1 Australia is hot – you will have to wear sun cream every single day in the summer (its not that bad) and there are bush fires everywhere and flies (lots of flies!) but wait until you get there to buy summer clothes EXCEPT do pick up a few things in Pennys such as underwear/swimwear because even cheap underwear is expensive.
2
And for god sake get some thongs
(eh flip flops)
3
Take Vitamin B1 a month in advance of travelling to prevent Mozzie bites – oh and roll on insect repellent is the best!
4
If you work in hospitality or want to work in hospitality – you need to do an RSA course (check out
www.clubtraining.com.au )This is basically an online course you need to do so you can responsibly serve alcohol. Get your certificate in a day. No harm to have a barista course under your belt too which you can also do before you go (check out
www.dublinbaristaschool.ie)
5Getting a bank account, sim card and tax file number sorted in advance or as soon as you get there is a great idea …we include them for free in some packages but don’t go paying lots of money for them – no need. It is hassle to get credit cards and income protection cover when in Oz so have your bank account set up in advance and keep your current cards active too.
6
Insurance insurance insurance – you have to have it to enter Australia and it needs to correspond to the duration of your visa – our backpacker insurance is designed for long stays of working abroad plus it is quite a bit of hassle getting health insurance in Australia when on a 417 WHV BUT
7
If you do go to A&E in Australia, the Irish government have a reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia so at least that should not cost you a cent.
8
It can take a bit of time to get a job so avail of the
Workandtravel.ie jobs service BEFORE you go so you save yourself time and money
9In order to qualify for the 2nd year Working Holiday Visa you may have to do some FARM work or seasonal labour but don’t worry we have lots of these openings we can discuss with you when on the ground – that’s why its good to be part of the Workandtravel 12 month job membership so we can walk you through these scenarios.
10
You can drive on your full drivers licence in Australia until your visa is up – if you stay longer and want to convert to becoming a resident it’s a bit of an effort but you can apply for a drivers license in Australia but the rules differ per state.
11Email everything important to yourself before you go – just in case your phone gets lost and you are stuck – yes most have the cloud but sometimes stuff isn’t backed up for whatever reason.
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Doesn’t matter how old you look – if heading to a bar or club you will need PROOF of ID such as passport or proof of age card.
13
Everyone drinks on a Sunday – called a Sunday Session or Sunday Seesh
14
If you smoke – really unfashionable in OZ -be prepared to pay $18-22 a pack.
15Income Tax is circa 32.5% for casual employees and yes the bad news is even backpackers have to pay it.
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The good news is you can claim most of it back! Plus if you are leaving for good, you can also claim your superannuation (employers tax paid on your behalf). Check out
taxback.com
17
When filling out a TFN form with a new employer, in answering the question “Are you a resident for tax purposes?” we cant tell you what to put but there is a tool on the ATO website that you can use to determine correct response but note answering No will result in you paying higher taxes. And you are not breaking any rules by selecting yes for tax purposes regardless of what visa you are on.
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If you need a place to work from in Sydney ie do a bit of printing/photocopying check out our Workandtravel office in Sydney
19You will just love the lifestyle – its all BBQs, beaches, surfing, heathly living soooo
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What are you waiting for?
You have one very short life and one very short window to avail of this life changing fabulous opportunity. Its Rainy miserable November
…you could be there by January!