Working Holiday Australia

Use our experience in Australia

Of course, it isn't particularly difficult to book a ticket to Australia. But that's only one part of planning a working holiday in Australia:

If you plan your own working holiday in Australia, you will need to apply for your Working Holiday Visa, find work and accommodation, figure out which regions of Australia you want to travel to, and possibly look into buying a car. You'll also have to find out where you can get a tax number, take out a bank account, and search for travel insurance.

Sounds like a bit more than just booking a ticket, right?

Then why waste your precious travel time in Australia, when TravelWorks can help you sort the details? We are able to organize your working holiday in Australia swiftly, professionally, and reliably. With our specialised knowledge and years of experience in Australia, we won't let you down.

Terms and Conditions for the Working Holiday Visa (WHV)

You can travel and work for up to 12 months in Australia with a Working Holiday Visa. This means you can finance much of your working holiday in Australia through your work. The requirements shown below apply for UK citizens:

• 18-30 years old upon application
• Must depart for Australia within 12 months after application. (You may still participate if you have turned 31 since you applied for the Visa.)
• No dependent children
• Proof of possession of AUS$ 5,000 (about £ 3000 / US$ 4500 / 3500 €)
• Maximum of 6 months work for the same employer
• Maximum stay of 12 months*
• This visa is issued only once to each person
• Visa costs of approximately £ 135 (US$ 220 or 150 €), payable to the Australian Embassy

For people from other nationalities: If your country has made an appropriate visa agreement with Australia, you will be able to participate in a working holiday in Australia, but you may need to fulfil requirements different from those listed above. Please check to see if you are eligible for a Working Holiday Visa at: http://www.immi.gov.au/.

* Anyone who can prove that they have done harvesting work in Australia for at least 3 months can extend the Visa by an additional 12 months.

Welcome to the Land Down Under

Upon your arrival in Australia, you will be picked up at the airport and brought to your hostel in one of our four Starting Package Cities:

• Sydney,
• Melbourne,
• Brisbane, or
• Perth.

After travelling halfway around the world, jet-lagged and exhausted, you will be happy to collapse into a prepared hostel bed!

Informational workshop

It doesn't matter if you travel with other people or by yourself, once you arrive for your working holiday in Australia, you will have to deal with formalities. Our local partners will be there to give you a helping hand, offering you insight and hints about the Aussie way of life and how to work, travel, and live on this colourful continent.

Our partners will help you apply for a tax number and open an Australian bank account, and they will give you an Australian SIM card for your mobile phone.

By the way, you will be able to access your Australian bank account if you go to New Zealand as well - so why not make a little detour to the Kiwis later on?

Our Additional Bookings – Your Choice

Get away from the daily grind during your working holiday in Australia, and decide for yourself what you'd like to learn and do Down Under. You'll have an informational introduction to Australia - but what will you do next? Perhaps a surfing course, or how about cowboy training? Maybe you want to learn to scuba dive and get a close-up view of the Great Barrier Reef, or you'd like to go diving off the coast of Fiji to help with ocean conservation there. An English language course could come in handy for non-native speakers, either on the beach or in downtown Sydney.

Even if you do not book the Working Holiday in Australia, you can still take part in any of our Additional Bookings! No matter what you choose to do, it's sure to be an unforgettable adventure!

Backpacker centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth

Our partner offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth have everything you'll need to start your working holiday in Australia. Here you will find:

• Free internet access
• A wide selection of international newspapers and magazines
• A backpacker lounge, where you can meet people from all over the world

You can also have mail sent to you at the address of our partner organisation.

TravelWorks-Tip: In our experience, the backpacker centre often becomes a central meeting-point for TravelWorkers during their working holiday in Australia.

We support you during the job-search...

Finding a job during your working holiday in Australia can be challenging. Our local partners in the backpackers' centre will be a great help to you during your job search. The employees here will help you with your C.V., provide you with the addresses of potential employers, and give you valuable advice for your job interviews. You can also check notice boards full of up-to-date job offers. 

... and during your travel and leisure time:

Our partners in Australia have plenty of tips and advice for your work, travel, and leisure time. If you have any difficulties, you can easily contact the employees at the backpacker centre via telephone or e-mail.

And now … off to work!

You will be free to divide your time between working and travelling however you would like. You can go ahead and take just about any job that you find. The Australian economy is currently very well-adapted for working backpackers.

The Aussies have a more laid-back attitude towards work, but that doesn't mean that you won't have to roll up your sleeves from time to time! Be ready to do work that you have never done before. The work variety will make your working holiday in Australia all the more exciting!

Working Holiday Australia

• Activities: All kinds of jobs are offered, from helping people move houses to waiting tables, from telemarketing to picking fruit. You may work a maximum of 6 months with the same employer.
• Working hours and time off: Depends on the job.
• Specifics: As you travel, you will be searching for and lining up your own jobs, backed by information, contacts, and advice from TravelWorks.
• Duration: At least 6 weeks - (however, we recommend a couple of months) - up to a maximum of 12 months. An extension may be possible. See "Terms and Conditions for the Working Holiday Visa" above.
• Application: At least 6-8 weeks before departure. We are happy to receive your application much earlier than this.
• Starting Dates: Year round.
• Practical experience: Not necessary, although it can be an advantage for certain jobs.
• Other: Please observe the Terms and Conditions of the Working Holiday Visa.