Gap year

[angharade]

Hi I was wondering if anyone could answer a few questions I have? I'm in the process of organising a gap year on a working holiday visa that me and my boyfriend plan on taking in August but am unsure as to how I should go about it?

 

 

Organisation or no?

Several people have recommended we go via an organisation so that the visa is processed by them and we have help finding accommodation and jobs on arrival. Where as other people have said it's a waste of money and much better to organise yourself. Does anyone have any suggestions on this?

 

Spending money

I am trying to figure out how much is realistic to take out to Oz for 12 months of travelling? I know the amount needed for eligibility for a visa but I was thinking of taking enough so that if we are unable to find jobs instantly (which we won't) then we're not panicking.

 

Jobs

I've heard there are organisations which you're able to sign up to for 12 months which suggest jobs and inform you of vacancies. Would this be worth doing as neither of us have skills in a particular trade? And also does anyone know of any websites I am able to view job vacancies from the UK so that we're able to look at the type of casual work being offered and maybe even apply before leaving the UK?

 

Accommodation

Can anyone recommend any websites etc which advertise shared accommodation or even websites which provide info on the hostels in specific areas of Australia? We were planning on sorting out the 1st weeks accommodation before leaving the UK but then sorting the rest on arrival. Is this sensible?

 

Sorry for the amount of questions asked! I would appreciate any help at all though! Thanks!

[Erwan]

Hi,

I did a gap year in Oz last year -- my best year ever!

 

I don't recommend you to pay for an organisation. From what I heard, they don't do much, you can all do it yourself. The WHV visa is piece of cake.

And you will find eveyrthing else once you are in Oz.

For accomodation and jobs, you can look on gumtree and seek, and you will find all you need easily. You just book for a few days before your arrival, then you figure the rest once you are arrived.

As for the money, well it depends a lot of the type of year you will do. If you live in big cities, you will need about $2000/month.

If you travel in a van, it will be less every month, if you travel with flights/hotels, it will be more.

[angharade]

Thanks for the help! I was wondering when would be best to start applying for the visas if we plan on going in august? We were planning on staying in shared accommodation or hostels, but I have no idea as to how we plan on finding these types of accommodations. I guess it's just a case of waiting until we're there and planning a lot from there?

[Erwan]

When you apply for the WHV, it takes just a few minutes online, and i got it...the next day. So you can do it soon or later, it doesn't matter.

As for accomodation, it depends of the level of privacy you are looking for. Best is to be there to visit a few to feel it.

I would say hostels are good if you stay just a few weeks at a city, but if you stay a month and more, take a real shared flat, you will feel more at home than hostels.

Don't you worry too much: I booked 3 days in a hostel in Sydney before my arrival, then on my first day I contacted 3 accommodations on gumtree, and I moved in one of them the next day.

It's better to wait once you are there so you can pick a location you really like.

For hostels, you can check hostelworld.com

And August is winter there so it's not fully booked at all.

[angharade]

Thank you! One last question sorry, when it comes to finding a job, in general were you able to find work easy enough?

[Guest]

Casual work should be findable. Also the WHV jobs that gain you your second year WHV if you want it can be sought. TBH on a WHV you are just working to supplement your holiday and savings usually (although some use it to get a proper job with a view to sponsorship).

 

My advice, just go enjoy the year, be prepared to do some casual or non skilled jobs here and there, travel round Aus, have a blast. Don't over think it too much if you really want to just use the WHV for a gap year.

[Guest]

O and re applying for the WHV. Its really straightforward, don't pay a company to apply for it for you, its simple, done online and usually approved within a week. You can apply a couple of months before you plan to go or apply now (but not really much point in that unless you like to plan everything so far in advance).

 

I'd plan your own trip. Don't bother with a company that does that for you. Be flexible, do your own research (its half the fun of this sort of thing IMHO, just winging it a bit and going with the flow) and have a general idea of where you want to see and what you want to experience and do. Having it all mapped out doesn't seem anywhere near as appealing to me. Also once over there you may find you like a city or area and want to spend a bit longer or move on sooner or some such.

[Erwan]

Thank you! One last question sorry, when it comes to finding a job, in general were you able to find work easy enough?

 

Like snifter said, casual jobs are quite easy to find, but don't count too much on working in your field. They don't like much WHV visas as they always ask on which visa you are on when you apply for serious jobs.