30, so you will need to file a return after this time. If you plan to leave Australia before June 30,   you can file a return early.

Visit the Australian Taxation Office to find out   how to lodge a tax return

Claiming back your Superannuation

Your employer is required to put aside 9.5% of your earnings into a Superannuation fund. When you leave Australia permanently, you can claim this back as cash. You’ll need a few important pieces of information, like your Australian Tax File Number (TFN), and your superannuation scheme number.

You can begin the claims process for your Superannuation as soon as you have left Australia. We work with   Back Pay   to help get your Superannuation back into your pocket. If you don’t know your TFN, or where your Super is located, Back Pay can do all the work for you.

Get your Superannuation back

Working Holiday Australia: Experiences And Things To Know

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: February 20, 2023

Categories Australia , Work and Travel

Are you thinking about getting a work and holiday visa in Australia but not sure where to start? You’re in luck!

This article will provide you with the essential information and tips to help you make the most of your year in Australia. Read about Victoria’s firsthand work and travel in Australia experiences.

We’ll be discussing the working holiday visa Australia rules, salary, the best working holiday jobs in Australia, general tips, and more. 

Let’s dive in!

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

Working holiday Australia experiences

(use the coupon code PHENOMENALGLOBE for a €100 discount)  

Australia travel and work: everything you need to know

Victoria spent a year in Australia working different jobs and kindly agreed to share her work travel Australia experience.

If you've secretly been dreaming about getting an Australia work and holiday visa but are unsure what to expect, read along as Victoria has loads of great tips and advice based on her personal experiences.

Meet Victoria

My name is Victoria and I’m a travel blogger at Guide Your Travel as well as a freelance writer.

I’m originally from Germany but now travel full-time as a digital nomad. After finishing school in 2016 I spent a year working and traveling in Australia.

Why you should do a working holiday in Australia

I picked Australia because I didn't want cold weather and rather be in a warm place during my working holiday.

While New Zealand and Canada seemed like good options as well, they didn’t interest me quite as much as Australia did.

Before I even got there I was already fascinated with the incredible nature and beauty of this country. In Germany, it’s very common for students graduating from high school to take a gap year and go to Australia.

Therefore, I had a lot of friends and people I knew going to Australia as well. All this made Australia seem like the perfect country to choose.

Is it difficult to get an Australian work and travel visa?

I did my application online and within a matter of days, I had the confirmation for my Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417). They say that the application process can take several weeks but for me, it was really quick.

I think the difficulty of getting a working holiday visa for Australia depends a lot on which country you're from. In my experience, it wasn’t difficult at all but there are some requirements you need to meet (read more below).

Alternatively, you can check out Global Work & Travel which offers step-by-step guidance and assistance as you embark on your working holiday to Australia (use the coupon code PHENOMENALGLOBE for a €100 discount) . 

Working holiday visa Australia requirements

Working holiday australia age limit.

In order to be eligible for the Australia travel and work visa you must be between 18 and 30 years old. That being said, people from Canada, France, and the Republic of Ireland can apply until the age of 35 (lucky them!).

Your passport should be valid for at least another 6 months, however, I'd highly recommend renewing your passport if it expires within a year.

Most people spend a whole year working and traveling in Australia, some even extend and stay two years!

Other requirements for a working holiday visa Australia

Some other visa requirements of the Australian government for working holiday visa holders are:

• You must have enough money and sufficient proof of funds in your bank account to support yourself.
• During the application process, you must be outside of Australia (until the visa gets accepted).
• Health insurance for the duration of your stay is mandatory (check if your travel insurance covers medical costs as well).
• This goes without saying but you shouldn't have any substantial criminal convictions.

Read more details on the Australian Immigration Website .

Looking for a complete work and holiday Australia visa package deal? Check out Global Work & Travel . (you get a €100 discount with the coupon code PHENOMENALGLOBE)

How long is the working holiday visa in Australia?

The 417 visa (WHV Australia) to travel and work in Australia is valid for 12 months. My work and holiday in Australia lasted just under a year and during that time I had three different jobs.

Two proper jobs in which I worked for a little bit over four months each and another much shorter job that only lasted a few weeks.

I ended up coming back to Australia four years later on a student visa and briefly worked during this time too but unfortunately, COVID got in the way and I returned home earlier than planned.

Working Holiday Visa jobs in Australia

There are plenty of work opportunities in Australia: seasonal work such as fruit picking, office jobs, customer service, and lots of other opportunities.

Finding work isn't hard, I actually had three working holiday Australia jobs so let me tell you a bit about each type of work.

Farmwork in Australia

The first (and worst) of my working holiday jobs in Australia was farm work in a little town called Gatton which lies close to Brisbane in Queensland.

I was working in an onion field and found this job online in one of the Facebook groups for backpackers in Australia. It only took sending a few texts to the employer and I was told I could start the next day.

A lot of farm jobs pay by piece and not by hour which is almost always a ripoff. This particular one paid you 45$ for a giant crate of onions.

I was there with my boyfriend and we ended up working for 10 hours in the sun on the onion field and only managed to fill up three crates together. This resulted in an hourly wage of only 6$ for manual labor which is incredibly unsustainable.

A lot of the workers on the onion field were other backpackers who were staying at a nearby campsite which cost so much per week that they barely made a profit with this job. We left the farm job very quickly and moved on to better work.

Hospitality work in Australia

My second job in Australia was in the hospitality industry and it was so much better. Australia is home to many beautiful beaches and as such, there are lots of fun beach bars.

I was working in one of those beach bars in the little town of Agnes Water. The hourly rates were minimum wage but for Australia, that means around 22$ per hour, 30$ on Sundays, and up to 50$ per hour on public holidays.

We were living in a beautiful 3-bedroom house right by the beach which was rented by our boss.

Occasionally other employees of the bar would stay with us but for the most part, we had the house to ourselves. There was even a pool and work was just a 10-minute drive away.

I also found this job online on a platform called Gumtree which is very helpful for finding backpacker jobs. I sent in my CV and after a trial day, I could start right away.

Work was actually really fun because I was working with young people and fellow backpackers. We quickly made new friends and had the best time together.

Work in the Outback of Australia

After traveling for a bit I ended up having a third job in the Outback of Australia. The town where I worked only had 70 people living there and was incredibly remote.

Everything you needed had to come by truck and there were only two pubs, one of which I worked at. The place also doubled as a hotel, post office, and bar.

Accommodation and all meals were included and I made around 450$ per week. This might not seem like much but I was able to save all of it since there was nowhere to spend money in the Outback.

I met some of my favorite people in Australia in the Outback and had the time of my life here. Our boss was incredibly nice and always took us on plane rides around the desert.

This was the most adventurous part of my time in Australia and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

What's the best thing about a working holiday in Australia? And the hardest?

The best thing was definitely the freedom. You can literally do whatever you want. We bought a campervan at the beginning of the trip and it gave us so much freedom and flexibility.

Most days we had no plan at all and just drove in a general direction, stopping when we found something interesting.

The hardest part was saying goodbye by the end, knowing that I’ll never be able to get a working holiday visa again. I’ve been back to Australia since then but it wasn’t the same.

Is it worth doing a working holiday in Australia?

A 100% yes! If you’re still unsure about the Australia working holiday visa: just do it ! I’ve literally never met anyone who didn’t enjoy it and had the time of their life.

It may be out of your comfort zone, but the Australian working holiday visa is the best way and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to try something new without worrying about your responsibilities.

No matter if you're going with your partner, a friend, or solo, it’ll be an incredible international experience…

Top tips to make the most of your Australia work and travel experience

Get your rsa certificate as soon as possible.

Chances are you’ll be working in a bar or restaurant at least once during your trip. In Australia, you’re legally required to have training if you’ll be serving alcohol. That’s what the RSA certificate is and employers require it.

The course takes a while to complete and you can do a lot of it online before you even go to Australia. The earlier you start the better.

Buy a car or campervan

You absolutely need to buy a car when you go to Australia. The public transport system here isn’t the best so if you want to make the most of your trip you’ll need a ride.

Even just 2000$ can get you a decent car and you’ll easily be able to sell it again at the end of your trip. You really don’t want to have to rely on others to take you from place to place.

If the thought of buying a car really freaks you out: renting a car or campervan is an option too.

However, if you're staying in Australia for an extended period of time, renting a vehicle is much more expensive than buying one.

Don’t plan too much

Traveling in Australia should be fun and spontaneous. If you’ve already got your route picked out there won’t be room for adventures that will cross your path along the way.

I said no to so many great job opportunities just because I had already committed to doing something else. Go with your gut and let the trip take you from one great place to another.

Plan your trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com . ? Get the best car rental deal for your road trip on Rentalcars.com . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Get Your Guide , Viator or Klook . ? Plan your journey with the  Lonely Planet . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Working holiday Australia experience and tips: conclusion

I hope this post has answered your questions about the work and holiday visa Australia has made available to young travelers and adventures.

Also check my Australia page for more Down Under travel inspiration, an East Coast road trip itinerary , Australia budget information , and things to do in Daylesford and Sydney .

Check this page for more info about work and travel. Read about teaching in South Korea or doing a work and travel holiday in Canada or New Zealand .

This post was updated in February 2023.

Monday 11th of March 2024

Thank you for the information. I am planning on applying for the work and holiday visa this coming fall. Hopefully my processing times will be as quick as they were for you. Do you have any recommendations for job boards for full-time positions?

Alexander Erazo

Tuesday 13th of September 2022

Hey ...!! thanks for the information I going to apply the next month ,I want to know if you had problems paying for the visa ??

Thursday 22nd of September 2022

Hey Alexander,

Thank you for reading and so cool you'll be going to Australia for a work and travel adventure! I didn't personally work in Australia (did make a 5-week road trip), but Victoria from Guide Your Travel (who wrote this guest post) may be able to help you out.

Otherwise, if you run into any troubles regarding the visa my advice would be to contact Global Work & Travel (https://www.phenomenalglobe.com/link/gwt-australia-working-holiday/) as they are the experts on this topic. Have a great time Down Under!

Saturday 5th of February 2022

Loved to read your detailed post about the WHA, I am planning to do it this year, already applied for it and I am looking for some info. How did you find the job in Outback? Could you maybe give me their contact? Would be a dream of mine to live with and help locals!! As well the one in Agnes Water soundg fun! Could you give me that contact as well? Would be nice to have some contacts beforehand. Another question (sorry if I have too much :D) where did you buy your car? Is it easy to find a good one?

Thank you fin advance for all!!!

Have a lovely day,

Monday 7th of February 2022

So happy to hear you like the post! It's actually a guest post (and an excellent one indeed) by Victoria, you can find her at https://guideyourtravel.com/. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to help you out with your very valid WHA and related questions:-)

Have a wonderful time there and good luck with the preparations. Lotte

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5 ways to get a job on your Australian working holiday

A working holiday in Australia is sure to serve up once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, but also unique work opportunities. Here are five ways to get a job on your Australian working holiday.

Use a working holiday support program

Diggies Cafe, Wollongong, New South Wales © Destination NSW

If you’re looking for ongoing support to help you on your working holiday journey, a work program might be ideal. Providers of work programs, such as  The Global Work & Travel Co. ,  Work N Holiday  and  Alliance Abroad , provide guaranteed work opportunities for working holiday makers throughout the duration of their stay. The program can include airport pick-up, an induction to help you get established, support finding housing and social activities.

Meet potential employers face to face

Pineapple Express, Brisbane, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland

If you’re comfortable beginning your job search after you arrive in Australia, meeting potential employers face-to-face can be a great way to secure work, especially in the hospitality industry. Hit the streets and stop into bars and restaurants that may need bar tenders or servers. Keep in mind that anyone responsible for serving alcohol in Australia needs to complete  Responsible Service of Alcohol  (RSA) training and receive an RSA Certificate.

Conduct a job search online

BentSpoke, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Visit Canberra

There are several powerful tools – online and otherwise – that can help you secure a job on your working holiday. You can find a range of job search engines in Australia which showcase open positions specifically suited to backpackers, or browse popular employment platforms like Seek  and  Indeed . When using these online job boards, it may be helpful to limit your search to short-term or contract roles, which are more likely to hire applicants on a working holiday visa.

How to set up your life in Australia

Enlist a recruitment agency

Let's Go Surfing, Byron Bay, NSW © Tourism Australia

If you’re looking for some help in your job search journey, a recruitment agency can be a helpful resource. Recruitment agencies can help you search for jobs that relate to your skill set, apply for roles that interest you and secure employment. Some agencies, like The Kingsmen , focus specifically on jobs in fields such as hospitality and construction which are perfect for travellers and working holiday makers.

Get work along the way

Farm work, Kangaroo Island, South Australia © Tourism Australia

One of the best things about a working holiday is the freedom. If you have a sense of adventure and you’re keen to move around Australia, then it’s possible to find work as you travel. Leads could come from anywhere, so keep your ears open around your hostel and keep an eye out for job postings. The Australian government has also compiled a  Harvest Guide  for travellers who want to help pick, harvest and gather produce in Australia’s rural – yet beautiful – farming towns.

Note : Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority.  The visa granting authority is the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. For up-to-date information, please refer to their website:  https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder .

The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.  Please consult with an Australian qualified immigration lawyer or migration agent if you are seeking legal advice.

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The Ultimate Guide to a Working Holiday Visa in Australia

About the author: sammy.

Updated on: 22 March 2024

Published on: 8 March 2020

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We get asked this question A LOT from you guys. Heading to Aussie on a working holiday is one of the most popular ways of travelling, so we can see why! If you’re gonna want to see it all, you’re gonna need a decent amount of cash so, working whilst travelling is the ideal option for most people.

You should get a Working Holiday Visa if:

• You are planning on working whilst you are in Australia…
• You are planning on staying a year or more in Aussie!
• You want to do the farm work to get your second year visa
• You are planning to stay over the 3 month tourist visa…

So here goes, our – super in depth – guide to a Working Holiday Visa in Australia.

Click images to see more.

Time to try a new adventure?

Before heading to Australia you’ve been working your ass off to fund your travels right? All those extra hours at work, the missed nights out, the food shops that consist of 50p pasta and whatever you can get your hands on in the reduced section. It really is quite the sacrifice BUT, there is a way of working AND travelling around Australia by grabbing yourself a Working Holiday Visa…travelling and making money at the same time – sounds good right!?

Travelling with a Working Holiday Visa is ideal for those of you who are keen to stay in Aussie for an extended period of time. If you want to have the best time ever and experience all that the country has to offer, a decent amount of dosh is essential.

You’re also going to need a Tax File Number (TFN), an Aussie bank account, Aussie phone number and to create a CV with all of these new details on. Sounds hectic right – well, all of this is actually pretty simple and we’re going to tell you exactly how to do it.

The Working Holiday Visa

What is it?

A working holiday visa will allow you to stay in Australia for 12 months, compared to a tourist visa which only allows 3 months.

The visa costs £250 (485 AUD)  – you can apply online here (you must hold a passport, be 18 to 30 years old and must not be accompanied by dependent children).

You can leave and come back during this period.

If you’d like to stay longer than 12 months, you can be entitled to a second working holiday visa if you complete at least 88 days of farm work, fruit picking or construction work during your time there.

If you’re keen to find out what it’s like to work in Australia, click here.

Travel or work first?

Of course it is completely up to you – this is your adventure – but we would advise that you travel first and then work. Why?

• Have a bit of fun before settling down to boring ol’ work
• Check out the East Coast first and then decide which place you vibe with and where you would like to base yourself
• Make connections as you travel and you may fall in to work or meet others trying to find jobs too

Where to start?

The choice is yours – you can start anywhere!

We would advise that finding a job in a city would be easier, simply because there are more opportunities or, if farm work sounds like your kinda vibe – then you’ll probs find yourself in more of a rural area.

Some example of starting points:

• City jobs : If you’re looking for a city job such as housekeeping, retail, hospitality (restaurants and bars) or construction work, then look at finding a job in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.
• Farm work:  If you want to go full on backpacker vibes, then look in to farm work. They’re dotted all over the country – but start by having a look around the Gold Coast and around Cairns.
• Volunteer work: Again, you can find jobs dotted up and down the coast. Check out this website if this sounds like your kinda thing (here) .

Setting up a bank account

If you’re going to be working in Australia, you’ll need to set up an Aussie bank account – it makes life so much easier for both you and your employer.

How to set up an Australian bank account?

This is easier than it seems. You can set up your bank account online before you leave. Then, when you land in Australia just head to your chosen bank and present your passport as identification.

You will then receive your bankcard within a few days to a week. If you don’t have a permanent address at this point, just have your card sent to a post office or ask to pick it up at the bank directly.

Here are some Aussie banks so you can start looking: HSBC, Commonwealth, Westpac, NAB and ANZ.

Sorting out a tax number

A tax file number (aka TFN) is a personal 9 digit number which you must provide to your employer to work legally in Australia.

Sounds boring and confusing, but they’re actually super easy to apply for.

All you need in order to apply:

• An address in Australia (so apply when you get out there).
• Your passport number
• An Australian phone number
• Valid email address

You can then apply online at the Australian Tax Office website (here) which is free! Your number will then be sent within 28 days to the postal address indicated in your application.

Getting a new phone number

As you’re in a completely different country, if you’re going to put your phone number on your CV, it’s going to need to be an Aussie phone number.

There are two ways to do this:

• Buy a cheap brick phone and set it up over there, simply to be used for calls and texts.
• If you want to use your current phone to do everything on, get a new pay as you go sim card. Plus, this way you will have 4G for maps (which believe us, will come in handy).

Finding accommodation

This is the easy part…hostels! Hostels will become your best friend – they’re cheap, backpacker friendly and a great laugh!

Jump on to Hostel World and you’ll be sure to find a hostel pretty much anywhere in Aussie.

Oh, and FYI – you’ll normally get sick perks working for a hostel, free or cheap food, discounted tours, free laundry, free wifi etc. Keep that in mind!

Here is a list of our fave East Coast hostels.

Finding a job

Ah, the all important question – how do I go about finding a job?

Finding a job can be a pretty hit or miss process. Just be patient and keep on applying so, here are some tips to get you started:

• Online job boards (check out Seek and Gumtree)
• Drop off some CVs around the place
• Check out job boards in your hostel
• Ask your hostel if they’re looking for any work in return for free stay
• DON’T bother to apply to anywhere before hand – get a feel for the place first

Volunteering

Another option is to Volunteer.

Whether it’s farming, working for a hostel or a tour company, or caring for animals, volunteering is a sick way to get involved with a local community and really get to know the place.

You’re probs wondering – but I need the money…Well, volunteering jobs have their own perks. It will most likely be work in exchange for accommodation and meals – saving you a tonne of money!

How to budget?

Australia is known for being on the pricey side, which makes it very easy to underestimate your budget or over spend.

Getting a budget plan together for each pay check (so monthly or weekly)  is essential.

• Book all tours in advance – this way you can avoid tourist traps and last minute panic buying.
• Put together a little budget diary to keep track of your day-to-day spending.
• Get a travel money card to transfer over a daily budget – so you don’t over-spend.
• Pre-book hostels when you can to avoid paying on arrival which can be more expensive.

Here are some examples of costs to consider:

Hostels : Depends where you are – can vary from $20 to $40 a night

Transport : Stick to walking and use Greyhound coaches for travelling between locations (we can get you a sick deal on Greyhound passes).

Food : Average cost of a meal out $17-20

Drink : A beer will cost about $9, backpacker bars more like $5

Coffee : Around $5 or just $1 in 7/11

Avo on toast : Will set you back $10 to $18

For more, check out our post on how to budget in Aussie.

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Super friendly, and speedy service Anna was lovely- she went above and beyond to help us get the best deal. Definitely recommend!

Jenna was absolutely amazing! Made my booking so easy & was a mind of information about all the booking options, helping guide me & my friends on what camper suited us best for our trip. Could not be more helpful even with additional trip tips! Would highly recommend jenna to anyone who needs info / wants to book a camper! Can't wait for my trip.

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George from Ratpack Travel was really helpful, he talked me through all the different camper options and what would suit me. He sent me links so I could look through the specs myself. Would really recommend ☺️

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Trip overview

Qualification, trip details.

• Trip location

Trip itinerary

How it works, working holiday in australia (plus).

476 others looking at this too. Next opening is Aug 2024 , with limited spots.

Australia – The Land Down Under. Famous for friendly people, world-class beaches, and unlimited fun.

Australian people are well-known for their sense of adventure. Discover the country that inspires this adventure by living and working in Australia for up to three years on a Working Holiday. 

You could wing it and try to do everything yourself. Sure, some people do, but more often than not, it’ll be confusing, expensive, anxiety-inducing and time-consuming heading to a land unknown for the first time. This is an experience you’ll likely only do once, and the last thing you'd want is to be returning home with your tail between your legs just after you had your going away party (& blown all your savings). But, luckily, we've been working on the solution since 2008 that close to 90,000 others before you have chosen, as the world's leaders in working holidays. What if you could instead:

• With our  Money-Back Guarantee in place, receive an Australian Job Match before you even arrive* – year-round & all-done virtually from home (with no job fairs to travel to & compete at, unlike our competitors).
• Land a job almost anywhere , from tropical island resorts to outback pubs , with the largest network of partner companies loaded with perks like staff accommodation, tours + more!
• Keep the adventure going with a second country job match included in another destination for the ultimate work & travel experience around the globe!
• Meet others before you go   through our exclusive app . Join Global Traveller side-trips & meet-up events too.
• Save time, money, and stress with your own dedicated Trip Coordinator .
• Get help with  flights, travel insurance, accommodation, visa applications & more.

The ultimate way to have a hassle-free working holiday. Working to live (and not living to work), meeting other travellers, waking up every day to a new adventure, and making everyone back home severely jealous of all your stories.

Land in Australia prepared & excited, not anxious and scared - life’s too short for that.

*For a similar trip with the essentials only, check out this Working Holiday in Australia package. Keep a very careful eye on dates though, as capacity for both these trips are limited.

Tap to show less

Guaranteed job match pre-arrival*

A lot of companies don’t hire travellers, but we partner with many of the best that do. This means you will be pre-matched with an open position before you even arrive (or in your first couple days). And we're so sure of it, that we offer a money-back guarantee if you don't. (*TCs apply)

2nd country job match*

When you’re done here, head to another country for your next adventure! This trip includes another Working Holiday job match, or switch it up as an Au Pair or Tutor, in any other country we offer, except USA, Germany & South Korea. Visa guidance & virtual orientation included too! (*TCs apply)

Dedicated Trip Coordinator

Working holiday visa guidance.

Get your working holiday visa approved as cheap and easy as possible with our step-by-step instructions and personal guidance by your Trip Coordinator.

Pre-Departure Guide

Our in-depth pre-departure guide will have all the information you need about your trip & destination, at your fingertips.

Personal Travel Concierge

Private airport transfer.

Don't get stuck, lost or waste money on a taxi. Start your trip off right and roll up like a VIP. When you arrive a private driver will be waiting at the airport to whisk you straight to your included accommodation in style.

4 nights of hostel accommodation

Don’t get stuck or overpay for accommodation when you first arrive. Kickstart your trip with 4 nights in a 4-6 bed dorm at a top-rated hostel in the heart of the Gold Coast or Melbourne. Meet new friends, check out the sights, chill, party - we’ll leave it up to you!

"Welcome to Australia" virtual orientation

Our virtual orientation will get you up to date with everything you need to know about living and working in Australia. You’ll be an Aussie in no time!

Local life essentials

Bar crawl (melbourne*).

You haven't been to Melbourne if you haven't experienced its nightlife, known for being the best in Australia - and why not do it in style? Join the city's #1 bar crawl with up to 100 others for an unforgettable night with VIP entry and free shots at four of the hottest bars around. *Melbourne arrivals only.

Surf lesson (Gold Coast*)

Surf's up! Feel on the top of the world and make everyone jealous back home while you catch waves on a 2-hour lesson at world famous Surfers Paradise beach. *Gold Coast arrivals only.

Skydeck tour (Melbourne*)

Get high in Melbourne by heading up 300m to the Southern Hemisphere's highest observation deck. Soak in breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding coastline. *Melbourne arrivals only.

Australian wildlife encounter (Gold Coast*)

Come and explore Australia's incredible native wildlife! Spend the day feeding kangaroos, cuddling koalas, and making some amazing memories. *Gold Coast arrivals only.

Aussie experience day (Melbourne*)

Time to get your Aussie on with your choice of an epic day trip! Option 1: Phillip Island - home to 32,000 little penguins.  Although these penguins are the smallest species of its kind in the world, they'll leave you with the biggest smile! Witness the fascinating Penguin Parade, as well as taking in some stunning coastal vistas. Option 2: Great Ocean Road - one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world. On your trip from Melbourne, take opportunities to snap incredible photos and spot Australian wildlife like kangaroos. Don't miss the incredible surf beaches and guided walk in a rainforest to the 12 Apostles in Port Campbell National Park. *Melbourne arrivals only.

Aussie experience day (Gold Coast*)

Your choice of two unforgettable day trips. Option 1:  Whale Watching - Embark on an unforgettable boat tour from Surfers Paradise witnessing the amazing spectacle of migrating humpback whales. Marvel at these beautiful giants, with the possibility of encountering dolphins and sea turtles (*only available May to October). Option 2: Rainforest tour   - Get lost in the depths of gorgeous tropical rainforest. Visit the majestic Natural Bridge and Springbrook National Park, renowned filming sites for UK's "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here." Here, prepare to stumble upon exotic wildlife, lovely waterfalls, and incredible views. *Gold Coast arrivals only.

Great Barrier Reef excursion

Discover the beauty and mystique of Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays! On a full-day sailboat excursion (lunch included), you can explore the world-famous Whitsunday Islands and even snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. And, for the perfect finale to an unforgettable experience, you’ll get to enjoy a spectacular sunset cruise back to the shore.

Permanent accommodation resources

If permanent accommodation isn’t provided with your job opportunity, our local team can provide you with links and advice so you can find a place to stay. In most job locations, you’ll be able to connect with like-minded travellers who you could join for a fun house share.

Ongoing local team support

Global emergency line.

Feel confident knowing we have a worldwide emergency team on standby, 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday. 

gWorld access

Travel alone but never lonely with Social! An exclusive social network inside our gWorld app to talk, share & meet-up with other Global Travellers in your region, with a dedicated Community Manager.

Global Academy

Gain access to an ever-growing range of skills & languages to learn before & whilst you travel.

Invites to Global Getaways

Be invited to exclusive customer only bucket-list side trips, so you can meet new friends and see more of the world while abroad.

Marketplace deals

$250 off your next trip.

Tap to expand

Just in case it’s not clear already, we’re not an employment or recruitment agency. Read more

To qualify for this trip you must meet the following requirements:

• Be between 18 - 35 years of age
• Be a citizen of an eligible country
• Have no criminal convictions in the past 5 years

Ask a question

Chat with us online now, or we can call you back for free, 24 hours Mon-Fri.

Can you picture it? You’re working on a tropical island at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. After cooling off with an afternoon swim, it’s time to meet your new international besties for a sunset beer at the local pub. Time to start planning the next great adventure. Outback road trip? Ski trip over to New Zealand? Or is it time for a quick jaunt up to Bali?

All this sorted without potentially spending over a month or longer hunting for a job in a foreign country with no income and your savings dwindling by the hour!

Get a job sorted before you land with our Guaranteed Job Match Pre-Arrival*, the ultimate way to explore another country without having to chew through your savings like most people who decide to wing it generally do.

Our robust trip planning process, perfected after serving tens of thousands of Global Travellers since 2008, includes visa guidance and a virtual interview you can do from the comfort of home*.

Our team will be in your corner to answer any questions you or your family may have too, so you can exchange most of those nerves with pure excitement about the adventure of a lifetime ahead.

Accommodation? We can help with that as well. Your first 4 nights are covered at a top-rated hostel in the heart of Melbourne or Surfers Paradise, depending on where you choose to start out your adventure. After that, some jobs provide staff housing at a really low rate (but these ones can go quick).

If your job doesn’t, our team can provide you with links and advice on securing yourself a houseshare - yet another reason why going with Global means you get the best of the best with access to a local team and  two local offices in Melbourne & the Gold Coast (unlike our competitors).

As for the solo traveller side of things, you’ll have an instant friend group wherever you end up, too – even if you land a job in a tiny town in the Outback. How? 

Because our social network app – gWorld – connects you with other Global Travellers in your area. So you can go on a hike, meet at the pub, talk to someone with the same accent as you.

We take care of pretty much everything so you don’t have to. 

And when it’s time for a change of scenery during or after your initial job, book a short and cheap flight up to Asia. Or better yet - hop on an exclusive Global Getaway alongside other Global Travellers to a bucket-list location!

And lucky you – you’re earning more than enough in full-time positions where you get 100% of your earnings (unlike some recruitment agencies), with Australia paying around A$23/hr or more, to thrive and still have some left over for spontaneous trips or general shenanigans. 

As you embark on this side trip, you can rest assured knowing that the thrill of exploration won't be dampened by worries of your adventure overseas coming to an end. Why?

Because you've shared your aspirations with your dedicated Trip Coordinator, expressing your desire to pursue your included second country job match, in a fresh and captivating corner of the globe. We know that after this first experience you probably won’t want to go home just yet, so with your newfound work & travel confidence and know-how, head somewhere new to keep on exploring.

Our team springs into action, mapping out the vast possibilities across borders. Will your next endeavor lead you to working at a mountain resort in New Zealand? Perhaps as an English Tutor for a summer in the south of France? You decide. All backed up with our support and app. Work, travel, rinse & repeat!

BUT! There’s a catch….

Most travellers book their trip 6-12 months in advance, or more! Dates are flexible, but spaces are limited, and intakes are closing off regularly without much notice. So if you’re serious about living in Canada, check dates & prices now to get things started before you’re too late, or too old.

With our Book Now, Decide Later option, you can get started with a small deposit today, and take up to a full year to choose your dates. 

We’ll take over from there, helping you with visas, flights, accommodation, and matching you with a job opportunity before you go*. 

If you’re after the ultimate, and the best, working holiday to Australia out there, complete with everything you need and 24/7 worldwide support, click the red box and follow the quick & easy steps to secure your spot. You, your parents and your bank account should thank us later.

If you’re looking for less, but still want to travel with the best, check out our other Working Holiday in Australia package too (but this one is our best & most popular).

Requirements

To qualify for this trip you must meet the visa requirements , and have 6 months of paid work experience by time of arrival.

What extra costs will I have?

Flights, travel insurance, visa, criminal background check, souvenirs & spending money.

Your Working Holiday in Australia (Plus) trip is designed to help you find local, seasonal employment as a means to fund your travels further, and for cultural exchange. Our goal is to save you time, money, and stress while eliminating the risk of returning home early. Here’s how we do it:

Before you leave

Day 3 & 4.

We’re on your side from the moment you get started. You’ll be assigned a dedicated Trip Coordinator. They’ll guide you through the next steps and answer all your questions. They’ll also help you with the pesky visa. No guesswork – only the right paperwork, approved the first time, and in your hands well before you leave. 

Your personal Travel Concierge will help with flights, insurance, and any add-ons you’d like for your trip. These are real humans too – no robots here. 

Most travellers have their job match before they’ve left home. If you haven’t had yours within 4 days of arriving, we’ll extend your accommodation for free until you do. And if you’re not successful with your first interview - no biggy! We’ll just keep trying (*see TCs for details).

Working Holiday jobs & locations in Australia 

Land an entry to mid-level job in Australia which will be fun and social, so you can make friends, learn new skills and have the freedom to explore down under! Located all across the country, here’s a list of the industries most of our Australian Partner Organisations are in, and where you can expect to find yourself being matched with too!

• Hospitality, like bars, cafés & restaurants
• Tourism, such as theme parks & tours
• Island Resorts & Hotels
• Ski Resorts (Not a typo!)
• Australian Outback
• Second Year Visa roles
• Labour & Construction
• Sales & Promotions 

Important to remember:  The host company decides who they hire and for what, so you need to be flexible & open minded. You’ll be matched with something you are suitable for.

From coastal towns to rural landscapes and bustling cities, a working holiday in Australia offers a wide selection of iconic locations. We’ve got connections to host companies dotted all over the country, so you could find yourself working in any of these Australian destinations!

• Melbourne 
• Brisbane 
• Fraser Island
• Port Douglas
• The Outback
• Whitsunday Islands

We'll try for your preferences, but locations are subject to availability at your time of arrival.

Robert H Very happy to be in Australia, good help from Global Work and Travel. Nice to have everything sorted out for me and helped with everything. Accommodation is good and nice to meet new people from around the world. Lovely city and good weather.

Luke H Top tier service! Would travel with them again. They have been very helpful with my flight and living conditions. The people on the phone have been very patient and my meeting at the Global headquarters went very smoothly. Can't say enough good things about this travel agency.

Raimundo T Very good service and the staff are exceptionally helpful. I found the experience thus far fun and enjoyable. Australia is extremely hot however this has not hindered my level of excitement from being here at this current moment. It is fun and the people are nice.

Ashley E Stacey has been so helpful and kind through all the processes with getting me to New Zealand. She is very friendly and I love how everyone who I have spoken to is just so welcoming and it instantly feels like I have already made friends. Everyone really lightens the mood and real ... Read more

Taylore-Beth S The service was amazing and very thing was done smoothly and stress free. Will highly recommend to friends and family.

New on the 'gram

Frequently asked questions.

As the world’s leading gap-year and "work & travel" company, we pride ourselves on providing a premium service for Global Travellers. Choose from a variety of awesome experiences worldwide, and let us assist you with visas, pre-departure preparations, flights, insurance, and tours. Throughout your journey, our cool tech features will support you every step of the way. As a Global Traveller, gain access to gWorld, our personalised app designed to enhance your travel experience. Keep important documents and trip details handy, and take advantage of exclusive Marketplace deals, a vibrant social network, language learning resources, side trips, meet-ups, and more. It's like having all your favorite travel apps merged into one, but even better! But our support doesn't end there. With four international offices, over 100 dedicated staff members, a 24/5 emergency team, and the backing of over 90,000 Global Travellers who have turned their travel dreams into reality with us, rest assured you're in good hands. We also proudly boast the most and best reviews in the biz, and maintain a massive following on our social channels including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Embark on your next adventure with confidence and ease. Join us and discover the world in a meaningful way!

While we would love to include flights and insurance in our trip packages, it is not feasible to have a fixed price due to the diverse destinations, trip durations, and individual coverage needs of our travellers from around the globe. However, once you register for the trip, we will assign you a dedicated Travel Concierge. They will work closely with you to arrange the ideal flights and insurance tailored to your specific adventure. Rest assured, our team is here to ensure you have a smooth and hassle-free travel experience from start to finish!

When it comes to accommodation, we have some great options available for you. Many of our partner organisations offer staff accommodation as a fantastic perk. This usually entails a shared apartment or house with other like-minded travelers, conveniently located near your job. The best part is that these accommodations are often available at a subsidised rate, allowing you to save more toward side trips and fun! In the event that staff accommodation is not included with your job match, don't worry. Your Arrival Coordinator will be there to provide you with valuable resources and helpful tips on finding a suitable place to stay.

The Standard and Plus Working Holiday trips offer similar features, such as our comprehensive job matching process. However, there are a couple key differences between the two: Standard: With the Standard trip, you will receive a guaranteed job match prior to your arrival*. Plus: The Plus trip includes a guaranteed job match prior to your arrival*, just like the Standard trip. In addition, it offers the unique benefit of a 2nd job match in an entirely new country! This includes any Working Holiday, Au Pair or Tutor trip we offer, except USA, Germany & South Korea. Visa guidance will also be provided, TCs apply. Along with this, the Plus trip also provides additional tours and a side trip to enhance your experience. If you like the idea of working and travelling in more than one country, the Plus option is best suited for you. It provides the opportunity for ongoing exploration and variety during your time abroad. No need to make a decision right away on which option to choose. If you initially book the Standard trip, you can always upgrade to the Plus trip after getting registered and connecting with your dedicated Trip Coordinator.

While we strive to take your preferences into account, it's important to note that we are not a recruitment agency. Therefore, we cannot guarantee job matches in specific professions, fields, or locations. As a foreign worker on a temporary visa, it can be challenging to compete with locals for more specialised positions. Employers often prioritise candidates they can train and retain in the long term, rather than taking a risk on someone who may leave in a year or two, or less. However, the jobs we help organise on your working holiday will offer a fantastic experience. They will be enjoyable and social, allowing you to make new friends, acquire new skills, and have the freedom to explore exciting new places. Our aim is to provide you with an amazing working holiday experience, where you can embrace adventure and create unforgettable memories.

A job match is a seamless process designed to help you secure a suitable job opportunity. Here's how it works: First, we arrange an interview for you, taking into consideration your preferences whenever possible. The interviews are typically conducted virtually over platforms like Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime, making it convenient for you to participate from the comfort of your home before you embark on your trip. The key to a successful job match is simple: attend the interview on time and approach it just like any other professional interview. By demonstrating professionalism and enthusiasm, you'll increase your chances of securing a job offer without any complications. In the unlikely chance you are unsuccessful with your initial interview, our team will get to work organising you another interview. You can rest assured we are committed to finding the right opportunity for you and guiding you through each and every step of the job matching process to ensure success. For more details, please refer to your booking conditions.

Absolutely! While the jobs we help you land usually provide full-time hours, they often come with flexibility that will allow you to take time off for side trips, exploring, and fun. We understand the importance of travel experiences, and our aim is to provide opportunities that balance work and leisure. While the level of flexibility can vary based on the specific job and employer, we strive to match you with positions that provide allowances or arrangements for time off. This way, you can plan and enjoy additional adventures before, during, or after your work placement!

Ever since our inception in 2008, we have been dedicated to providing exceptional job opportunities to our travellers. We take pride in having built the largest network of partner organisations across the country, all vetted and perfectly suited to host a working holidayer. One of the greatest advantages of going Global is that we streamline the entire process for you, meaning, you won't need to go through the hassle of attending job fairs (like our competitors make you do) or spending countless hours job hunting. We take care of the hard work by understanding your job and location preferences, then connect you with one of our awesome partner organisations. We then ensure you are well-prepared for the interview, to help you land a job before you leave home*. To explore all the amazing options available, we invite you to check out our Working Holiday jobs & locations section located above.

The benefits of doing a Working Holiday trip are numerous. It offers you the opportunity to experience a new country, immerse yourself in a different culture, gain international work experience, develop new skills, make lifelong connections, and create unforgettable memories. It is a chance to combine travel and work while exploring a new destination.

We provide comprehensive support throughout your Working Holiday trip, from the initial planning stages until your return home. Our team is available to assist you with visa applications, job placements, accommodation options, and ongoing support from our worldwide offices while you are overseas, including a 24/5 emergency line. We also provide pre-departure guidance and resources to help you prepare for your adventure.

Absolutely! While the earning potential may vary based on your destination and job type, the income you'll receive is more than sufficient to support you comfortably while abroad. It can cover all your living expenses, accommodation, transportation, and even allows for savings to explore your new home or continue travelling afterward. Additionally, many of our partner organisations offer fantastic perks like discounted staff housing, food and beverage, ski passes, and more, helping you save money and make the most of your Working Holiday experience.

After the last unexpected disruption to travel caused by the..c word..people are now more eager than ever to venture out and explore the world, determined not to miss out on any experiences. Global Work & Travel works on a first-in-best-dressed basis. Booking earlier ensures that you don’t miss out on the best intake, season, placements and more! We recommend our travellers take 6-12+ months to plan their trip for a reason - to make sure you’ve got everything organised perfectly, stress-free. As a Global Traveller you’ll get exclusive access to gWorld, our personalised app where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global. This is where you will find exclusive Marketplace Deals, a unique social network to connect you with other like-minded Global Travellers, access to our Academy with an ever-growing range of skills & languages, and so much more. Think all of your favourite apps merged into one, but like, better? Why not give yourself something to look forward to by booking that trip!

Yes you can! Simply tell your Trip Coordinator after booking that your friend is also going and they can link your profiles. For most of our trips we should be able to have you and your friends placed together or nearby. Meaning that you can live, work, play & travel together! But wait there's more! Not only can you travel the world with your besties at your side, you can also earn some extra cash towards your own trip just by referring your friends to Global Work & Travel. You can learn more about the great referral rewards program inside your gWorld account once you join. And for those who decide to go-it-solo, we’ve made it easier to meet other Global Travellers in the same region as you. Just like any other social platform, you’ll be able to interact, share, chat and meet with some really cool people who are doing trips just like you!

At Global Work & Travel, we share a deep love for animals and fully understand the special bond you have with your pet. We recognise the challenges of embarking on a trip without them. Due to travel restrictions, requirements, and limited pet-friendly accommodations among our host organisations, we regretfully cannot facilitate their inclusion in the journey. However, many of our customers choose to entrust their pets to a family member or friend, embark on their adventure, and return home to wagging tails and furry cuddles.

We know that life can get in the way of travel, so all our trips come with a great deal of flexibility. In most cases, if you cannot travel on your selected date, you can place your trip on hold to deal with whatever is holding you back, and continue in the future without incurring any penalty. You may also have the option of transferring to an entirely different trip and destination as well, or even transferring your trip to a friend or family member. In the event that you need to outright cancel your trip, if you give us 84* days notice you can do so with only a 50% cancellation fee. Your refund of the balance will come in the form of a Store Credit which you can put toward any other trip that we offer, including tours through third-party providers, as well as holidays through DealsAway.com, and is valid for 2 years from date of issue. As international travel can be complex, your options are based on the progress of your trip organisation and our support team can assist you in finding the best solution for your needs.

1. Choose a trip style

Find your dream experience & destination, then secure your spot with a flexible & low deposit. Activate your gWorld to unlock some cool perks. Well done! The hardest part’s over!

2. We become friends

Book a time to meet your dedicated Trip Coordinator who knows all the ins & outs of your trip. They’ll be by your side and working behind-the-scenes to pull everything together.

3. Time to go!

We’ll get your tickets, accommodation & transfers ready. Our in-country team or partner will have everything prepared & waiting for your arrival. Get on the plane with no worries!

4. 24/5 support

Never stress, knowing we’re there with you when you need us with ongoing & unlimited local team support. And just in case, we’ve got an emergency team on stand-by, 24 hours, Mon-Fri.

Still have questions?

Why go global, flexible trips.

The unexpected can happen sometimes. Can't travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.

Worldwide support

Know that someone is always ready to assist throughout the journey & they’re only a call, tweet, comment, text or double tap away, 24/5.

We're the experts

With over 10 years in the industry and a team of over 90 passionate pros, you can bet we know our stuff better than anyone else.

Partner network

We have over 1,200 partners around the globe, so we have access to plenty of exclusive opportunities to make your trip the best it can be.

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Australia Working Holiday Visa Program

WORK AND TRAVEL IN AUSTRALIA

Ready for an exciting adventure? If you’re between 18 and 30-something, you can live and work in Australia with the Australian Working Holiday Visa. Explore the country, earn some extra money, and create unforgettable memories while immersing yourself in the local culture and making friends from all over the world. Australia has it all – beautiful beaches, unique wildlife, lively party spots, and lush rainforests. From iconic landmarks like Uluru to stunning places like Whitsundays and Bondi Beach, there’s so much to see. While Australia can be expensive, especially for long stays, the Working Holiday Visa is a game-changer, allowing you to extend your adventure beyond a few weeks and make the most of your time Down Under.

WHY AUSTRALIA?

Australia stands out as the best destinations globally for those seeking a working holiday adventure.

The Australia Working Holiday Visa opens the door to a remarkable opportunity, allowing you to reside, work, and explore the country for a duration of up to 12 months. The ability to engage in employment becomes a significant advantage, not only sustaining your time in Australia but potentially extending your stay into a second or even third year.

To facilitate a seamless and stress-free process, we have compiled the ultimate Working Holiday Visa Guide for Australia. This comprehensive resource covers every aspect of your working holiday Down Under, ranging from the application process for an Australia Working Holiday Visa to the establishment of an Australian tax file number (TFN). It further provides insights into securing suitable employment and offers guidance on how to reclaim your taxes once your enriching adventure comes to a close.

WHAT IS A WORKING HOLIDAY AUSTRALIA VISA?

An Australian Working Holiday Visa is a visa that permits you to travel and work in Australia for up to one year. It’s the perfect balance between exploring a country and working so you can fund all the exciting things you want to do and see in Australia.

If you decide you love Australia, you can complete 88 days of regional work and apply for a second visa. You can now even apply for a third working holiday visa however, this requires you to complete a further 6 months of regional work. You must complete your regional work and submit evidence of this to obtain a second and third Working Holiday Visa. (At the time of writing this post, there is news that UK citizens no longer need to complete regional work to extend their visa to a second and third year!). Read more here: Australian Working Holiday Updates for British Backpackers

There is a range of benefits to doing a Working Holiday Visa in Australia.  On a personal level, it is an incredible opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. There is something so refreshing (especially if you have never travelled or lived in the same town your entire life) about learning about a new culture and developing new skills.

STEP 1: GET A WORKING HOLIDAY VISA

• CHECK YOUR VISA ELIGIBILITY
• PASSPORT VALIDITY
• How Do You Apply?

The Australian Working Holiday visa currently costs  $510  (as at July 2022). You must meet the following criteria to qualify for a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) in Australia:

• You must be at least 18, but not yet 31 at the time of applying (or under 35 if you’re a citizen of Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland or Italy);
• You must hold a passport from an eligible country;
• You must not have an dependent child accompanying you;
• You must have enough money to support yourself (AUD $5,000);
• You must not have previously entered Australia on a 417 or 462 visa;
• You must meet character and health requirements;
• You and your family must not have debts owing to the Australian government.

If you don’t hold a passport from any of the eligible countries listed in the 417 Working Holiday visa criteria, you may still qualify for the  Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) . This is a similar visa for an additional 24 countries, but you may need to meet additional educational requirements and prove your level of English.

You should  make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of your stay in Australia  before you apply for your working holiday visa. If you get a new passport after you’ve applied for the visa, you’ll have to let the Australian government know.

If you’re eligible for a visa and your passport is valid, you can then  apply for your working holiday Australia visa on the Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs website . Once your  visa is granted , you can start properly preparing for your big trip!

Also,  check passport validity requirements for any other countries you will be visiting , as many require your passport to be valid for at least six months in order to let you into their country.

STEP 2: PREPARE FOR YOUR TRIP

• GOT YOUR VISA
• TRAVEL INSURANCE
• FLIGHT TICKETS
• MEDICAL CHECKUP
• JOIN BACKPACKER GROUP
• BOOK ACCOMMODATION
• Phone number

Once your Australian Working Holiday Visa has been granted it will be emailed to you electronically. It doesn’t require to be stuck in your passport. I do, however, recommend printing a copy as this comes in handy when you need to apply for things such as Medicare (access to healthcare).

You have 365 days to ‘activate’ your visa. So if you received your grant on the 1 st  of January you have until the 1 st  of January the following year to activate it.

You are now entitled to travel to Australia and work for up to six months with one employer at a time.

Beyond the work restrictions, the rest is pretty straightforward. Travel, work and explore Australia for up to 12 months. You are free to leave and re-enter as much as you would like within the 12 months.

Buy Travel Insurance & Flights

Your next step is to buy travel insurance and book your flights. For travel insurance, start with  comparison sites  for whichever country you’re based in, so that you can compare different insurers.

Make sure that you’ll be covered for the  entire length  of your trip and for  every country  you will be visiting as well as for the  activities  you’ll be doing (scuba diving for example). Also look into whether  gadgets  are covered, as phones/tablets aren’t always included.

I tend to use  Skyscanner  to find the best deals on flights, as it compares so many airlines and travel agencies. It’s usually quite cheap to fly to Australia during their winter time (June/July), as long as it’s outside of school holidays.

Routine Medical Check Ups, Vaccines & Covid Requirements

Make sure you have your  regular check ups with your dentist and optician  before you leave, as you may not be back home again for a long time!

Depending on which other countries you’ll be visiting on your trip, also check if you need  immunisations  (do this as soon as possible as some vaccinations require booster shots afterwards).

Stock up on any  medication  you need, and check the cost in other countries if you’ll need to buy more there.

Make Copies of Important Documents

Scan important documents such as your  passport, insurance policy and driving license  (just in case), and keep a  digital and hard copy .

If you’ve bought insurance to cover your  electronic gadgets , you will probably need to send the insurer copies of your  purchase receipts  should you try to claim for any lost/stolen items. So read the documentation and make sure you find and copy relevant receipts too.

Exchange Cash & Open a Bank Account in Australia

It’s useful to to  exchange some cash  into Australian dollars before you set off, just in case you have any problems using your cards abroad.

When you are on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia You will need to open an Australian bank account if you intend to work, as an employer will not pay wages into an international bank account. You can open an Australian bank account before you arrive in Australia. Simply filled out the application online approximately 2 weeks before you are due to fly out. You can have your bank card delivered to a branch, in the city you are going to land in. When you arrive in that city you simply go into the branch with your ID and the bank staff will hand over your bank card.

The  big four banks in Australia  are  ANZ ,  Westpac ,  Commonwealth Bank  &  NAB .

But which one should you choose? Each bank will have its particularities that will help you make the right decision for your circumstances. The most important criteria you should look out for is:

• The bank coverage is Australia-wide.
• Fees – some banks charge you a small fee each month, this fee is often waived if you pay a certain amount of money into it each month. Top Tip: If you transfer money back and forth from a savings account to a current account this counts towards your money coming in. So, if the fee is waivered after $1000 transfer $500 to your savings and back twice. Obviously, if you are getting paid the required amount by an employer there is no need to do this.
• Interest rates

When it comes to transferring money from your home account to your Australian bank account, there are two money transfer platforms: Currencyfair or Wise (formally TransferWise ).  This is the most popular method amongst backpackers as transferring via other methods such as from your home bank account can be very costly.

Personally, I always use Wise . It’s really straightforward to use and the money has always been in my bank account promptly.

Join Backpacker Facebook Groups in Australia

Let’s get started on the fun stuff! Times have changed a lot since my very first trip to Australia, when you had to find travel mates and cars for sale on noticeboards in hostels – not Pinterest, but actual, physical pin boards!

It’s now really easy to  find road trip buddies, rooms for rent or just like-minded travellers  to hang out with on the weekend thanks to the world wide web!

One of the first things you’ll want to do when you start your working holiday in Australia (or even before you set off) is to join the relevant  backpacker Facebook group  for whichever city you’ll be staying in. You’ll find that virtually everyone in your hostel is already on them; they’re highly active groups.

Here are the links to some of the reliable Facebook groups in Australia:

Australia Backpacker Facebook Group

Backpacker Jobs Australia  Facebook Group

Australia Travel Tips  Facebook Group

Working Holiday Australia  Facebook Group

Finding Cheap Accommodation in Australia

While most backpackers on a working holiday in Australia stay in hostels, there are plenty of cheap accommodation options. Here are some of my favourite types.

Hostels: $25-$40 per night

You’ll likely want to  book into a hostel for your first week  or so in Australia, as they’re a great place to make friends and meet other travellers. To make your trip less stressful I’d advise  booking your first week before you set off  and planning  how you’ll get there from the airport .

To browse hostels or hotels right now, use the search box for  Hotels Combined  below. They compare prices for all the major booking providers for each accommodation, so you can get the cheapest price.

House/Flat Shares: $100-$300 per week

If you’re going to be living and working in an Australian city for a while, you might want to think about finding a flat or house share to make you  feel more settled . It can actually cost the same or less than a hostel dorm bed.

The place to find casual short-term rentals is either  Gumtree , the Facebook backpacker groups I listed above or  flatmates.com .

Accommodation is so in demand in Australian cities that  people often rent their rooms out when they go on holiday . So even if you only want a few weeks you could still find something!

I was very surprised to find that sharing a double room on  Airbnb  (where the owner is also living there) in Melbourne worked out  the same price per person as staying in a hostel dorm . This is a great option for couples.

House Sitting: Free or Paid

House sitting is when you  live in someone’s property for free while they’re on holiday  in return for looking after their pets and home. I house sat in Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne during my road trips, and  now run a house and pet sitting business in Sydney and get paid for it!

To find house sitting jobs straight away, you’ll need to join a house-sitting website.

• For house sitting in Australia only, I thoroughly recommend joining  Aussie House Sitters .  I got plenty of house sits through their site.
• For worldwide house sitting,  Trusted Housesitters  is a better option and one of the biggest sites out there.

Getting An Australian Phone Number

This is probably the first thing you will want to do when you arrive in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. You will need an Australian phone number for job applications, rental applications and to apply for your TFN.

Prospective employers are more likely to call you with a local number that won’t cost them anything.

The main networks are Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. These are normally quite expensive.

There are numerous other small networks available that feed off the signals from the three biggest providers. The advantage of this is that you get good quality coverage for a fraction of the price.

You will want to go with a network that suits your plans in Australia. What I mean by this is if you are going to be spending time in the outback, not all network providers cover this area. I visited a network and told them my plans to do regional work at some point and he told me to go with their rival network because they were the only network provider at the time who had coverage in these areas.

When buying an Australian SIM you will also have different options to choose from such as taking on a 12-month contract however if you are bringing your mobile phone you will probably want to opt for either a month-to-month plan or prepaid plan.

Month-to-month plans mean that you won’t run out of credit. You are given a monthly allowance and if you are over these, you’ll be charged but won’t be cut off. Pre-paid plans work by paying for your text, calls and data upfront. Once you go through this allowance you will have to “recharge” before you can use the SIM again. Prepaid credit tends to expire after 28 days however some plans offer longer recharge periods. This is a great option as you don’t have to worry about being tied into a contract.

The cheapest option is to go with a smaller network provider. I would highly recommend Amaysim. They offer large GB’s of data for a very reasonable price. When you are relying on google maps to get off at the correct bus stops -data is everything!

INTERESTED IN A HASSLE-FREE EXPERIENCE?

Book our Gap Year intro tours in Sydney or Melbourne and you’ll enjoy one week focused on fun, making new friends, amazing activities & sightseeings. Once your first week of fun is over you can kick-start your job search with the expert advice and assistance of our local team, plus essential admin help (bank account, TFN, sim card, jobs bank..etc.. everything you need to settle down in Australia).

STEP 3: WORK AND TRAVEL IN AUSTRALIA

• YOUR ARRIVAL
• Accommodation
• TAX FILE NUMBER
• BANK ACCOUNT

What Do You Need To Show When You Arrive At The Airport In Australia? 

Australia’s border controls have a reputation for being strict, there are policies and procedures in place to make sure you are coming to Australia on the correct visa and you are not bringing in anything illegal, banned or restricted. Largely, this is to do with protecting Australia’s fragile ecosystem.

You should check out this list of what you can’t bring to Australia before packing your bags. If you are caught with anything you should have you will be in serious trouble. Border Control is becoming stricter with the penalties for not declaring items.

If you are sticking to the rules, you won’t need to show anything other than your passport and your landing card. Make sure you fill in the passenger arrival card as accurately as possible. There is a list of items you will need to declare if you have any of the items listed with you. Even if it’s something small, declare it. I had a small amount of prescription medication that I declared –  the immigration officer asked to see my prescription and that was it – I was on my way.

Your visa is linked to your passport number, so when they scan your passport all your details will already be there.

Occasionally they will do randomised bag checks when you are passing through border control but otherwise, the process was fairly fast and efficient. Some people like to have proof of funds printed out; however, this is not routinely checked.

Finding Working Holiday Jobs in Australia

The  cost of living in Australia  is fairly high compared to many other countries, so most backpackers will be eager to find work to top up their travel funds.

A lot of backpackers find work in the service industry ( bars, restaurants, cafes ) and  construction  is a pretty popular industry too, as there’s a lot of development in Australia and it’s well paid.

Note that you’ll need what’s known as a  Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA)  certificate to serve alcohol in Australia; despite being known as a laidback country it is actually the nanny state of all nanny states, with a lot of red tape!

A couple of popular websites for backpacker work in Australia are  Backpacker Jobs Australia  and  Backpacker Job Board , and you can also check out  Gumtree , Facebook backpacker groups and local newspapers .

A lot of backpackers find work in Australia just by asking other backpackers or hostel owners. People often know someone who knows someone! You can also do cleaning and reception work in hostels.

Get a Medicare Card

If you are a visitor from a country that has a  Reciprocal Health Care Agreement  with Medicare, the Australian health care system, some of the medical expenses you incur in Australia may be covered.

Medicare is the name of Australia’s healthcare system. It is a system that is usually limited to Permanent Residents or Australian Citizens, however; certain countries have a “reciprocal healthcare agreement” in place which allows nationals of these countries to benefit from Medicare whilst on a Working Holiday Visa. These countries are;

• United Kingdom
• Republic of Ireland
• Netherlands
• New Zealand

If you are from a county with a reciprocal healthcare agreement, you will want to enrol in Medicare as soon as you land in Australia. To enrol, you will need to visit a service centre. You need to complete a Medicare enrolment form and bring along certain documents with you, normally your passport and a paper copy of your visa. (More information regarding these documents and service centres can be found using the government website here).

It is a common misconception that Medicare is free, it’s not. It is, however, fairly subsidised for common procedures.

If your country is not listed, you must get travel insurance for the duration of your trip because you will not be entitled to any subsidy if you need medical care.

Even if your country is listed above, I would still recommend getting travel insurance as some medical procedures will still require partial payment.

Some services are not included in Medicare such as dental expenses, alternative medication, physiotherapy, ambulance services, or glasses/ contact lenses.

Regardless if you have Medicare or not, in the event you need an ambulance this will cost in the region $1,100AUD. This is why travel insurance is so important, as your policy may help you pay for these unexpected costs.

Some doctor’s practices are “bulk billing”. This means you won’t get charged when you present your Medicare card.

As I have said before, travel insurance is so important. You never know what will happen during your time in Australia…you might get bitten by a nasty insect or your flight might get cancelled due to stormy weather in Sydney. Travel insurance is fairly inexpensive compared to the costs you may incur if you are not covered.

If you are eligible, you can fill out a  Medicare application form  and take it to a  Medicare service centre  in Australia to get a Medicare card.

How To Get Your Tax File Number (TFN) On A Working Holiday Visa Australia?

To work in Australia you will need a Tax File Number (TFN), which is equivalent to a National Insurance number if you are from the UK or Social Security Number if you are from America.

It doesn’t cost anything and identifies you for tax and superannuation purposes. You keep the same TFN if you change jobs, change your name or move overseas.

The processing time for TFN applications is 28 days, however, it can be quicker as I received mine in about 14 days. You will need a valid address as your TFN gets sent to you via mail. You can use your hostel address if necessary.

You should keep your TFN private, only using it when appropriate.  You can apply for your TFN via Australian Taxation Office here .

I speak from experience as an au pair when I say, this is not the easy route. There is nothing easy about being a “taught mum” when you have no experience of looking after children.

I would also do some research into  Australian bank accounts  in advance and  choose the best account  to suit your needs. You will need one if you plan on working in Australia, in order to receive your wages!

Make sure you  check if the banks charge any fees  if you don’t pay a certain amount of money in each month. Also  check how many ATMs the bank has . Australia is about 20 years behind the UK in this respect and often charges you if you don’t withdraw from your own bank or an affiliated one!

I chose  Citibank  as it has no monthly fees on the account I opened, plus an attached savings account. It doesn’t have many ATMs, but I can use Westpac ATMs for free, and there are plenty of those around.

Make sure you  open a bank account in Australia within six weeks of arriving , as you won’t be required to show as many pieces of identification (usually just your passport) to open the account. After this you will need to show a number of different forms of ID, each worth a different amount of points, in order to open your account.

Some banks let you  open an account before you arrive in Australia , and just ask you to pop into a branch with your ID on arrival.

Accessing & Transferring Money to Australia

If you want to withdraw cash directly from your home bank account using ATMs in Australia when you first arrive, make sure you  notify your bank you’ll be abroad  first. They may suspect fraudulent behaviour and block access to your account otherwise.

Always make sure you have  more than one way to access money  while you’re travelling, just in case you lose your credit/debit card.

I once went to Brazil and both my friend and I had our cards cloned in an ATM. Her account got frozen because the fraudsters got her PIN wrong, my account got wiped out (the bank did reimburse the money eventually), and between three of us we just about had enough cash to get through our last few days!

If you’re planning on transferring savings from your home bank account to your new bank account in Australia, consider using a foreign currency exchange specialist such as  Wise .

I’ve been using Wise (formerly TransferWise ) since I moved to Australia, as it’s simple to use, totally transparent regarding fees and rates and much cheaper than using my bank.

STEP 4: 2ND AND 3RD YEAR VISA EXTENSION

• 2ND YEAR VISA
• 3RD YEAR VISA

Finding Regional Work for Your Second Year Visa in Australia

We know that many of you will want to complete your 88 days of regional work  in order to get your  second or third working holiday visa in Australia . Just make sure that you start looking for work well ahead of time, so that you’re not in a panic at the last minute.

Here’s a link to the Eligible Jobs For A Second And Third Year Visa Subclass 417 in Australia if you want to learn more (or click here for subclass 462).

There’s been a well-publicised problem in Australia with backpackers being  exploited by farm owners  (underpaid, harassed etc) and putting up with it as they are so desperate for the work to be signed off in time. Starting your farm work early means you’ll have time to leave and find another job if required (hopefully you won’t have to though – plenty of people have a great experience).

One of our clients left his farm work until the last minute and had an awful time with a bullying boss on a fruit farm in Tasmania. Thankfully he found somewhere else in time, but it meant flying up to Queensland to work on a cattle farm! He had a brilliant time there though, and just managed to get his 88 days in before the cut-off time.

Finding Regional Work for Your Third Year Visa in Australia

STEP 5: EXPLORE AUSTRALIA

• Buying a Car
• Making Friends
• Superannuation

Organise Australian Road Trips

If you’ve made it to the other side of the world, make sure you explore the country! You’re there to  work and travel in Australia  after all! Just  remember how enormous Australia is  and how long it takes to get from one city to another.

There are heaps of ways to travel Australia: organised tour buses, public coaches, trains, flights, hiring or buying a car or campervan, or getting a ride in another backpacker’s car. Whatever your budget you should find something suitable.

Buying a Car on Your Working Holiday in Australia

Many backpackers decide to buy a cheap car or campervan on their working holiday in Australia, as  it allows the ultimate freedom on road trips  to explore wherever you like for as long as you like. It also means you can stay at campsites between cities and save a lot of money on accommodation.

You can  buy cars complete with camping gear from other backpackers  who are leaving the country after their working holiday ends (usually via the backpacker Facebook groups). Alternatively, consider finding a second-hand car on Gumtree, in local newspapers or from a car dealer.

Just be careful buying a vehicle from other backpackers, as these are often extremely old and not always looked after well. It’s cheaper to buy a car in good condition and then get cheap camping gear separately than waste thousands on replacing car parts.

It’s a good idea to get a mechanic to check over any cars you are interested in buying, and always ask the owner to show you the latest service reports.

Also be aware that  vehicles in Australia are registered to the state the owner lives in , and if you buy one in a different state to where it’s registered (for example, if a backpacker has driven it across the country) you may have to have it officially examined and get the number plates changed to ones from the new state. Do your research as there are different rules in each state.

Making Friends on Your Working Holiday in Australia

If you’re travelling solo for the first time, you might be worried about how you’ll meet people and make friends. I promise you it’s easy, and you won’t be lonely! Never give up an opportunity to travel because you haven’t got anyone to go with.

Most travellers set off by themselves and are keen to meet other people.  If you stay in hostels it’s hard not to get chatting to the people in your dorm or in the kitchen, even if you’re not someone who tends to approach people.

If your room mates don’t speak to you straight away they’re probably feeling just as shy as you, or they’re nervous about how good their English is. Say “hi and ask their name, and they’ll probably be really pleased to talk to you.

If you’re looking for travel buddies for road trips, or even to get out and explore at weekends, backpacker Facebook groups are great, or people you meet in person at your hostel.

You can also use the website  Meetup.com  and join groups that run outings on whatever your interests are. I’ve made virtually all my friends in Sydney that way, through walking groups and female social groups.

Australian Backpacker Tax Rates & Claiming a Refund

It’s worth reading up about  backpacker tax for working holiday makers  on the ATO website. You need to make sure you lodge a tax return if you’ve been working in Australia.

Note that the Australian tax year begins on 1st July, so make sure you  lodge a tax return  at the end of the tax year (or earlier if you’re heading home), as you may be entitled to a refund.

Superannuation, or ‘super’ as the Aussies call it, means your  pension or retirement fund . This may not be something on your mind if you’re in your twenties and gallivanting around the world, but your Australian employer will be obliged by law to pay a certain amount into a super fund for you.

You’ll be pleased to know that  you can claim your superannuation back  at the end of your working holiday in Australia, but less pleased to know that as of 1st July 2017 the full amount will be taxed at  65% !

Here’s another link to the ATO explaining the deal with your  departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP) .

AUSTRALIA GAP YEAR TOURS & ARRIVAL PACKAGES

Our Working Holiday packages are designed to give Australia working holiday visa holders the best start on their work and travel experience in Australia. For a start, you will stay at the best youth hostels in Australia and get an easy and simple introduction to start your adventure. We know the drill and just want you to avoid all the hassle and get to work! Start with a week of fun in Australia plus the exclusive inclusions.

SYDNEY GAP YEAR

A perfect intro tour to get your Working Holiday off to a great start from Sydney!

Start with 8 days of fun in Sydney plus 12 months of expert job offers, advice and support – awesome! Expect to earn $25 to $35 an hour with paid work in Oz!

MELBOURNE GAP YEAR

A perfect intro tour to get your Working Holiday off to a great start from Melbourne!

Start with 8 days of fun in Melbourne plus 12 months of expert job offers, advice and support – awesome! Expect to earn $25 to $35 an hour with paid work in Oz!

SYDNEY ARRIVAL PACKAGE

Kick start your working holiday visa in Australia with our arrival package.

A Work & Travel package takes the stress out of your first few days in a new country as well as giving you ongoing assistance with finding a job.

MELBOURNE ARRIVAL PACKAGE

Kick start your working holiday visa in Australia with the our arrival package.

EAST COAST AUSTRALIA

Explore the East Coast of Australia with our 30-Day Australia East Coast tour

Personalised Itineraries for 18 to 30s, backpackers & travellers. Enjoy 4 weeks of backpacking along the Aussie East Coast with expert support every step of the way!

Frequently Asked Working Holiday Questions

A working holiday allows you to delve deeper into a country and spend a gap year (sometimes even more) on a specific visa.

As you have much longer, you can delve into everything that makes the country unique. You’ll get to experience the perfect combination of what travellers see and what the locals see.

You’ll become part of the working community and get to know your new home the way the locals know theirs. But you can then go above and beyond and tick off some of the most incredible sights the country has to offer in your spare time.

You’ll earn and work. But that means you’ll be able to enjoy and travel even further.

Simply; no.

You could save, save, save, and then use your time on your working holiday visa to just travel wherever you wish. There’s absolutely nothing tying you into having to work.

Yet most will secure a  gap year job abroad  to experience the full gap year lifestyle. You’ll meet new people, make new friends, develop skills and live like a local, all whilst creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Working holidays are only possible through countries have exchange partnerships and allowing young adults to travel on working holidays.

These visas allow you to enter the country and work for a certain amount of time, if you meet the specified visa criteria. This is applied for in advance and if granted, means you can work, earn and travel for a gap year (or sometimes even more).

It gives you the right to rent, open bank accounts and everything expected by a normal resident, with only slight variations based on the duration you’re in the country.

The beauty of a gap year is that you decide your path.

Whether you want to follow your career and use your prior experience, or try something completely new, the decision is yours.

Many use gap years to follow their passions, or to push themselves to achieve something they never thought they could.

There’s loads of different avenues to search once you know what you’d like to do. Major recruiters have their own online application areas, whereas each country will have job sites and boards for you to apply through.

A career gap year is living the ‘gap year lifestyle’, but whilst still following your chosen career path.

A great example would be those looking at wanting to follow an outdoor education career. There are numerous roles around the world which will actually contribute to furthering your CV, such as working in a summer camp in America/China/Canada, or becoming a ski instructor in New Zealand.

Another example may be if you want to move into the financial sector, then instead of going straight into a graduate career, you may look at a gap year working holiday in Hong Kong or Singapore.

Your time away will strengthen your background and skillset, meaning you’ll go home with a stronger position, ready to seize your next career step.

If your application is going to be straightforward, i.e. you meet all the requirements perfectly and there is no doubt in your mind you will have your application refused, then do it yourself.

It is personal preference though if you feel more comfortable going through an agent then by all means do. If you are unsure whether immigration could have grounds to refuse your application then I would speak to an agent for advice.

Once you have your visa application sorted out, you can participate in an Australia Arrival Package, you can receive benefits such as setting up a Tax File Number (TFN), bank account, packs to help you find a job and your first few nights’ accommodations on arrival. You can visit this link: Australia Arrival Package .

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What To Know About Australia's Working Holiday Visa

Young American and Canadian adults can apply for Australian working holiday and spend 1-3 years backpacking down under.

• Australian working holiday visas allow young adults to work and travel up to 12 months, opening doors to various industries.
• Backpackers in Australia can extend their stay for up to 3 years with 2nd and 3rd visas, experiencing diverse opportunities.
• Americans have options with the Australia Work and Holiday visa or New Zealand Working Holiday visa for extended exploration on a budget.

Working holiday visas are designed for young people to move to and work in a country for a year or two. These visas are a great way to travel for a prolonged period of time and explore the country. There are many types of visas that permit people to work or study , and working holiday visas are normally the best option for young people wanting to spend an extended period of time in a country.

Australians offer their 12-month working holiday visa (extendable) for young people to a variety of countries. The extended time means visitors can spend more time exploring the many lesser-known destinations in Australia that few ever get to see. The best way backpackers can travel in Australia on a budget is to work as they go, and the Australian working holiday visa is an excellent way to do it.

What The Australian Working Holiday Visa Is & Offers

The australian working holiday visa permits young adults from eligible countries to live and work in australia for up to 12 months (extendable).

Australia is one of the popular countries for backpackers on working holiday visas because it is exotic, English-speaking, safe, and the wages are relatively high, meaning that backpackers can save money to explore other parts of the world.

The 12-month Australian working holiday visa enables backpackers to work in various industries (most popularly in agriculture and tourism). While people with a working holiday visa are permitted to work in Australia, they don't have to. Rather, they can use it as a year-long multi-entry visa if they wish to (they can also study for up to four months in Australia).

• Cost: AUD 635.00 (USD 418)
• Duration: 12 months

Americans aged 18-30 can apply for the New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.

Those who do at least three months of specified work (including agriculture and tourism in regional Australia) can become eligible to apply for a second Working Holiday Visa and stay another year. This gives people much more time and money to see and do more things in Australia on a backpacker's budget .

This Is How Many Days You'll Need To Explore The Best Of Sydney (And What To See)

Countries eligible for the working holiday visa (subclass 417), canadians, many europeans, and others aged 18 to 30 (or 35) are eligible for the australian working holiday visa.

Unfortunately, at this time, those with American passports are not eligible for the Australian Working Holiday Visa .

Compared to their European, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand counterparts, Americans are quite restricted in the number of working holiday visas around the world they can apply for.

Work visa applications are made online while people are outside of Australia. Those coming on working holiday visas can not bring dependent children or family members.

Those who would like to stay longer can apply for a second and third working holiday visa to stay for a total of two and three years, respectively. After all, Australia has been ranked the friendliest country in the world — who wouldn't want to stay another year? These applications cost the same as the first (AUD 635 or USD 418).

Americans Are Eligible For The Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)

Subclass 462 enables young eligible americans to live and work in australia for up to 12 months (extendable).

The Australian Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is confusingly named similar to the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and functions similarly to it. The visa permits applicants to stay for up to 12 months and can renew the visa twice for another year each time. More countries (such as Turkey and Vietnam) are also permitted to apply for this working holiday visa).

This is a great way for Americans to pay for their extended holidays in Australia. There are a few added requirements for some countries, such as education. For Americans, the basic requirement is to have a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or equivalent (e.g. high school AP class placement in the US).

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Americans are eligible for the new zealand working holiday visa, new zealand has an unlimited quota for americans aged 18-30.

Americans can also apply for the New Zealand Working Holiday Visa . Applications are open to Americans aged between 18 and 30 and permit successful applicants to live and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months.

The application fee is also cheaper (NZD 420 or USD 253). 80% of the applications are processed within two weeks. The great thing is that New Zealand has no quota for Americans, so there are higher odds of getting approved.

Good job! We have hundreds of working holiday jobs in Australia to fill right now.

Jenza Work Australia

Working holidays in australia.

‘Bye friends’ waved Dorothy as she left for Oz on her JENZA working holiday – with visa processing, unlimited working holiday jobs, welcome week and new mates all included.

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Why do a working holiday visa Australia?

With a flexible 12-month work visa, one of the highest minimum wages in the world, and backpacker-friendly employers looking to fill their bars, hotels, resorts and farms with international working holidaymakers – Australia defines the work/life/travel balance. Skip between the beaches, islands and Outback – picking up casual or seasonal work to fund your adventures. Or grow your career working in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth. We’re not in Kansas now.

The Jenza difference

Roadtested arrival week

We use our roadtesters’ experience to shape yours. Which is how we know your first week sets you up with everything you need to live and work in Australia.

Unlimited Job Hub access

The worst part of job hunting? All of it. Which is why we source and vet hundreds of jobs. Interview before you go, when you land and for your whole visa.

Yes to no stress

From applying for your Australia working holiday visa to included essentials like your tax file number and Aussie bank account – we work out the details.

Is it for me?

18-30 years

12-month visa

Depart year-round

Job before you go

Guided welcome week

AUD $23.23 min wage

What she said

“I’ve been living my wildest life for the past couple of months so far.”

Adithi, JENZA roadtester

Getting Down Under

Work Australia | $1,510

We provide the working holiday visa, pre-arranged job and arrival support to live and work in Australia for up to a year.

Starting in Melbourne or Sydney, spend the first week of your working holiday with travellers like you. With seven nights’ hostel accommodation, job workshops, day trips, nights out and a two-day road trip included – it's the ultimate way to settle into Aussie life. Plus, meet your future best mate/housemate/life partner (maybe).

After that, you can head off to start your pre-arranged job. Or hit the East Coast to explore, picking up vetted jobs from our JENZA Job Hub as you travel.

About the visa

Who and for how long

Your working holiday visa Australia allows you to work for a year, changing employers every six months. If you do three months of ‘specified work’ in regional Australia during your first visa, you can apply for a second working holiday visa. This can be joined onto your first visa, or you can return to Oz Dorothy-style before you're 31.

US passport holders must be aged 18-30 (inclusive) to apply – meaning you must submit your application before your 31st birthday. Once approved, you have 12 months to enter Australia. You don’t need to have a job lined up before you go, but you must be able to prove you have AUD $5,000 support funds when you enter Australia. You can apply year-round.

Make it work

Where and what you can do

Hot for working holidaymakers, Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world – currently AUD $23.23 an hour.

Your visa allows you to work anywhere in the country and pretty much do any type of job – from casual to career work.

Typical working holiday jobs include hospitality, tourism, sales, labouring, childcare, retail and harvest work such as fruit picking. Hospitality and harvest work often include discounted staff accommodation – making them a great choice for saving money, making friends and living in stunning locations.

You can also work in industries related to your career, education or trade – such as nursing, beauty, marketing, construction, finance, recruitment and everything in between. Here your earning potential will be higher.

Just be sure to balance the ‘work’ and ‘holiday’ part – you're a long time doing the 9-5 thing when you get home!

Departure dates

Start Melbourne or Sydney

What's included

Jen-setter benefits

Plus, these JENZA community perks

Free (or close to free) stuff Our favourite F word. Score hundreds of overseas discounts with our virtual JENZA X IYTC card.

Earn extra cash Shot it? Share it. We pay for blogs, vlogs, images and videos. DM us on Insta and send us a pitch.

Ask an alumni  Hear from people who've been. We try to have an alumni on every pre-departure call to answer all your questions.

Find a friend Meet people like you. Connect with travellers arriving at the same time on our JENZA Discord group chats.

Visa inclusions

Cost and visa processing all in

No drama visa inclusions. We apply for your working holiday visa Australia for you. Once you’ve checked your eligibility in the above tab and paid your deposit, we’ll send you a simple form to fill out. Visas are issued electronically and can take up to two months to process – depending on whether more information is required.

The visa cost (AUD $640) is included in your Work Australia price. We don’t charge a fee to apply for your visa, but if you’d rather apply yourself or already have it sorted – we’ll take £300 (or the currency equivalent visa cost) off the overall cost.

Job inclusions

Unlimited pre-vetted working holiday jobs

We’ve been there, so we know the plane panic. It goes like this: ‘What if my seatback TV is broken?’, closely followed by, 'What if I can’t find a job when I arrive?’

Our Dream Jobs team scour the planet to find employers looking to take on working holidaymakers right now. They’re pre-vetted to make sure everything is legit, and as soon as you’ve paid your deposit, you’ll get access to our JENZA Job Hub where you can start searching and applying for jobs.

If you’d rather wait until you land, your welcome week includes job workshops from the awesome Welcome to Travel team – our tried-and-trusted Aussie partners. You’ll also have access to our JENZA Job Hub for the full 12 months of your visa.

Scroll the page to check out some of our current Australia job openings.

Pre-departure inclusions

Expert advice from people who’ve been

Your working holiday ride or die, our JENZA Support Squad have all worked the world so can give you firsthand advice on moving abroad. As well as being a geeky bunch of travel nerds and visa whisperers, we're also all mental health awareness trained. Which means we know how to connect like humans – not customer service bots.

On top of being at the other end of an email or video call throughout the booking process, we also include a group call with a live Q&A before you go to answer all your questions.

In-country inclusions

Arrival orientation with 7 nights' accommodation

This fully-guided intro week is all about getting in your comfort zone – and friend zone if you’re flying solo. Starting in Sydney or Melbourne every Sunday, it’s run by our in-country partners at Welcome to Travel and includes everything you need to find your feet.

• Airport transfer
• 7 nights in hostels
• Job workshops
• Cultural city tour
• Surf lesson
• 2-day road trip

Some meals and drinks

Can't decide between Melbourne or Sydney? Scroll the page to watch the videos.

Work essentials

Tax number, bank account and SIM

This is all the un-sexy stuff, but essential and legal stuff you need to start working in Australia. There’s admin days in your welcome week where the team will help you set everything up.

• Tax file number
• Australian bank account

Work Australia price

(Visa included worth AUD $635)

PAY A DEPOSIT

Book now pay later

• Secure your spot with $115 deposit
• Second payment of $450 due before we can issue your working holiday visa
• Balance due 12 weeks before you fly.

Already have your visa? | We don’t charge extra to do your visa for you, but if you’d rather apply yourself or already have it sorted – we’ll knock the cost (currently AUD $635) off your final balance.

About our pricing | Our mission is to make working abroad more accessible. Meaning we do everything we can to pay our team, support our partners and make a profit – without screwing over the people who matter. Find out how our pricing works and the people involved in making your JENZA happen.

We also walk the walk, donating 5% of profits to our overseas scholarship fund.

What’s not included

We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved.

Support funds (AUD $)

You may be required to show proof that you can access AUD $5,000 on entering Australia.

Travel insurance

To cover against cancellation, we recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book.

Dollar bills

Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world.

Pre-arranged working holiday job + minimum AUD $23.23 an hour = making working abroad in Australia add up.

Work in Australia / Hiring now

Hiring: Construction positions at HLH Group, Sydney NSW

Jobs available: Construction. Pay is AUD $30-45/hour. Great site locations, flexible working available, work for the highest rated labour hire company on Google. Book Work Australia now to be the first to apply.

Hiring: Attendants at Cape Lodge, Margaret River WA

Jobs available: Food and Beverage Attendant. Pay is AUD $28/hour, plus hotel and restaurant discounts. Work for a luxury hotel on a private vineyard. Book Work Australia now to be the first to apply.

Hiring: Housekeeper at Gaia Retreat & Spa, Byron Bay NSW

Jobs available: Housekeeper. Pay is AUD $22/hour, with staff rewards, spa and accommodation discounts. Plus, it’s BYRON BABY! Book Work Australia now to be the first to apply.

Hiring: Bartenders & Floor Staff at Merivale group, Sydney NSW

Jobs available: Bartender, Floor Staff, Wait Staff. Pay is AUD $21-27/hour depending on the role, hours and experience. Discounts at all Merivale establishments in Sydney. Book Work Australia now to be the first to apply.

Meet people on your wavelength

… and not just at the surf camp

The Melbourne one

Staying at the Space Hotel (The Village North Melbourne from 1 Jul) with up to 22 of your soon-to-be-closest friends, our Work Australia welcome week blatantly disregards the warning about never mixing business with pleasure. As well as job workshops and help getting your tax and bank account sorted, it includes all this awesomeness.

A welcome dinner, street food tour, Aboriginal heritage walk, pub crawl, St Kilda trip, rooftop BBQ, some meals and drinks, and a two-day road trip to the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island. Here you’ll learn to surf, go wine tasting, and probably cry tears of joy at the tiny penguins.

The Sydney one

Exactly what the Melbourne one said, but staying in Sydney’s legendary Wake Up! Hostel. You’ll do the same job workshops and work admin to sort out the essentials such as your tax number and bank account when you arrive, plus all of this good stuff in and around Sydney.

A welcome dinner, city walking tour, Aboriginal tour, cocktail class, pub crawl, Bondi Beach trip, rooftop BBQ, some meals and drinks, and a two-day road trip. Here you’ll stay at an overnight surf camp, go dolphin spotting and get Australia’s cheapest exfoliating pedi at Jervis Bay – home to the finest and whitest sand in the world.

The Jenza blog

All the inspo and intel on life Down Under

Travel Guides / Australia

A guide to Melbourne’s coolest neighbourhoods

Georgie Birch

We were just in the neighbourhood, so thought we’d drop by.

Jenza Talk / Australia

My Melbourne working holiday: travelling as trans

Dane DiCaprio

On finding a job, hormones and a community. We love it when a WHV works out.

Fun Stuff / Australia

How to understand an Aussie on your working holiday

Hannah Jeffery

And why it’s okay to order pot at the bar. (Don’t worry Officer, it’s merely a beer measure).

You shaped travel

What our Aussie roadtester had to say

Before you’re even let loose on one of our JENZA experiences, it’s trialled by either a JENZA roadtester or member of our Youth Advisory Panel. Because if it didn’t fly with them, it’s sure as heck not going to fly with you. Meet Adithi, one of our Youth Advisory Panellists and Aussie roadtester.

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Every JENZA experience has been shaped by our Youth Advisory Panel, roadtested by our travellers, and backed by 60+ years of work abroad expertise. But if we still don’t rock your world, we’ll refund the part of your JENZA program you’re not happy with. T&Cs apply

Who you gonna call?

Let's talk Australia

Get some facetime with our amazing JENZA Support Squad. When they’re not posing for pool pics, they’re making your work aboard adventures happen with their endless enthusiasm and mad traveller skills. These include: parent whispering, visa geekery and the ability to pack a backpack in 30 seconds flat.

Got a question? We've got answers.

How can I work in Australia?

What’s the age limit for a working holiday in Australia?

How long does a working holiday visa last for?

How do I get a second or third working holiday visa?

From 1 July 2024, the regional work requirement is being removed for UK passport holders - who will be able to apply for a second and third 12-month extension to their working holiday visa without having to show proof that they have completed specified or regional work. Find out more about the changes here .

For other passport holders, you may need to complete three months of 'specified work' (this is usually work in regional areas of Australia) to apply for a second or third visa. Find out more about the extension requirements for your nationality here .

What kind of work can I do on a working holiday visa?

How much will I earn?

Do I need to be in my home country to apply for a working holiday visa?

How long does a working holiday visa take to process?

When should I book?

Does the Work Australia program include accommodation?

How can I go to Australia?

If you’re thinking of doing a working holiday in Australia, we'd love to help you start planning your trip. As travellers ourselves, we'll be able to help you decide the where, when and how. You can apply for Work Australia on the JENZA website, or if you’d rather talk to us, just give our JENZA Support Squad a call and we'll go over all your options.

How can I get a work visa for Australia?

How can I get work in Australia?

How do I stay in Australia after my working holiday visa?

What to pack for a working holiday in Australia?

What’s the eligibility for Work Australia?

How much money do I need for a working holiday in Australia?

Is doing a working holiday in Australia worth it?

Is it difficult to get a working holiday visa in Australia?

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How to Find Work When Travelling Australia

This post may contain compensated links. For more information, read our disclaimer here .

One of the most frequent questions that are asked in our Facebook group – Planning a Lap of Australia is how to find work when travelling Australia. For most people -including us – travelling long term without the need to stop for work, is just not financially possible.

In this post, we outline how to find work while travelling Australia – how we do it. You will find some links to websites and also some Facebook pages and groups that regularly have jobs listed for working around Australia. We also asked some other full-time travellers to tell us how they find work travelling Australia in a van.

JOB SITES AND GROUPS

Table of Contents

When we were in the early stages of planning our new life on the road we did worry about how hard it would be to find jobs working and travelling Australia. Brenden has been a truck driver for most of his working life, with a couple of stints in management. I have worked for Woolworths for 10 years so have customer service skills as well as management skills.

I did a lot of research and found that there are some great websites and Facebook groups that advertise jobs and jobs for grey nomads. Some are general sites and some are industry-specific. The number of jobs that I saw advertised gave me confidence that there is plenty of work when you are travelling around Australia.

Here are a few of the sites that I see work advertised on all the time.

• Workabout Australia – become a member to see jobs first
• Grey Nomad Jobs – register to be able to apply for jobs on the road
• Australian Sugar Cane Farming/Harvesting – Facebook Group
• Jobs for Families Travelling Australia group – Facebook Group
• Working On The Road In Australia – Facebook Group
• Australian Rural and Remote Jobs – Facebook Group
• Harvest Jobs Australia – Facebook Group
• Working while living on the road – Facebook Group
• Short Term Bush Jobs For Travelling Tradesmen – Facebook Group
• Farm Work Australia – Facebook page that shares job ads
• The Farm Army – Facebook page and website advertising rural jobs
• Bush Recruitment – website for finding rural work

Also don’t dismiss the various employment agencies that can be found travelling Australia. Try the following –

• Programmed Employment – recruit for a variety of jobs
• Rural Enterprises – harvest and farm work
• Caretakers Australia – Caravan park and motel relief
• AgriLabour – Website advertising rural positions
• Ag Workforce – Website advertising rural positions

There are many, many more. Just do a google search for the area you are in or going to visit next.

Also don’t dismiss sites like Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace both for finding jobs advertised or advertising your skill-set and you might be working travelling Australia sooner than you think.

HOW WE HAVE DONE IT

As we were preparing to leave the Gold Coast last year I saw a post in a Facebook group looking for Relief Caravan Park Managers. I was in two minds as to whether to contact them as we had NO experience. But in the end, I sent them an email outlining our skills. After a chat on the phone, the owners were happy to give us a go. So after a couple of weeks of learning the ropes, we did a two-week relief.

Now I have to tell you – it was pretty hard work. The days were long and most days we were pretty busy. We were paid for our work and a site for our van was also provided free of charge. But this is not always the case. There are places that will ask you to pay for your site or deduct it from your wage. So always ask what is included before agreeing.

Would we do it again? Yes, but it would have to be the right circumstance for us.

WORD OF MOUTH

Brenden’s second lot of work came from meeting a guest whilst doing the caravan park relief. He was from Queensland and had travelled to NSW to work at a silo during the grain harvest. He told Brenden that they were looking for more workers.

Recruiting for this position was done through Programmed Employment. So once Brenden had signed up with them, he ended up working at two different sites. One in NSW and the other at Dimboola in Victoria. Work of this nature generally starts around the beginning of October and goes through until the end of January.

Brenden has just completed his second season and I have just worked my first. I was in the Sample Hut and also on the weighbridge. There were a couple of days of training to learn the ropes for the sample hut. It was all very new to me but after a few days of actually doing the role I had picked it up. Some days were extremely full-on – 9 to 12-hour days with minimal breaks. Some days it was very hot and dusty but I actually did enjoy the work.

VIRTUAL ASSISTANT WORK

This kind of work is something that has only come up in the last few years. I do a couple of hours of work a week managing social media for a small company. From that, I make a couple of hundred dollars a month. Certainly not enough to live on but every little bit helps and I enjoy doing it.

Aside from Social Media, you can find this kind of work in areas like bookkeeping or data entry.

USE THE SKILLS YOU HAVE

Look at what skills you do have. If you have a trade such as an electrician or a hairdresser, consider taking that on the road with you. Many caravan parks will let you pop a sign up to advertise whilst staying there. Always ask the caravan park owners though before you display your sign.

I have worked for Woolworths for the last 10 years. As a casual I only need to do one, three-hour shift every three months to stay on the books.

Teachers, nurses, dentists and even doctors are in high demand in many parts of Australia, especially in rural and remote locations. You may find there are extra incentives to work in these places such as subsidised accommodation or travel.

Can you up-skill? For example, if you have a truck licence, can you upgrade it to a multi-combination licence? Have you worked in hospitality but don’t have an RSA?

JUST ASK THE QUESTION

Don’t be afraid to ask anywhere and everywhere if they have work. I met a lady in Emerald a couple of years back and she won a week’s worth of work in a local coffee shop. She had been in there for a coffee, could see they were flat out and just asked if they needed a hand.

This approach often works well in caravan parks, take-aways and pubs as well. Even just chatting to the locals in the pub could lead to work.

Sometimes you don’t even need to be looking for work and it will be offered to you. Recently we were offered work at a pub in outback Queensland and Brenden was asked if he wanted to drive a water cart. So the work is definitely out there.

TRACK YOUR ADVENTURE

Keep track of all your adventures with this Map of Australia Sticker. Choose from either UV Outdoors or Fabric Indoors.

A WORD ON BLOGGING

I know many people start a blog or a Facebook page to document their travels around Australia. I’m also sure there is a portion of those people who think that the sponsorship will just roll in and they will begin to make money or get free stuff.

Now I can assure you this is not the case. Blogging is a lot of hard work. Unless you are very lucky it will take you a long while before you start to see any returns. It has to be a passion project to start and there is a lot more to it than just popping up a couple of pics on Instagram and tagging a few businesses in it.

We have been fortunate to work with some great brands in the last ten years, but it was a long while before we got our first offer. Those offers are also very infrequent.

Currently, we make a small amount each month from affiliate sales. But it is certainly not enough for us to live on. And I have to say, we’re happy with that.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE

So what have other travelling families or couples done to find work when travelling Australia? We asked a couple of other full-time travellers to share their experiences.

NOT GREY NOMADS

Crispy and Frannie have been travelling Australia now for 2.5 years (not including the Coronavirus bit!) We’ve both tried things we’ve never done before since we’ve been on the road, which is an exciting part of the whole adventure. Our first job on the road was at a remote NT Cattle station. Crispy was a Bore Runner/Station Hand/Essential services officer. Frannie was a Take-Away Cook/Customer Service/Cleaner/General Assistant for whatever needed doing, in the station store that serviced the local remote community of about 300 people. Talk about a life-changing experience! We found that Job on Gumtree Jobs.

We then got a job through a local Facebook jobs group for Crispy driving Dump trucks and Excavators for a mine near Cloncurry. No experience, but they needed a bum on that seat. He had an HR Licence, which is a great ticket to have. We both have these, and Frannie was a Bus Driver a few years back now. Frannie went into the Woolworths to see if they needed anyone. She ended up almost full-time as a front-End supervisor! The good thing about a company like that is your training is nationwide, so you can then go to other Woolies and be ready to hit the ground running.

Once we got to larger towns, you will find you need to deal with job agencies more and they are not all as helpful as each other. Some don’t want anything to do with you unless you are on Centrelink payments. Some won’t accept you walking in off the street without having applied online first. Some out there get it and are more than willing to help if you show you’re adaptable and easy to work with. Without fail, you will make an impression if you turn up with all your documents. Like your ID, resume, licences, references contact details, etc in a digital form, and can provide anything they might ask for then and there, on the spot.

While we were back in our home state for a while, we decided to get our forklift tickets. There are a lot of jobs that require it, so it’s another great ticket to have. One job agency told us they had rejected our application without even looking at it, as we didn’t have that ticket, even though we were both very suitable candidates for the role! Crispy ended up getting that job by approaching the employer directly – Sneaky! After meeting us they told the agency they wanted to give him a go. He was much more suitable than the candidates the agency had been sending to them!

However, to make sure we are getting a look in the door, we now can pass the “must-have forklift ticket” test. This means we can do warehousing, pick-packing, courier deliveries, factory work, and even some harvest work. All of these are great places to pick up jobs where it doesn’t matter to them if you don’t plan on spending the next 10 years there when you apply. These places are used to a transient workforce, so they don’t expect massive commitments from you upfront to put you on. Makes it much easier when it comes time to move on! Plus it’s not hard to make yourself do a tough, physical or menial job for a couple of months when you know you’ll be lazing on a beach for a couple of months after you are all cashed up again!

You can follow Not Grey Nomads on their BLOG , FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM .

TRAVELING BEANS

Traveling Beans was born from a mobile coffee business I had in Hervey Bay. We sold that and bought a truck and built a coffee pod for the back which could be lifted off with jacks.

How we got work so we could do more travelling and working was a lot easier than first thought. People out west are in a drought not only with no rain but also they don’t get the opportunity to pop down to a cafe for coffee and cake like people on the coast take for granted.

I targeted country music festivals and events like rodeos. I was very surprised how well Traveling Beans were accepted when we rolled into country towns.

On the road, you have to plan ahead. Who would have expected the worst fires in Australia’s history and then Covid 19? We advise everyone who is thinking of an adventure like ours to have a backup plan like all advisors tell you, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Traveling Beans will get back on the road soon and hope we can meet more people following their dreams.

You can follow Traveling Beans on Facebook or Instagram .

BEN AND MICHELLE

Ben and I have been travelling around Australia, on and off, for the past 3 years. We started out in a camper trailer but then upgraded (not by much) to a tiny 40-year-old pop-top caravan.

When our funds run low, we stop for a couple of months and find work. In the beginning, Ben would get whatever labouring type of work he could find, and I’d get office work. We’d generally just register with a local agency in our respective fields.

More recently, Ben got his HR license, so he works as a truck driver, while I work from the caravan on a couple of side hustles.

I’m working on our two blogs: BenAndMichelle.com and RVObsession.com. They’re both growing and bringing in some income via ads and affiliate income, but it’s not a full-time income yet to fully support us while we work while travelling. 

So I supplement our income by providing Virtual Assistant (VA) services to 2 clients. 

One client is a US-based blogger in the RVing niche, I look after her Instagram account. And the other is a motorhome manufacturer here in Australia; I manage their Pinterest account while also writing articles for them every month.

But my main focus is growing our blogs, and it’s finally starting to pay off. Hopefully, by the end of this year, they’ll be bringing in enough income so that we can keep travelling indefinitely while making money from the blogs.

You can follow Ben and Michelle on their BLOG , FACEBOOK , INSTAGRAM AND PINTEREST .

MY RIG ADVENTURES

When we hit the road, we knew that working along the way was going to be the only way to fund our lifestyle. Unfortunately, there hadn’t been any lotto wins or long-lost inheritance for us!

To be honest, finding work as we’ve travelled hasn’t been too difficult a task. We’ve lived on the road full-time for two years and have managed to keep the dream alive basically by travelling for three months, then stopping to work for the next three to travel and work Australia.

Allan is a Truck Driver/ Excavator Operator, so he’s been the main breadwinner. He usually starts looking for a job before we get to a town that we know we want to stop in and often has something lined up by the time we get there. We generally pick towns that we know provide cheap accommodation, so that we’re able to pocket more money for the next leg of the journey. House Sitting and Low-Cost Camps have been great for this.

The best places Allan has managed to find work have been the usual avenues that you’d use at home – Seek, Gumtree, Facebook, Indeed etc. The biggest hurdle has been finding short-term work, as employees are often after people who will commit to longer than three months.

I draw in a part-time income through blogging, which is a feasible option if you’re that way inclined. Be mindful though that it’s a long-term game and will realistically take years before you’re living off blogging proceeds, if ever at all. I wouldn’t recommend blogging as an income if you’re not interested in web design, freelance writing and working for love (for quite some time).

You can follow My Rig Adventures on their BLOG , FACEBOOK , INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST .

As you can see, there is most definitely work available as you travel Australia. If you are prepared to put yourself out there and have a go at new things you will be able to find work.

In this current post-Covid 19 crisis, many rural industries are without their normal ‘backpacker’ workforce. So there are currently loads of grey nomads jobs and jobs available picking fruit and veg while you are caravanning around Australia.

We hope you find the information in this post useful. Do you have any other tips on how to find work when travelling Australia?

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7 thoughts on “How to Find Work When Travelling Australia”

Can I ask how you managed to get VA jobs please?

Hi Caroline It was from an association with one of the caravan park companies. You could try Seek or one of the mainstream channels. Or maybe search for VA jobs in Facebook groups.

Thanks for the insight

Fantastic and insightful read. Thank you.

Glad you found it helpful.

Hi, I have been trying to get our farm-related job group to be more productive. It is called Helping Australian Farmers and Travellers. Jobs (FB Group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1980332205543058/ It is 100% free for the job seeker and the farmer. The site is operated by a registered charity called Helping Australian Farmers Ltd. https://www.helpingaustralianfarmers.org.au/

You can share this group in our Planning a Lap Group as well if you wish.

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Volunteer and work in Australia - low cost travel abroad - Workaway!

Here at Workaway you will find 500+ hosts and organisations for volunteer work in Australia. Low cost travel without having to pay expensive agency fees.

  Australia

Travel to regions in Australia

• Capital Territory   (7)

Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Albury, Nowra, Coffs Harbour, Wagga Wagga, Port Macquarie, Orange, Tamworth

• Northern Territories   (36)

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Caloundra

Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Gawler, Murray Bridge, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Victor Harbor, Berri

Launceston, Hobart, Burnie, Devonport, Kingston, Smithton, Scottsdale, Queenstown, Oatlands, Bicheno

Melbourne, Cranbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura, Warrnambool, Melton, Sunbury

Perth, Mandurah, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Bunbury, Albany, Kwinana, Karratha, Broome, Roebourne

Last minute volunteer opportunities

Here you will find 27 last minute opportunities for volunteering in Australia from Hosts that have indicated that they require help immediately.

Latest from our community in Australia

See the latest updates and news from our hosts in Australia

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Connect with Workawayers travelling to Australia and looking for travel buddies

Feedback from Workaway members

There are 8698 reviews for 500+ Hosts and organizations in Australia. 500+ Hosts in Australia were rated at least 4.9/5!

We could not have had a better experience for our first workaway! Emma and Robbie are incredibly generous, welcoming and kind. The work was fun, the f...

read more...

by Matthew & Jessica , 1 May 2024

We stayed with Tracie for just over 2 weeks. Tracie showed us around in our spare time and made us feel very welcome. She's very knowledgeable about t...

by Dylan & Nicole , 30 Apr 2024

My five weeks with Manju, Romesh and the kids were really cool. They welcomed me verry warm and made me feel like home. I loved the landscape of the B...

by Charlotte , 30 Apr 2024

The 10 days I stayed in the rainforest with David were fantastic. I still love to talk about this adventure. The work was quite nice and not too hard ...

Hello all future workaways…. I stayed with the Bryant’s and I honestly couldn’t have asked for better hosts during my time in the outback. So kind an...

by Bethany , 30 Apr 2024

Registering as a Host

Registering as a host with workaway.info is completely free of charge.

Workaway.info has been set up to promote and encourage exchange and learning. Hosts on Workaway should be interested in cultural exchange and sharing experiences. They should be able to provide a welcoming friendly environment for visitors as well as offering accommodation and food.

Workaway benefits

Popular Hosts and organizations in Australia

Family (500+), farmstay (239), individual (192), sustainable project (56), community (32), animal welfare (25), house sitting (14).

From the surfing to sunshine, snakes to Sydney Opera House - there’s nowhere quite like Australia! With a landmass of approximately 7.7 million square kilometres, it's the sixth-largest country globally and a paradise for nature enthusiasts. You could spend years here and barely scratch the surface.

Visitors flock to Australia for a myriad of reasons. The country offers unparalleled outdoor experiences, from snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef to hiking in the breathtaking Blue Mountains. Its cosmopolitan cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane boast world-class dining, vibrant cultural scenes, and world famous architecture like the Sydney Opera House.

The wildlife in Australia is both a blessing and a curse. It’s the reason many people want to visit but also the reason many people want to stay away! On the one hand you have the unique opportunity to witness cute kangaroos, koalas and wombats in the wild. On the other hand, there are some of the world’s most deadly snakes, spiders and crocodiles who call the country home. The country's oceans host a mesmerising array of marine life, including the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest coral reef system.

Although the snakes and spiders may put you off, the wonderful weather will entice you back. Australia's seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere due to its position south of the equator. This means summer is from November to February and winter from June to August. The climate varies widely across the country from tropical in the north to temperate in the south. Its diverse landscapes encompass stunning beaches, the rugged Outback, ancient rainforests, and vibrant cities.

If you crave the laid-back Aussie lifestyle, there’s no better way to immerse yourself than a cultural exchange with Workaway. Alongside the opportunities for cultural exchange, the country offers Indigenous experiences, a popular Working Holiday Visa Scheme and a vibrant van life culture.

Overall, Australia feels like several countries in one, offering something for every traveller, whether seeking adventure, relaxation, cultural immersion, or natural wonders. Are you ready for an Aussie adventure?

Working Holiday Visa Australia

While we’re here to encourage volunteering in Australia, if you want to top up your adventure fund too it's worth looking into their Working Holiday Visa. The Working Holiday Visa program allows young adults from eligible countries to work and travel in Australia for up to 12 months (or 24 months for some countries).

Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (35 for some countries), meet health and character requirements, and have sufficient funds for their stay. This visa permits travellers to work for up to 6 months with a single employer and engage in short-term study.

The Visa costs around £330 so although quite expensive, it's a great opportunity for cultural exchange, gaining work experience, and exploring Australia's diverse landscapes.

Learn more about the Australia WHV here .

Van life in Australia

In a country so vast and diverse, it's no surprise that van life in Australia is a big deal with both locals and tourists. Imagine waking up to the sound of waves crashing on a pristine coastline, then driving through red deserts, lush rainforests, and vibrant cities - all before bed time!

It’s no secret Australia is an expensive country, so many people choose vanlife to save on traditional accommodation. It also means you have your own kitchen on wheels to save on food costs. Why not find a travel buddy to split fuel costs and driving time? Or better yet, did you know many of our hosts accept volunteers with campervans? If you fancy mixing volunteering with vanlife, tick the “accepts campervans” box on the accommodation filter when searching on the host list!

Highlights of Australia by State

Australia is divided into six states and two territories. Each state and territory offers diverse attractions, climates, and experiences, catering to a wide range of interests and travel styles. Here's a rundown of each with highlights, top destinations, climate, and things to do:

New South Wales (NSW)

Varied, with coastal regions experiencing mild winters and warm summers. Inland areas can get quite hot in summer and cold in winter.

• Summer average temperatures: Range from 18.6 - 25.8°C (65.5 - 78.4°F)
• Winter average temperatures: Range from 8.8 - 17°C (47.8 - 62.6°F)
• Sydney: Visit the iconic Opera House & Harbour Bridge as well as the famous Bondi beach.
• Blue Mountains: A highlight for any hiker, expect bushwalks, waterfalls and Echo Point Viewpoint to see the famous Three Sisters rock formation.
• Byron Bay: A haven for backpackers thanks to the bohemian vibe. Byron Bay is world famous for surfing as well as the chance to witness humpback whales migrating between June and November.
• Wine Regions: For those travelling through their tastebuds NSW offers some of the best wine regions in the world including Hunter Valley and the Mudgee Region. Here you can enjoy (and volunteer!) on vineyards as well as indulge in delicious gourmet food.
• Newcastle: Australia's second oldest city, boasting beautiful beaches, street art, iconic ocean baths, cool cafés and more.

Offers a variable climate with four distinct seasons - sometimes all four in one day! One fun fact you may not expect is that you can find snow in the Winter months in Victoria, generally from June to August. Head for Mount Buller, Mount Hotham or Falls Creek in particular. These locations offer not only opportunities for skiing and snowboarding but also breathtaking winter scenery.

• Summer average temperatures: Range from 14 - 25.3°C (57.2 - 77.5°F)
• Winter average temperatures: Range from 6.5 - 14.2°C (43.7 - 57.6°F)
• Melbourne: As Victoria's capital city, Melbourne is known for its cultural diversity, vibrant arts scene,iconic laneways, museums, and renowned restaurants.
• Great Ocean Road: One of the most beautiful road trips in the world! It offers breathtaking views of the rugged coastline, including the famous Twelve Apostles rock formations, lush rainforests, and beautiful beaches.
• Yarra Valley: Famous for its wineries, cellar doors, and picturesque landscapes. Enjoy wine tasting, gourmet food, and hot air balloon rides.
• Phillip Island: Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, visitors can witness adorable little penguins returning to shore at sunset. It's also home to koalas and seals.
• Wilson's Promontory: Australia's southernmost point offers spectacular seaside scenery, hiking trails, pristine beaches, and diverse wildlife, including wombats and emus.

Queensland is one of the warmer regions in Australia, with an average annual maximum temperature of 29°C (84.2°F) and 62 percent humidity. Expect hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. Flooding and thunderstorms are common during the rainy season which is December to March.

• Summer average temperatures: Range from 23.6 - 31.4°C (74.5 - 88.5°F)
• Winter average temperatures: Range from 17.5 - 26°C (63.5 - 78.8°F) and there is low rainfall (this makes it peak tourist season during these months)
• Cairns: Considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a tropical paradise with access to reef tours, lush rainforests, and the nearby Kuranda Scenic Railway. It’s also a popular spot with backpackers and a great place to volunteer in hostels or enjoy the vibrant nightlife.
• The Whitsunday Islands: A cluster of 74 idyllic islands, featuring white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and iconic spots like Whitehaven Beach. This region is best explored by boat, with many sailing and boating hosts in the area!
• Gold Coast: A city built literally on the beach. Famous for its coastline, surfing spots, and vibrant nightlife.
• Brisbane: As Queensland's capital, Brisbane is a sunny, riverside city popular with foodies and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
• Daintree Rainforest: As one of the world's oldest rainforests, Daintree is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, teeming with biodiversity, hiking trails, and opportunities for wildlife encounters. A forest so spectacular, Sir David Attenborough called it “the most extraordinary place on Earth.”
• Fraser Island: The largest sand island globally, Fraser Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring pristine beaches, freshwater lakes, and the iconic Maheno Shipwreck. It's also a popular destination for backpackers to camp, party and explore!

Western Australia (WA)

Varies across regions, from Mediterranean in the southwest to tropical in the north. During the summer months rain is unusual, but winter can bring downpours of rain and thunderstorms.

• Summer average temperatures: Range from 17.5 - 30°C (63.5 - 86°F).
• Winter average temperatures: Range from 8 - 19°C (46.4 - 66.2°F)
• The Kimberley: A rugged and remote region known for its wild beauty, including the Horizontal Falls, ancient Aboriginal rock art, and the stunning landscapes of El Questro Wilderness Park.
• Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles): A World Heritage Site in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. Known for its distinctive beehive-shaped rock formations, it offers stunning landscapes and ancient Aboriginal culture.
• Margaret River: A haven for wine lovers, surf fans and adventure seekers thanks to world-class wineries and a stunning coastline.
• Ningaloo Reef: A lesser-known but equally spectacular reef system offering incredible snorkelling, diving, and the chance to swim with whale sharks and manta rays.
• Broome: Cannot miss Cable Beach with its pristine white sands and camel rides at sunset!
• Rottnest Island: Your chance to capture that adorable quokka selfie! This island is a paradise for snorkelling, cycling, and relaxing on beautiful beaches.
• Perth: Western Australia's capital city, known for its relaxed vibe, stunning Swan River, Kings Park, and vibrant dining and cultural scene.
• Karijini National Park: Featuring dramatic gorges, waterfalls, and ancient rock formations, it's a hiker's paradise with breathtaking landscapes.

South Australia

Expect a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild winters. Generally. It is hotter to the north (in Flinders Ranges) and cooler further south around Kangaroo Island.

• Summer average temperatures: Range from 16.7 - 28.6°C (62 - 83.5°F) and rainfall is sparse.
• Winter average temperatures: Range from 8 - 16°C (46.5 - 60.8°F)
• Adelaide: The region’s capital city known for its vibrant festivals, thriving arts scene, and beautiful parklands, including the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Fun Fact: Adelaide is also the driest of all the Australian capitals!
• Barossa Valley: One of the most famous wine regions in the world, home to renowned cellar doors and gourmet food experiences.
• Kangaroo Island: A natural paradise where you can explore pristine beaches, encounter wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, and sea lions and visit the Remarkable Rocks.
• Flinders Ranges: Another popular spot with outdoor enthusiasts, this rugged and ancient mountain range offers breathtaking scenery, Aboriginal rock art, hiking trails, and the Wilpena Pound natural amphitheatre.
• Coober Pedy: An outback town famous for its underground homes, opal mining, and unique lunar-like landscapes - an otherworldly experience that’s so unique!
• Murray River: Australia's longest river, providing opportunities for houseboat Workaway experiences, river cruises, and exploring historic towns along its banks.

Much cooler than mainland Australia, and being positioned by the Southern Ocean (the world's weather engine) means the climate can vary greatly! The weather on Tasmania's east coast is often sunnier than other parts of the island. Rainfall also varies dramatically across the island. Hobart, is Australia's second-driest capital city (after Adelaide), while on the west coast receives an annual average of 2400mm of rain which ensures the rainforest thrives.

• Summer average temperatures: Range between 17 and 23°C (62-73° F)
• Winter average temperatures: Range from 3 - 11°Celsius (37- 51° F).
• Hobart: Tasmania’s capital where highlights include the infamous MONA museum, stunning Mount Wellington hikes and the Salamanca Market.
• Freycinet National Park: Home to the iconic Wineglass Bay, this park offers stunning coastal scenery, hiking trails, and opportunities for wildlife spotting.
• Port Arthur Historic Site: A must-visit for history fans, this UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a former penal colony providing an insight into Australia's convict history, with well-preserved ruins and scenic landscapes.
• Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park: Known for its rugged landscapes, including the iconic Cradle Mountain, it's a haven for hikers. An absolute highlight is the Overland Track, beginning at Cradle Mountain and ending at Australia's deepest lake – Lake St Clair, this 65 kilometre, six-day trek takes you through the heart of the magnificent Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
• Bruny Island: A peaceful retreat offering stunning coastal views, wildlife encounters (including white wallabies).

Australian Capital Territory (ACT):

Cool winters and warm summers, experiencing all four seasons.

• Summer average temperatures: Range from 12.6 - 27°C (54.7 - 80.6°F)
• Winter average temperatures: Range from 1 - 12°C (33.8 - 53.6°F), dropping below 0°C at night. Snow falls in the nearby Australian Alps
• Canberra: After a dispute between Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra became one of the few planned capital cities globally. It is renowned for its cultural institutions like the Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, and Parliament House, offering a glimpse into the nation's history, art, and government.
• Lake Burley Griffin: A picturesque artificial lake at the heart of Canberra, surrounded by walking and cycling paths, parks, and iconic landmarks like the Captain Cook Memorial Jet.
• Australian National Parks: Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve provide opportunities for bushwalking and wildlife spotting (including koalas and kangaroos).
• Mount Ainslie: A popular lookout point offering panoramic views of Canberra and its surroundings, accessible by walking trails or a short drive.

Northern Territory (NT):

Tropical in the north, with distinct wet and dry seasons. Central regions are desert-like with hot days and cool nights.

• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: Home to the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), this UNESCO World Heritage Site holds immense spiritual significance for the Indigenous Anangu people and offers stunning landscapes and cultural experiences.
• Kakadu National Park: Australia's largest national park and home to Aboriginal people for more than 65,000 years. It’s Known for its diverse ecosystems, ancient rock art, lush wetlands and abundant wildlife including enormous saltwater crocodiles.
• Darwin: The vibrant capital city of the NT, it's named after the famous scientist Charles Darwin (although he’d never actually visited.) Expect a relaxed tropical atmosphere, multicultural cuisine, markets, and access to attractions like the Mindil Beach Sunset Market and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
• Litchfield National Park: Adventure seekers will love this natural wonderland with waterfalls, monsoon forests, and magnetic termite mounds, providing opportunities for swimming, hiking, and experiencing the beauty of the NT's natural landscapes.
• Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge): Featuring dramatic gorges and the majestic Katherine River, this park offers opportunities for boating, canoeing, and exploring ancient Aboriginal rock art sites.

Volunteering in Australia

Now you’re clued up on the different regions of Australia, it’s time to get planning your trip of a lifetime. Who wants yet another beach holiday when you can be part of an unforgettable cultural exchange? It’s time to throw on your sunscreen and stay with friendly locals for a sun-filled Aussie adventure – all for less than the price of a night in a hotel room!

As the world’s leading community for volunteering and cultural exchange, Workaway is the perfect platform to connect with locals in Australia. Whether you are a solo backpacker trying to find a travel buddy , recently retired or setting off on a grown up gap year – we can help you find your perfect host. Best of all, you can join as a solo traveller , as a couple , or even as a family !

In exchange for a few hours of work each day, your host will usually provide free accommodation and meals. Whether you want to witness cute koalas roam the wild, improve your surf skills, or master that famous g’day mate like a local, with Workaway you can do it all at the click of a button by signing up today!

Making a difference in Australia

From hostels to house sitting there are so many types of hosts ready to welcome you in Australia. Here are just a handful of examples of the type of projects you could get involved in:

• Fruit Picking, farming & vineyards: It’s easy to find farmstay experiences in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Popular areas include the Yarra Valley (Victoria), the Sunshine Coast (Queensland), and the Riverland (South Australia).
• Hospitality and Tourism: Especially in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Cairns. You can find projects behind the scenes for example in marketing, photography or web development as well as front of house helping with DIY, restoration, tours and more.
• Au Pair/ Babysitting: There are family and homestay opportunities all over the countries, particularly in urban areas like Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. This type of volunteering allows you to live with a local family, gain hands-on experience working with children while living authentic Aussie family life.
• Conservation and Wildlife Volunteering: Various wildlife sanctuaries and conservation projects offer volunteer opportunities, with notable locations including the Great Barrier Reef (Queensland), Kangaroo Island (South Australia), and Perth (Western Australia) for marine and wildlife conservation. Thanks to the mild climate it’s also a popular place to give off grid living a chance with eco-farms, permaculture projects and sustainable construction proving popular.
• Sports/recreation: Australia has one of the biggest surf cultures in the world which goes hand in hand with the laid back lifestyle. It’s also a popular destination with yogis if you fancy volunteering with wellness centres or yoga retreats .

While we pride ourselves on being a cultural exchange, Workaway is also a great way to boost your CV , learn a new language and make friends all over the world . With over 1500 hosts in Australia alone, there are so many ways you can share your time and make a difference while enjoying this epic destination.

How to find the perfect host in Australia

As well as using the regions above as a guide, you can use your skills and interests as keywords in the search box to find your perfect host in Australia. Whether you’re enticed by the surfer culture of Byron Bay, dream of turtle spotting on the Great Barrier Reef or dream of hiking your way across Tasmania – your perfect host is literally a few clicks away.

Best of all, when you join Workaway you are not limited to one project or region. For a small membership fee you have access to over 50,000 volunteer opportunities across 170 countries. After Australia, why not continue exploring the rest of Oceania ? We also have hosts in New Zealand , Fiji , French Polynesia and even Tonga .

With its breathtaking landscapes, insane wildlife and fascinating history, Australia offers endless opportunities to make memories as well as give back to the community. Whether you want to support local NGOs , snorkel with sharks or enjoy BBQ’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner with Workaway you can do it all.

Your next adventure begins today

Join the Workaway community today to unlock unique travel experiences with over 50,000 opportunities around the globe.

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• American Summers

Australia and New Zealand 12-Month Work & Travel Program

Work and travel in the us for an entire year.

University students and recent graduates from Australia and New Zealand have the opportunity to gain international cultural exposure and embark on an EPIC work and travel experience for up to 12 months in the US.

This is a fantastic opportunity for current students and recent graduates, who want to gain valuable international work experience, explore the US and enrich themselves in American culture.

The job possibilities are endless – work in a variety of jobs for as little or as long as you want. You have an entire year to build your CV and learn about the American workplace.

How to Apply

IENA only accepts applications processed through our partners:

[email protected]

Eligibility

• Over 18 years’ old
• Aus/NZ citizen
• Enrolled as a full-time university student, or recent graduate (within 12 months).
• Vocational students pursuing studies at a tertiary level accredited educational institution are eligible for participation.
• Proof of funds $1,000-2,000
• Availability to travel to Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth to interview at a US consulate

What your program includes

• Cost (Program fees can be obtained through IENA’s Partners – see above)
• Assistance with Job placement
• 24/7 emergency line
• Visa Assistance

Join one of the best work and travel programs today!

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