8 Tips For... A Successful Working Holiday Move to Australia

So you’re one of 200,000+ people per year who have their Working Holiday Visa granted and you’re set and ready for the next step in life’s journey. You’ve booked your one-way flight, you’ve got a list ready of what you need to pack, you’re saying your final goodbyes and you’ve got that little bug in your stomach that’s full of nerves but also so much excitement. I know how you feel, I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt (literally).

Now if you were anything like me, amongst all the nerves and excitement, there were certainly a few ‘what if’s?’ What if I can’t find a job? What if I get bitten by a spider? What if it doesn’t all go to plan? Well, I’m here to help and having been through and experienced the whole lot, hopefully, my tips come in handy!

Firstly….

1) Save, Save, Save!

Let’s take a step back. Whether you’ve had this planned for a while (meaning you should have been able to save up quite a lot) or if you’re like me, fairly spontaneous; I left my job and 2-3 months later I was jetting off to Melbourne. It sounds obvious but my first bit of advice would be to take as much money with you as possible. Technically $5,000 AUD is a requirement to be eligible for the WHV but this isn’t always checked so you can get away with not having that much, however, I would say that this is a good benchmark; for a number of reasons.

Think about it, you’ve just got to a completely new city, you’re bursting with excitement and looking forward to getting to know your new surroundings but 1 week in you have no money, you’re struggling to find a job and all of a sudden you’re in the position that probably made you want to leave home in the first place! Having a good fund behind you cancels out any worry you could possibly have and allows you to enjoy your first couple of weeks!

2) Pick and Stick!

You should really have an idea of what city you want to go to first. I was set on Melbourne, however, like many you may think Sydney is the place for you (or any other city for that matter!). Wherever you pick, be it north, south, east or west, my advice would be to stick with it! Not necessarily for your whole time away, but at least for 2 weeks or so. Although I believe you can get the feel of a place after being there just a few hours, you can’t get a real impression of somewhere until you’ve experienced it properly. Sometimes first impressions can be damaged by unfortunate happenings, but once you get past the first hurdle then a place really becomes its own. So give it time and at the end of the day if it isn’t the right place for you then at least you’ve given it a go and can move onto the next one.

3) Holiday Time!

This is very much dependent on how much you have saved up but let's pretend you’ve got the ‘required’ $5,000AUD. Tip number 2 though, treat the first 1-2 weeks as a holiday! You don’t want to get sucked straight into that working routine within your first couple of days of being in a new city. Get out, explore, meet new people, and fully enjoy/embrace the place you will call home for the next 1-2 years. I didn’t start looking for jobs until at least a week into my stay, and this meant I could get drunk, sleep in, do whatever, but also explore and get my baring’s around my new home, Melbourne. I personally think getting off to a positive start is very much the key to success, so kick start your trip with a bang!

4) Don’t stress mate!

When it comes to jobs and housing, don’t worry! It’ll soon slot into place. I was in a hostel for my first 3-4 weeks of being in Melbourne, and although this got a little bit tedious as I was dying for my own space, I soon got into a house. It takes times, and a bit of hard searching but you’ll get somewhere eventually, just be patient! Each city has various different platforms for flat sharing but if you’re on your way to Melbourne, check out Fairy Floss Real Estate on Facebook, which is a great place to start your search!

When it comes to job hunting, the two main websites I used (as well as Gumtree) were indeed.com.au and seek.com.au. I believe these are Australia wide so they can be used to search wherever you are. Some will say there is a lack of jobs, but I guess this can be a bit of pot luck, however, my tip would be just APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! The offers will soon come flying in!

5) Join the club!

One problem I found whilst in a hostel for my first few weeks was not making friends but keeping friends. Not because I was annoying or being antisocial but because what you’ll find is; a high percentage of people in the hostels, are unsurprisingly backpacking and not there to live. This was a problem as you’d make friends but then 3 days later they’d be departing to their next destination. My advice would be to join a club. For me it was Cricket, but it could be anything that tickles your fancy. This allowed me to gain a great group of mates that all shared a common interest. Even now most of the guys I met, I’m still in contact with and will be in the future. Not only this but it opened many other pathways for me in terms of housing and work. Getting involved in this also allowed me to really get an idea of the Australian ‘culture’ (boozing), as most of my friends were actually Aussie’s and not British!

6) Farm Work? Completed it mate.

Whether you are 100% set on staying for two years or whether you’re not sure about extending your visa, DO YOUR FARMWORK! The list goes on and on but here are some of many reasons as to why you should do it regardless. Firstly, it’s a great way of meeting new people. If you speak to someone who has already done their regional work; I guarantee at least 80% of people will say they have friends for life. Secondly, if you’re unsure on wanting to stay for a second year; getting your 3 months done means you will always have the option to extend your visa. Whereas if you don’t do it at all, you have no option but to pack your bags and leave the country once your year is up. Next, it’s an unbelievable way of saving! Most Farms are very remote and apart from drinking and having a laugh with fellow backpackers, there isn’t really much to spend your money on! Last but no means least, it’s a great experience. You’ll either love it or hate it, but either way, it’s a great way of experiencing a new way of life and the lessons you gain from it is second to none.

7) Just Go With The Flow!

I know some of you may be itinerary freaks however my advice whilst away is not to plan too far ahead! Of course, make plans to see this incredible country (see No8) but don’t feel like you need to cram it all into a certain time frame. Things change; you meet new people, and the last thing you want is not being able to get involved because you’ve already got the next 4 months mapped out from dusk till dawn, along what you’re going to have for dinner next Wednesday. Just go with the flow! It’s my favourite expression because it means you can be carefree and ultimately do what you want, when you want.

8) Make The Most of It!

My final tip is pretty short, simple but sweet. Make the most of every opportunity you get. Get a home base but don’t let that stop you from exploring and seeing the rest of the country. It’s so big, diverse and beautiful; it would be a waste not to explore as much of it as possible. I was there for over a year and still didn’t get to see everything I wanted to, so use your time wisely and get up and discover!

Hope these tip have helped! If you about to venture off to Australia, please don't hesitate to email me or DM me on Instagram if you have any questions! I'll do my best to help.