americanwoman

You're going to be great!

It's all about the confidence, hey! Do what you can to build it up? Upon arrival in OZ, I helpx'd with two French guys - one confident, one not. The first had come to OZ, worked the scene, and got connected (through other French backpackers) to a great, well-paying job which led to another and another for almost his whole time in the country. The other went and spent his savings hanging out at hostels, printing out resumes, and finding out that in Australian culture when a potential empolyer says they might need someone and will call if that's the case, they're just being polite. Hope that helps! Here's my motivational quote for you: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right.” -Henry Ford.

Let us know how you go? I'm sure you'll be fine. I know an American guy who just went over and he was working within a month - basically right after he got all of his playing out of the way. I think it's all about networking and making connections!

I don't think you'll regret it! Good luck!

Congrats! It's amazing, hey?!

Hey Dave! Just wanted to send some cheerleading your way in case you don't find someone to travel with. I was terrified of traveling alone, too. My first major out-of-country trip was really supposed to be just moving to a town in Bolivia where a friend was living to do weekend trips with her when she wasn't in school. When it fell through (she quit school), I almost didn't go. I'm so, so, so glad I decided I didn't need a security blanket in the form of a friend to travel. I was terrified, but everything was awesome, and I had the time of my life. I've traveled for ten years now, both solo and with partners. Solo has so many benefits that you just don't get traveling with another person. If you're worried about meeting people, considering arranging a work stay for a week or two upon landing. From there you can stay at hostels where I promise you'll meet people! Excited for you and your trip!

Hi Wanji - Where are you from? I looked at your profile, but couldn't find it. I didn't have to show my birth cert for the WHV - it was just simply apply online and get a confirmation email. I'm American. Hope that helps!

Hi Harriet! Packing is probably my favorite topic, so I'll try to keep it short. Bring as LITTLE as reasonably possible. I brought an entire backpack full stuff "just in case" over with me, which I usually NEVER do traveling. I carried most of it around forever, not using it, until I finally donated the majority to the op shops! If I had to do it over again, I would follow this advice (see #4): http://halftheclothes.com/australia-working-holiday-visa-checklist/ Hope that helps!

Hi Jade! Huge kudos to you for your bravery! My favorite way to get flights is Skyscanner - I'd check whatever STA tells you against them. Here's my explanation for how: http://halftheclothes.com/travel-tips/affording-long-term-travel-cheap-flights/ Although, I can't remember if I'm allowed to post links here or not. (I answer questions on lots of forums!) If not, just search "Cheap Flight Hacks with Skyscanner" - it should be the top result. Like others said, NZ is it's own country, so a visa there has nothing to do with the OZ visa. In terms of hostel booking, March is a quiet enough time compared to Dec/Jan, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about booking super far in advance. My personal preference is to not book. I like to be really flexible! You can also consider HelpX, woofing. See #7 here: http://halftheclothes.com/australia-working-holiday-visa-checklist/ As far as money, they want to be sure you have $5k OZ which is 2400 gbp (as of today). It does cost to transfer money, which is why I just carried some cash on me. But if you want to be able to transfer money over, see #5 here: http://halftheclothes.com/australia-working-holiday-visa-checklist/ (If the see # links don't work, I searched "australian working holiday visa checklist" and it was the sixth link down on google for me.) Hope that helps!

I'm sure they've got it all sorted, hey.

Sounds like you'll have a great time! And jump right into oz culture... Australians love "tiki tours!"

It doesn't necessarily, I think. One foreseeable issue is that your TFN paperwork comes in the mail. It sort of forces you to stay at the hostel until it arrives. I have vivid memories of putting a car ad up at hostels in a CBD and seeing giant bins full of government mail for people who had used the hostel as their address. In the few minutes I was there, a handful of people came in to dig through the bins and hopefully find their paperwork. I've also been told (so potentially hearsay and not applicable in this situation anyway) that banks won't take hostel or hotel addresses when opening an account. Not sure if I've clarified anything or made it all more confusing!

Hey there! Are you dead-set on two weeks at a hostel right away? Personally, I'd be nervous not to be getting my TFN and bank account sorted right off... See #6 here: http://halftheclothes.com/australia-working-holiday-visa-checklist/ To each their own. Hope your trip is awesome!!!

Sounds like you're connected to some good resources! I started out looking for skilled work. I eventually found it, but it took several months of getting turned down because I would be limited to 6 months.

My opinion of the work situation in Perth - having witnessed (and participated) in the tail end of the mining boom - is that there are still jobs BUT - People are coming down off this crazy high of jobs basically growing on trees and getting paid insane wages. When I arrived in Perth in 2013, I was *shocked* at how lackadaisical attitudes were and how much people were consuming. Times were good, and they had been for a few years. Really, really, really good. All that is starting to crumble. Not every single person can just easily get a job... but I personally don't think the job market is "bad" - I just think it's sort of back to reality. An uncomfortable adjustment, hey. Just my two cents. Finding a job is so much about who you know (I think this is true everywhere). I would spend just as much time getting connected on community websites like meetup.com and looking for volunteer opportunities as you do searching for jobs on indeed/seek/gumtree. Hope that helps!

I think finding work was just as hard in OZ as anywhere else I've ever looked. I think it's true that it's not what you know, but *who* you know. Your "find work" plan should involve finding ways to meet local people. Couchsurfing, helpx, wwoof, etc. are *great* for this. I got my mining job because I met a guy at a dinner party that I attended with a couple I was helpx-ing with. I also signed up for and attended lots of meetup groups, made a few friends, told my story to strangers. You never know where you'll find a connection, but I don't think SEEK/Indeed/Gumtree etc. have as much potential as meeting the right person (and having fun experiences along the way!) Hope that helps!

Hey Stacey - I think you'll be fine with your planned funds. I think it was you who mentioned staying with friends for a few weeks? As long as you don't stay in hostels/hotels as your primary accommodation, I found it pretty easy to make cash last. I went with $500USD in hand (heaps more in my U.S. bank account) and it lasted me four months while I did work exchanges. Eventually I got it together to get a job and started earning cash. Australia is expensive, but it's accommodation and transport that drain your budget. I didn't move around much, and I traded work for a place to stay (and LOVED the people I was helping!) Hope that helps!

Just before I left OZ, I found this website: http://www.thejobshop.com.au/ Every other "travellers" website was... annoying. This one seems AWESOME for getting regional work! As in no b.s. and no double-listing of seek and indeed! Might help? Cheers!

I would definitely stay away from a 90L vessel, be it suitcase or backpack! It's just not worth hauling around all the stuff. For world travel, I think a backpack is best because the streets in places make wheeling a suitcase impractical. However, it's my opinion that Australia doesn't have that issue. If you've never wanted to run around wearing a backpack, go for suitcase, I say. I'm proof that it's possible to travel with just 30L. I brought a big backpack to OZ full of stuff I thought I might need (broke my own rule!) and lugged it around for months before giving most of it away. And the advice I just sent to a friend who is doing a whv in oz soon: More than 85% of Australians live within 50 km of the ocean. The ocean moderates the weather. Like many Americans, you'll probably think of the climate in OZ as “mostly summer weather.” My advice is to pack a week worth of summer clothes and a week worth of winter clothes **that you already own***. That's heaps. Please allow me to convince you: · Prepping for every situation isn’t possible: you'll just end up lugging around stuff you never use. When you find yourself in need, you can cheaply fulfill your needs at an op shop · Australia has its own unique style. If you bring an entire wardrobe of clothes you wear now, you might find yourself feeling out of place. Hope that helps!!

Hey everyone - My partner and I applied for our 309 visa online. There is so much data to submit before you pay that we had to organize ourselves without knowing we'd have to reorganize once we saw the last stage of the online system. Knowing how the online system is organized and how they label all the evidence and document types would have saved us a *ton* of time. Cheers and good luck to all! <3