WORKING HOLIDAY IN AUSTRALIA

For anybody contemplating a working holiday in Australia organizing this on your own, at first might

seem very difficult.

Basic Requirements

These are the basic requirements for a working holiday in Australia:

  • You must be between 18 and 30 years in age.
  • Your passport must be valid.  There must be 6 months or more before it is renewed.
  • You must have enough money to cover your stay in Australia.

No Criminal Record Required

 

There are very detailed requirements under Australian Law, covering criminal records. It states that a visa will not be given if there is a “substantial” criminal record. This is open to interpretation. The areas covered would include people smuggling, being a member of a gang, making an escape from immigration detention, as well as being a potential “danger” in Australia.

This need not be a worry.  If you have not been before a criminal court in your home country, there should not be a problem in obtaining an Australian Holiday working visa.

In the UK there is a CRB check. This can be done online and would “flag up” any previous criminal records pretty quickly. There is a similar system in the Republic of Ireland.

Medical and Health Checks

 

These may be needed if you intend to take up holiday work in the following areas: working in health care, as a nurse, doctor or a dentist, and you training or working in a nursery school or kindergarten.

You will need a full medical check up and X ray to make sure you do not have or are carrying HIV aids, Hepatitis B and/or C. A check up could also be needed if you have stayed continually in a country considered to be high risk for 6 months in the last 5 years.

Time Period

 

Once the visa has been granted, you must take up the Australian Working Holiday offer within the first 12 months. The period of stay in Australia is 12 months.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

You are allowed to take up any reasonable employment opportunities during your stay in Australia.

You are there primarily, to visit the country

 

The main reason why you are going to Australia is to experience the wonders of this amazing continent.
The Australian working holiday is there to help you do this. Therefore, you are allowed to work only for 6 months with one employer. You are not allowed to be involved in any training or studying for a period longer than 4 months, during your stay in Australia. If these conditions are violated, then your visa will be revoked and you will be asked to leave Australia.

Financial Requirements

 

You will need, as a minimum, AUD$5000, to cover any eventualities that might occur in Australia and you will need to show documental evidence that you have this money at the time of application. There must also be a return plane ticket from Australia. Prove of the return air flight, as well as a bank statement, will also be needed as part of your application.

You will need a full medical check up and X ray to make sure you do not have or are carrying HIV aids, Hepatitis B and/or C. A check up could also be needed if you have stayed continually in a country considered to be high risk for 6 months in the last 5 years.

Applications from the United States: Work and Holiday
Visa for United Sates Citizens

 

For those wanting to apply for a working holiday visa from the US, there are slightly different
requirements.  These are:

  • You must be aged between 18 and 30.
  • There are no dependent children.
  • Be a US passport holder.
  • You must have completed High School or an equivalent.
  • You should not have entered Australia before on either a work and holiday visa or a working holiday visa.
  • Be covered by a suitable health care insurance for the duration of the stay.
  • Again (as above), have sufficient funds to cover your stay in Australia and have a valid return flight ticket.
  • To be of good character and again meet the health criteria.

Again, all the other specific conditions are the same as those noted above.

Specific Jobs Available:

There are a whole range of jobs available. Taking holidays resorts as a starting point:

  • A “Bus Staff” or “Busser” is responsible for keeping tables clean and helping the waiting staff in a busy hotel.
  • Waiter or Waitress: Responsible for taking orders and serving food in a restaurant.
  • Bartender: Responsible for serving drinks and mixing cocktails at a bar.
  • Kitchen Prep: Responsible for preparing food for the sous chef and chief chef in a restaurant.
  • Chef:Overall responsibility for the preparation and cooking of the food in a restaurant. There are specialist Chefs in larger restaurants.
  • Front Desk:  This could involve the checking in and checking out of hotel guests.  You may have to help with the inquiries of different guests.
  • Bell Staff:  They are responsible for looking after the guests around the hotel.
  • Life Guard: The beach is very much a part of Australian culture. This is a very responsible job as you will be in charge of the safety of holiday guests in the resort’s swimming pools and out on the beach.
  • Spa:This would involve body “wraps”, body “scrubs” and massage.